Abstract
Cellular behavior is dependent on a variety of physical cues required for normal tissue function. In order to mimic native tissue environments, human alveolar bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hABMSCs) were exposed to orbital shear stress (OSS) in a low-speed orbital shaker. The synergistic effects of OSS on proliferation and differentiation of hABMSCs were investigated. In particular, we induced the osteoblastic differentiation of hABMSCs cultured in the absence of OM by exposing hABMSCs to OSS (0.86-1.51 dyne/cm(2)). Activation of Cx43 was associated with exposure of hABMSCs to OSS. The viability of cells stimulated for 10, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min/day increased by approximately 10% compared with that of control. The OSS groups with stimulation of 10, 30, and 60 min/day had more intense mineralized nodules compared with the control group. In quantification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) protein, VEGF protein levels under stimulation for 10, 60, and 180 min/day and BMP-2 levels under stimulation for 60, 120, and 180 min/day were significantly different compared with those of the control. In conclusion, the results indicated that exposing hABMSCs to OSS enhanced their differentiation and maturation.