Effect of cyclic compressive loading on redifferentiation of human chondrocytes in three­dimensional cultured tissue

Although dynamic mechanical stimulation to carti­ lage differentiation has been reported to be impor­ tant in cartilage formation and maintenance, ex­ cessive mechanical stress on the synovial joint causes cartilage degeneration and leads to joint de­ struction. Once hyaline cartilage is injured, it is diffi­ cult to repair or regenerate because there are no nerves or blood vessels. In temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), excessive mechanical stress is known to cause synovitis and result in cartilage de­ generation. In our previous reports, we noted that excess compressive stress on the three­ dimensional (3D) tissue of human synovial cells in­ duced inflammatory cytokines such as IL­6, IL­8, and upregulated MMPs gene expressions. Chondrocytes in degenerated cartilage undergo dedifferentiation and lose their cartilage specific phenotype. Nevertheless, dedifferentiated chondro­ cytes redifferentiate in vitro under certain culture conditions with growth factors such as BMPs and Effect of cyclic compressive loading on redifferentiation of human chondrocytes in three­dimensional cultured tissue