title: Applying Physiologically Relevant Strains to Tenocytes in an In Vitro Cell Device Induces In Vivo Like Behaviors.
abstract: We have developed a novel cell stretching device (called Cell Gym) capable of applying physiologically relevant low magnitude strains to tenocytes on a collagen type I coated membrane. We validated our device thoroughly on two levels: (1) substrate strains, (2) cell level strains. Our cell level strain results showed that the applied stretches were transferred to cells accurately (∼90%). Our gene expression data showed that mechanically stimulated tenocytes (4%) expressed a lower level of COL I gene. COX2 gene was increased but did not reach statistical significance. Our device was then tested to see if it could reproduce results from an in vivo study that measured time-dependent changes in collagen synthesis. Our results showed that collagen synthesis peaked at 24 hrs after exercise and then decreased, which matched the results from the in vivo study. Our study demonstrated that it is important to incorporate physiologically relevant low strain magnitudes in in vitro cell mechanical studies and the need to validate the device thoroughly to operate the device at small strains. This device will be used in designing novel tendon tissue engineering scaffolds in the future.
authors.affiliation: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joo Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Musson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand;Department of Reconstructive Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030.
authors.forename: Brya G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cornish
authors.affiliation: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand;Department of Engineering Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Iain A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, 70 Symonds Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand e-mail: v.shim@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Vickie B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Shim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D048429:Cell Size; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000502:physiology; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D000070916:Tenocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen