Co-stimulation with equibiaxial strain and pre-osteoblast co-culture differentiates monocytes in a bone model

TL;DR

This study shows that applying mechanical strain and co-culturing cells can help monocytes and pre-osteoblasts differentiate into immune and bone cells.

Contribution

The study introduces a bone model using mechanical strain and co-culture to induce cell differentiation.

Findings

Cyclic strain increased CD11B, CD14, IL-6, and IL-8 in U937 cells, indicating monocytic differentiation.

ALP expression and calcium deposition in ST2 cells showed osteoblastic differentiation.

Combining strain and co-culture enhanced differentiation in the bone model.

Abstract

Bone remodeling and immune function are dynamically regulated through cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions by stem and mature cell populations. We investigated the hypothesis that monocytes and pre-osteoblasts respond to cyclic tensile stress and paracrine interactions by differentiating into macrophage-like and osteoblast-like cells. 20% cyclic equibiaxial strain was applied to monocytic U937 and pre-osteoblastic ST2 cells for 72 h. Increased levels of CD11B, CD14, IL-6, and IL-8 in U937 indicated monocytic differentiation. Increased ALP expression and calcium deposition in ST2 indicated differentiation towards osteoblastic lineage. Overall, application of cyclic strain and pre-osteoblastic co-culture induced differentiation in this cyclically strained bone model.

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