《生命科学》 2009, 21(2): 201-204

理解生物组织细胞力学信号传导机制的必要分析：以关节软骨为例

MOW Van C

美国哥伦比亚大学生物医学工程系

摘　要：摘　要：关节软骨是覆盖于骨关节面的一薄层低摩擦、耐磨损、负重的水化组织。这种功能通过散在镶嵌于软骨组织深层致密胞外组织内的软骨细胞的代谢和生物合成作用来维持。这种代谢和生物合成进程很大一部分是由物理因素，如应力、张力、电流及电势、液压及渗透压等来调控的。这两者都存在于这一带电的、渗透性的基质当中。本文主要讲述关节软骨及软骨细胞的机械-电化学行为及理论模型的最近进展，同时着眼于软骨细胞生物合成活动的物理调控及其对于组织维持、功能组织工程软骨修复及再生医学的意义。
关键词：生物力学；信号传导；软骨细胞

Necessary analyses for the understanding cellular mechano-signaltransduction mechanisms in biological tissues: the articular cartilage paradigm

MOW Van C

Department of Biomedical Engineering， Columbia University， New York， NY

Abstract: Abstract: Articular cartilage is a thin layer of low-friction， wear-resistant， load-bearing， soft hydrated tissue covering articulating bony ends in diarthrodial joints.  This vital mechanical function is maintained by the metabolism and biosynthetic activities of a sparse distribution of chondrocytes deeply embedded within the dense extracellular matrix of the tissue.  These metabolic and biosynthetic processes are largely controlled by the physical factors such stresses， strains， currents and electrical potentials， diffusional and fluid flows within the charged， porous-permeable matrix.  In this presentation， recent studies on the mechano-electrochemical behaviors and theoretical models for articular cartilage and chondrocytes are reviewed with the particular emphasis on physical regulation of chondrocytes biosynthetic activities toward tissue maintenance， and its application in functional tissue engineering for cartilage repair and regenerative medicine.
Key words: biomechanics; cellular mechano-signal transduction; chondrocyte