Mathematical modeling of ATP release in response to mechanical stimulation of chondrogenic cells

One of the key challenges in osteochondral tissue engineering is to achieve mechanical properties in the engineered tissue that are equivalent to the native tissue. Detailed knowledge of the mechanotransduction pathways occuring in the native tissue is necessary before manipulation towards the aimed properties in the engineered tissue. Purinergic (ATP-mediated) signaling is proving to be one of the main mechanisms how the chondrogenic cells sense and respond to the mechanical stimulation. In this study we performed experiments to evaluate the mechanosensitive purinergic response of chondrocytes and chondrogenic mesenchymal stem cells and we further developed a mathematical model showing ATP release changes in loaded vs. unloaded cell constructs over time. Such model can be of value in determining the potential for pharmacological manipulation of the purinergic mechanotransduction in the engineered osteochondral tissues.