Dynamic compressive strain influences chondrogenic gene expression in human periosteal cells: A case study

Compression Bioreactor-Based Mechanical Loading Induces Mobilization of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells into Collagen Scaffolds In Vitro

Articular cartilage (AC) is an avascular tissue composed of scattered chondrocytes embedded in a dense extracellular matrix, in which nourishment takes place via the synovial fluid at the surface. AC has a limited intrinsic healing capacity, and thus mainly surgical techniques have been used to relieve pain and improve function. Approaches to promote regeneration remain challenging. The microfracture (MF) approach targets the bone marrow (BM) as a source of factors and progenitor cells to heal chondral defects in situ by opening small holes in the subchondral bone. However, the original function of AC is not obtained yet. We hypothesize that mechanical stimulation can mobilize mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from BM reservoirs upon MF of the subchondral bone. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the counts of mobilized human BM-MSCs (hBM-MSCs) in alginate-laminin (alginate-Ln) or collagen-I (col-I) scaffolds upon intermittent mechanical loading. The mechanical set up within an established bioreactor consisted of 10% strain, 0.3 Hz, breaks of 10 s every 180 cycles for 24 h. Contrary to previous findings using porcine MSCs, no significant cell count was found for hBM-MSCs into alginate-Ln scaffolds upon mechanical stimulation (8 ± 5 viable cells/mm³ for loaded and 4 ± 2 viable cells/mm³ for unloaded alginate-Ln scaffolds). However, intermittent mechanical stimulation induced the mobilization of hBM-MSCs into col-I scaffolds 10-fold compared to the unloaded col-I controls (245 ± 42 viable cells/mm³ vs. 22 ± 6 viable cells/mm³, respectively; p-value < 0.0001). Cells that mobilized into the scaffolds by mechanical loading did not show morphological changes. This study confirmed that hBM-MSCs can be mobilized in vitro from a reservoir toward col-I but not alginate-Ln scaffolds upon intermittent mechanical loading, against gravity.

Bioreactor for mobilization of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells into scaffolds under mechanical stimulation: Preliminary results

Introduction

Articular cartilage (AC) is a viscoelastic tissue with a limited regenerative capability because of the lack of vasculature. Mechanical stimulation contributes to the homeostasis of functional AC since it promotes the delivery of nutrients, cytokines and growth factors between the distant chondrocytes. We hypothesized that biomechanical stimulation might enhance mobilization of endogenous mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) from neighboring niches as the bone marrow.

Aim

This study aimed to introduce a bioreactor for inducing mobilization of MSCs from one compartment to another above by mechanical stimulation in vitro.

Methods

A novel mechanical system for evaluating mobilization of cells in a 3D context in vitro is presented. The system consists of a compression bioreactor able to induce loading on hydrogel-based scaffolds, custom-made software for settings management and data recording, and image based biological evaluation. Intermittent load was applied under a periodic regime with frequency of 0.3 Hz and unload phases of 10 seconds each 180 cycles over 24 hours. The mechanical stimulation acted on an alginate scaffold and a cell reservoir containing MSCs below it. The dynamic compression exerted amplitude of 200 μm as 10% strain regarding the original height of the scaffold.

Results

The bioreactor was able to stimulate the scaffolds and the cells for 24.4 (±1.7) hours, exerting compression with vertical displacements of 185.8 (±17.8) μm and a force-amplitude of 1.87 (±1.37; min 0.31, max 4.42) N. Our results suggest that continuous mechanical stimulation hampered the viability of the cells located at the cell reservoir when comparing to intermittent mechanical stimulation (34.4 ± 2.0% vs. 66.8 ± 5.9%, respectively).

Functionalizing alginate scaffolds with laminin-521 (LN521) seemed to enhance the mobilization of cells from 48 (±21) to 194 (±39) cells/mm³ after applying intermittent mechanical loading.

Conclusion

The bioreactor presented here was able to provide mechanical stimulation that seemed to induce the mobilization of MSCs into LN521-alginate scaffolds under an intermittent loading regime.