MSC's response to shear stress

Mesenchymal stem cells derived from human bone marrow are important factors in the ongoing research of stem cells. They can differentiate into multiple cell lineages which makes them important prospects for tissue engineering. What makes them differentiate into those different cell lines is still unknown. Scientists at the Institute for Science in Technology and Medicine tested the effect of shear stress on the MSC's and how it affected their differentiation. The cells were exposed to multiple magnitudes of shear stress through fluid flow for varying time exposure. The results showed "significant differential gene expression for two integrin genes," and there was also some evidence of some "down-regulation" extracellular matrix gene. This proves that mechanical forces play a significant role in differentiation in MSC's. This will further help scientist understand the mystery behind cell differentiation and what makes them become a certain cell. If they can fully understand this process, then the field of tissue engineering will forever be changed.

http://springerlink.com/content/j87j267635v15262/?p=0fd0e43781064c77a742d5f9f1f5c7bd&pi=8