Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 908-916.doi: 10.12307/2025.978

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Effect of compressive stress microenvironment on cytokines during fracture healing

Guo Jiachen, Gao Jun, Dai Wenhao, Liao Huayuan, Jiang You, Zhang Xi    

  1. Department of Chinese Orthopedics, Changzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changzhou 213000, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2024-10-15 Accepted:2024-12-03 Online:2026-02-08 Published:2025-05-20
  • Contact: Gao Jun, MD, Chief physician, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Chinese Orthopedics, Changzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changzhou 213000, Jiangsu Province, China
  • About author:Guo Jiachen, Master candidate, Department of Chinese Orthopedics, Changzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changzhou 213000, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82374479 (to GJ); The Fourth Batch of Provincial Famous Old Chinese Medicine Experts Inheritance Studio Construction Project, No. (2021)7 (to GJ)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Fracture healing is a very complex physiological process, which is influenced by many factors. In recent years, the use of biomechanical factors in fracture healing has been a major focus in the field of orthopedics, and the mechanical stress environment around the fracture end has an important role in regulating fracture healing. Among them, the study of the mechanism of compressive mechanics on the cytokines of fracture ends is a hot spot for bone-related researchers.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the current status and recent advances in the study of the mechanism of action of compressive stress on cytokines in fracture healing in recent years.
METHODS: A search with the keywords of “compressive stress, fracture healing, cytokine, bone morphogenetic protein, fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin, tumor necrosis factor-α” in Chinese and English was conducted in the CNKI, WanFang, PubMed, and Web of Science. Initially 506 articles were retrieved, and 94 eligible articles that met the criteria were screened and finally summarized.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Current studies have found that compressive stress has different effects on different cytokines during fracture healing, which can be achieved mainly by influencing cell signaling, gene expression regulation, and modulation of cell behavior. Among them, compressive stress can be linked to cytokines such as bone morphogenetic protein, fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin, and tumor necrosis factor-α. This process involves cell proliferation, differentiation and migration, inflammatory response, and changes in the environmental and nutritional conditions of the fracture end, which are key factors affecting fracture healing. The whole paper summarizes the complexity of cytokine action mechanism, the mechanism of compressive stress on its regulation needs to be further carried out in-depth research, and the problems and limitations in the research are considered and future prospects.

Key words: compressive stress, fracture healing, cytokine, bone morphogenetic protein, fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin, tumor necrosis factor-α

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