Identification of mechanosensitive genes in chondrocytes and osteoblasts and their role in OA pathogenesis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a pathological condition resulting of the deregulation of the homeostatic mechanisms of the whole joint, triggered by mechanical and biochemical factors. Mechanical factors play a key role in this process by directly breaking the matrix scaffold or by altering the production of matrix components and anabolic/catabolic factors. However, recent studies have shown that only some, but not all genes and regulatory pathways are sensitive to mechanical stimuli. It is also emphasized that cell responses to mechanical stimuli are dependent of their physical characteristics including the magnitude and the frequency. This chapter proposes a review of the responses of chondrocytes and osteoblasts to mechanical stimuli described in the literature recently.