Biomechanical modulation of collagen fragment-induced anabolic and catabolic activities in chondrocyte/agarose constructs.

Introduction: The present study examined the effect of collagen fragments on anabolic and catabolic activities by chondrocyte/agarose constructs subjected to dynamic compression.

Methods: Constructs were cultured under free-swelling conditions or subjected to continuous and intermittent compression regimes, in the presence of the N-terminal (NT) and C-terminal (CT) telopeptides derived from collagen type II and/or 1400 W (inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)). The anabolic and catabolic activities were compared to the amino-terminal fibronectin fragment (NH2-FN-f) and assessed as follows: nitric oxide (NO) release and sulphated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content were quantified using biochemical assays.