Mechanical Unloading of Engineered Human Meniscus Models Under Simulated Microgravity

The aim of this study is to demonstrate that mechanical unloading via SMG will induce a higher osteoarthritic-like gene profile in bioengineered meniscal cartilage from healthy female MFC versus healthy male MFC. This would serve as the molecular basis for early onset of knee osteoarthritis in females Overall design: Meniscus models were generated from healthy human meniscus fibrochondrocytes (MFC) of 6 males and 6 females seeded onto a type I collagen scaffold and cultured under simulated microgravity (SMG) conditions in rotatory wall vessel bioreactor with static normal gravity as controls. The response to SMG was evaluated by biochemical assays, gene expression, and mechanical testing

本研究旨在证实：相较于健康男性半月板纤维软骨细胞（meniscus fibrochondrocytes, MFC）构建的生物工程半月板软骨，经模拟微重力（simulated microgravity, SMG）实施的机械卸载，可在健康女性MFC来源的生物工程半月板软骨中诱导出更为显著的骨关节炎样基因表达谱，该发现将为女性膝骨关节炎的早发提供分子学依据。
总体实验设计：从6名健康男性及6名健康女性的人体半月板纤维软骨细胞中构建半月板模型，将其接种于I型胶原支架后，分别置于旋转壁式生物反应器中于模拟微重力条件下培养，以静态正常重力培养作为对照。通过生化检测、基因表达分析及力学测试，评估样本对模拟微重力的响应。