ABSTRACT
Until the 1990s, research in cartilage biomechanics mainly focused on tissues and cell properties in order to identify the bioclinical problems linked to the mechanical properties of cells and tissues or to develop cartilage replacements. Advances in molecular biology and new knowledge of cellular biology over the last two decades have given access to a more physiological approach to study the effects of physical forces on cells and tissues. Indeed, all cells and tissues in the body are constantly exposed to physical forces and these can influence the biological behaviors of cells, including gene expression, phenotype, paracrine or autocrine factor secretion, and metabolism. These mechanically induced cellular alterations may constitute major factors affecting the physiological and pathological conditions of the organism. This new approach is known as mechanobiology because it requires the use of cellular/molecular biology methods to identify the various steps or stages by which changes occur in the cells and tissues as a result of the permanently applied mechanical forces. This new avenue of research, crucial for understanding tissue remodeling phenomena or pathological processes like osteoarthritis (OA), or to develop new strategies for tissue engineering/regeneration, requires understanding mechanisms of mechanotransduction through which physical stimuli are transformed into cellular responses.
