Regular Article

Differential effects of equiaxial and uniaxial strain on mesenchymal stem cells

  1. Jennifer S. Park1,
  2. Julia S.F. Chu1,
  3. Catherine Cheng1,
  4. Fanqing Chen2,
  5. David Chen2,
  6. Song Li1,*

Article first published online: 14 OCT 2004

DOI: 10.1002/bit.20250

Issue

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Special Issue: Stem Cell Bioengineering

Volume 88, Issue 3, pages 359–368, 5 November 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Park, J. S., Chu, J. S., Cheng, C., Chen, F., Chen, D. and Li, S. (2004), Differential effects of equiaxial and uniaxial strain on mesenchymal stem cells. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 88: 359–368. doi: 10.1002/bit.20250

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Bioengineering and The Center for Tissue Bioengineering, 471 Evans Hall #1762, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720; tel/fax: (510) 231-5631

  2. 2

    Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720

*Department of Bioengineering and The Center for Tissue Bioengineering, 471 Evans Hall #1762, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720; tel/fax: (510) 231-5631

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 14 OCT 2004
  2. Article first published online: 14 OCT 2004
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 18 MAR 2004
  4. Manuscript Received: 2 DEC 2003

Funded by

  • TEScient gift for mechanobiology research, Whitaker Foundation

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Keywords:

  • bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells;
  • smooth muscle cells;
  • mechanical stretch;
  • equiaxial strain;
  • uniaxial strain;
  • DNA microarray

Abstract

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into a variety of cell types, including vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and have tremendous potential as a cell source for cardiovascular regeneration. We postulate that specific vascular environmental factors will promote MSC differentiation into SMCs. However, the effects of the vascular mechanical environment on MSCs have not been characterized. Here we show that mechanical strain regulated the expression of SMC markers in MSCs. Cyclic equiaxial strain downregulated SM α-actin and SM-22α in MSCs on collagen- or elastin-coated membranes after 1 day, and decreased α-actin in stress fibers. In contrast, cyclic uniaxial strain transiently increased the expression of SM α-actin and SM-22α after 1 day, which subsequently returned to basal levels after the cells aligned in the direction perpendicular to the strain direction. In addition, uniaxial but not equiaxial strain induced a transient increase of collagen I expression. DNA microarray experiments showed that uniaxial strain increased SMC markers and regulated the expression of matrix molecules without significantly changing the expression of the differentiation markers (e.g., alkaline phosphatase and collagen II) of other cell types. Our results suggest that uniaxial strain, which better mimics the type of mechanical strain experienced by SMCs, may promote MSC differentiation into SMCs if cell orientation can be controlled. This study demonstrates the differential effects of equiaxial and uniaxial strain, advances our understanding of the mechanical regulation of stem cells, and provides a rational basis for engineering MSCs for vascular tissue engineering and regeneration. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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