Low Magnitude of Compression Enhances Biosynthesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells towards Nucleus Pulposus Cells via the TRPV4-Dependent Pathway

Figure 5

The anabolic effect of low-magnitude compression is inhibited by inhibiting the TRPV4 channel. Measurement of the biochemical compositions, including (a) GAG content and (b) HYP content treated with GSK205, the TRPV4 antagonists, during different magnitudes of compressive stress. The hybrids that were not treated with GSK205 were used as control. (c) Western blot analysis of ECM proteins aggrecan and type II collagen produced by MSCs cultured in the hydrogels treated with GSK205 during free swelling and compressive loading at magnitudes of 5%, 10%, and 20%. The hybrids that were not treated with GSK205 were used as control. (d–e) The histogram of quantitative results of Western blot analysis. Data were normalized to the data obtained from MSCs cultured in the hydrogel only treated with free swelling and evaluated on a relative basis for comparison between different samples. Data were expressed as means ± SD (). .

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