Validation of an In Vitro Model to Study Human Cartilage Responses to Compression

Natalia de Isla, Céline Huselstein, Didier Mainard, Jean-François Stoltz

CNRS UMR 7561, Biop?le, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lorraine.
CNRS UMR 7561, Biop?le, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lorraine 2UTCT, CHU de Nancy,.
CNRS UMR 7561, Biop?le, Faculté de Médecine, Université de LorraineCOT, CHU de Nancy Vandoeuvre, France.

DOI: 10.4236/eng.2012.410B016                

Abstract

The aim of this work was to develop an in vitro model to study mechanical compression effects on cartilage. A pressure-controlled compression device was used in this study. Cartilage explants obtained from human knee were compressed at 1MPa/1Hz for 7 hours (30 min ON, 30 min OFF) under normoxia (5% CO₂, 21% O₂) or hypoxia (5% CO₂, 5% O2). Cell viability was analyzed while nitric oxide (NO) and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) release was assayed in culture media. Mechanical stimulation increased NO production and GAG release by human cartilage explants under normoxia and hypoxia culture. In normoxia and hypoxia conditions, mechanical stimulation alters human OA cartilage metabolism. There is also, an increase in matrix degradation after compression, as shown by levels of GAG found in culture media. This study put in evidence the importance of mechanical compression in the progression of the osteoarthritis and present and in vitro model for mechanobiological and pharmacological studies.

Keywords

Cartilage; Compression; In Vitro Model; Nitric Oxide; GAG

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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