Investigating the effects of TRPV4 and Cav1.2 channels in 3D culture for promoting the differentiation of BMSCs at various stages

Hydrogel, as the most suitable bio-scaffold material for simulating extracellular matrix, can be used to study the influence of material mechanical properties on cell behavior under 3D conditions. Mechanical stimulation plays an important role in cartilage differentiation, especially for the mechanosensitive cell-bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Currently, TRPV4 and Cav1.2 calcium ion channels have been reported to play significant roles in the cartilage differentiation of BMSCs. However, there is no study on whether the effects of these two ion channels vary in different periods of BMSC differentiation, especially in 3D culture. In this article, we clarified the role of TRPV4 and Cav1.2 signaling pathways in the early and late stages of BMSCs cartilage differentiation during 3D culture in hyaluronic acid hydrogel with specific mechanical properties. This research can provide new ideas for further accelerating the stimulation of BMSCs cartilage differentiation and formulating cartilage repair strategies in vivo.