Cyclic compressive loading induces a mature meniscal cell phenotype in mesenchymal stem cells with an atelocollagen-based scaffold

we investigated how cyclic compressive loading (CCL) could impact MSCs using three-dimensional cultures in atelocollagen-based meniscal substitute (ACMS). We extracted MSCs from the meniscus, synovium, and articular cartilage, cultured them in three-dimensional cultures, and submitted to CCL for seven days. We then compared the transcriptomes of MSCs treated with and without CCL. Our RNA-seq analysis revealed that CCL induced significant transcriptome changes, significantly affecting chondrocyte-related genes, including SOX9, TGFB1, and PRG4 upregulation. CCL-induced transcriptional differentiation from meniscus progenitors toward mature meniscal cells. We obtained mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from meniscus, synovium, and cartilage tissues derived from patients with osteoarthritis in order to compare the characteristics of MSCs among these tissues. Subsequently, to investigate the changes in gene expression induced by cyclic compression loading, the MSCs cultured in three dimensions were subjected to one hour of repeated compressive loading per day for seven days.