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Mechanical loading modulates cytoskeletal organisation in living chondrocytes

ReferenceE17114
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor Martin Knight
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Professor David Alan Lee
Institution Queen Mary University of London
DepartmentIRC - Biomedical Materials
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 190,428
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 14/10/2002
End date 13/10/2006
Duration48 months

Abstract

Mechanical loading is essential for the health of articular cartilage and may enhance tissue engineered repair. The cytoskeleton is involved in mechanotransduction although the influence of loading on the cytoskeleton is unclear. The tests hypothesis is that chondrocyte deformation induces cytoskeletal distortion and subsequent remodelling via a Ca2+:nitric oxide pathway with changes in cytoskeletal gene and protein expression. Isolated chondrocytes will be transfected with expression plasmids for GFP-tagged actin, tubulin and vimentin, seeded in agarose and visualised during and after compressive loading. A feedback system will be examined, whereby loading modulates cytoskeletal organisation and hence changes cellular mechanosensitivity.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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