title: Impact of mechanical stretch on the cell behaviors of bone and surrounding tissues.
abstract: Mechanical loading is recognized to play an important role in regulating the behaviors of cells in bone and surrounding tissues in vivo. Many in vitro studies have been conducted to determine the effects of mechanical loading on individual cell types of the tissues. In this review, we focus specifically on the use of the Flexercell system as a tool for studying cellular responses to mechanical stretch. We assess the literature describing the impact of mechanical stretch on different cell types from bone, muscle, tendon, ligament, and cartilage, describing individual cell phenotype responses. In addition, we review evidence regarding the mechanotransduction pathways that are activated to potentiate these phenotype responses in different cell populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK; Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 Plus NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University Graduate School, Cheonan, South Korea; Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 Plus NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University Graduate School, Cheonan, South Korea; Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Ju
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 Plus NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University Graduate School, Cheonan, South Korea; Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea; Department of Biomaterials Science, School of Dentistry, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Musculo-Skeletal Biology Research Group, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK; Department of Nanobiomedical Science and BK21 Plus NBM Global Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Dankook University Graduate School, Cheonan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wall
keywords: Flexercell; bone; cartilage; ligament; mechanical strain; muscle; tendon