Mechanisms linking mitochondrial mechanotransduction and chondrocyte biology in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis

Ageing Res Rev. 2021 Mar 5:101315. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101315. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMechanical loading is essential for chondrocyte health. Chondrocytes can sense and respond to various extracellular mechanical signals through an integrated set of mechanisms. Recently, it has been found that mitochondria, acting as critical mechanotransducers, are at the intersection between extracellular mechanical signals and chondrocyte biology. Much attention has been focused on identifying how mechanical loading-induced mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. In contrast, little is known regarding the mechanisms underlying functional alterations in mitochondria induced by mechanical stimulation. In this review, we describe how chondrocytes perceive environmental mechanical signals. We discuss how mechanical load induces mitochondrial functional alterations and highlight the major unanswered questions in this field. We speculate that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a master regulator of energy homeostasis, may play an important role in coupling force transmission to mitochondrial health and intracellular biological responses.PMID:33684550 | DOI:10.1016/j.arr.2021.101315

Source: Ageing Research Reviews - March 8, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Weizhou Jiang Huan Liu Rongxue Wan Yanjiao Wu Zhanjun Shi Wenhua Huang Source Type: research