Effects of tensile stress on the expression of ILK in rat myoblasts cultured in a three-dimensional PLGA-collagen scaffold

Objective: To study the expression changes of rat myoblasts cultured in vitro in a PLGA-collagen scaffold after mechanical stimulation in order to better understand the mechanotransdution process. Methods: Rat myoblasts were cultured in vitro. Then those in the experimental group were vaccinated on the plane adhered to PLGA-collagen scaffold while those in the control group were vaccinated on a plane. A cyclic strain loading apparatus, "Forcel" four-point bending device, was used for mechanical loading. The post-stress expression of ILK mRNA was tested by RT-PCR. The difference in the expression of cells cultured in a three-dimensional PLGA-collagen scaffold and that on a two-dimensional surface at the gene level was compared. Results: Under the tension stress, myoblasts cultured in the three-dimensional system had a greater expression than that on the two-dimensional surface at the same time point; the expression of the cells in three-dimensional scaffold reached the peak faster than that on the two-dimensional surface. Conclusion: The ILK mRNA expression of the cells is greater in a three-dimensional scaffold than on a two-dimensional surface. Therefore, it can be concluded that the local architecture conditions play an important role in cells' initial responses to mechanical stimuli.