Tensile stress promotes the chondrogenic ability of condylar cartilage stem/progenitor cells in the temporomandibular joint via the Piezo1-Ca-Prkca pathway.

Background: Tensile force is a key regulator for condylar cartilage remodeling in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and this biomechanical characteristic underlies the mechanisms of mandibular growth modification in orthodontic practice. Cartilage stem/progenitor cells (CSPCs) in the superficial layer of condylar cartilage play an essential part in the development and remodeling of condylar cartilage. However, the regulatory role of tensile force on condylar CSPCs remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of tensile loading on condylar CSPCs and explore the molecular mechanisms within.

Methods: The mandibular advancement (MA) model was constructed to apply tensile force on the condylar cartilage in vivo. Flow cytometry and transcriptome sequencing were utilized to assess the percentage of CSPCs and gene expression in the superficial layer of rat condylar cartilage. Lineage tracing with cathepsin K (Ctsk) in mice was employed to trace the differentiation of CSPCs. 10% equibiaxial dynamic strain was loaded on rat CSPCs for cell stretching in vitro. GsMTx4 was used to inhibit the Piezo1 channel, and the calcium chelating agent BAPTA was used to block the Ca influx of rat CSPCs. siRNA was applied to knock down the protein kinase C alpha (Prkca) of rat CSPCs in vitro and in vivo.

Results: Cartilage thickening and a transient reduction of the CSPCs proportion in the superficial layer of the condylar cartilage were observed after 1 week of MA. The ratio of Ctsk and type II collagen double-positive cells climbed in the first week after MA, and 2 weeks later, the ratio of Ctsk and EdU double-positive cells rose. The expression level of chondrogenic-related genes, Piezo1, and Prkca was elevated in CSPCs after tensile loading. GsMTx4 and BAPTA could block the Ca influx into CSPCs caused by tensile stress. Furthermore, BAPTA and siPrkca could inhibit the stretch-induced chondrogenesis of CSPCs.

Conclusions: We uncovered that tensile stress could cause a transient shrinkage of the CSPCs pool in condylar cartilage, resulting from the accelerated chondrogenesis of CSPCs. Tensile force could promote the chondrogenic ability of CSPCs via the Piezo1-Ca-Prkca pathway. This study suggested a new regulatory route for mandibular growth modification in orthodontic practice.