Cyclic Mechanical Stretch Ameliorates the Degeneration of Nucleus Pulposus Cells through Promoting the ITGA2/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Figure 1

Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells loaded with cyclic mechanical stretch. (a) Computer-controlled cell stretching equipment (Mechano Culture FX2, Cell Scale, Canada). (b) Mechanical loading curve of NP cells, 10% deformation, 0.1 Hz for 8640 cycles (one cycle consisted of 2 s of stretch, 5 s of hold, 2 s of recover, and 1 s of rest).

(a)

(b)