Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (23): 4993-5001.doi: 10.12307/2025.093

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Role and influence of compressive stress on cells in vitro

Yan Pengan1, Cai Yifan1, Yan Zhenxing1, Wei Yuqiao1, Geng Bin1, 2, 3, Xia Yayi1, 2, 3   

  1. 1Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China; 2Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China; 3Orthopedic Clinical Research Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
  • Received:2024-03-26 Accepted:2024-05-24 Online:2025-08-18 Published:2024-09-30
  • Contact: Xia Yayi, PhD, Chief physician, Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China; Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China; Orthopedic Clinical Research Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
  • About author:Yan Pengan, Master candidate, Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82060405, 81874017 (to XYY); National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81960403 (to GB)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Wolff’s law points out that the lack of mechanical stress in the body will lead to the degradation of the microstructure of bone tissue, mass loss, and metabolic disorders, and eventually lead to osteoporosis, which suggests that mechanical stress plays an important role in the growth, reconstruction, and formation of bone tissue. At present, the relevant studies concerning mechanical stress on osteoblasts mainly focus on fluid shear force, but it is difficult to intervene in vivo. Meanwhile, some studies have found that compressive stress can also play a similar role in fluid shear force to a certain extent. Exploring the mode of action and influence of compressive stress on cells in vitro experiments can enrich the interaction relationship between mechanical stress and cells. It helps provide a theoretical basis for studies of metabolic bone diseases, including osteoporosis, and other diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To review in vitro experiments, the application of compressive stress to cells, different biological behaviors caused by cells, the possible signaling pathways, and possible future applications.
METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and WanFang databases from January 2000 to March 2024 to include all articles related to compressive stress on cells, including basic research and microscopic mechanism studies, using search terms “compressive stress, mechanical stress, hydrostatic pressure, cell” in Chinese and English. Finally, the 63 included articles were reviewed. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) There are various ways to apply compressive stress, and different experimental equipment has different ways of pressurizing cells, so it is necessary to further standardize the experimental equipment, standardize the pressurization unit, reduce the confounding factors, and make the reference and comparability between different experimental groups. (2) Compressive stress can cause changes in cell proliferation, differentiation, autophagy, apoptosis, migration, etc., and the effect of compressive stress is time- or dose-dependent in most cases. (3) At present, most in vitro experimental studies have shown that compressive stress may mainly act on osteoblasts through MAPK signaling pathway and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, causing osteoblasts to produce different responses. (4) The effect of compressive stress on different cells is not the same, and its possible biological effects need to be studied. (5) Further research on compressive stress is helpful to provide a theoretical basis for treatment in orthopedics, stomatology, tumors and other fields, and gentle disinfection using hydrostatic pressure is a promising disinfection method.

Key words: osteoblast, compressive stress, mechanical stress, biomechanics, cell experiment, signaling pathway

CLC Number: