Mechanical regulation of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation.
Biophysical cues play a key role in directing the lineage commitment of mesenchymal stem cells or multipotent stromal cells (MSCs), but the mechanotransductive mechanisms at play are still not fully understood. This review article first describes the roles of both substrate mechanics (e.g. stiffness and topography) and extrinsic mechanical cues (e.g. fluid flow, compression, hydrostatic pressure, tension) on the differentiation of MSCs. A specific focus is placed on the role of such factors in regulating the osteogenic, chondrogenic, myogenic and adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Next, the article focuses on the cellular components, specifically integrins, ion channels, focal adhesions and the cytoskeleton, hypothesized to be involved in MSC mechanotransduction. This review aims to illustrate the strides that have been made in elucidating how MSCs sense and respond to their mechanical environment, and also to identify areas where further research is needed.
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.|Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
Andrew J
AJ
Steward
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.|Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.|Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Daniel J
DJ
Kelly
D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D048430:Cell Shape; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000502:physiology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology
D016023:Integrins; D007473:Ion Channels
differentiation; mechanobiology; mesenchymal stem cells; multipotent stromal cells; substrate