Osteogenic differentiation of periosteum-derived stromal cells in blast-associated traumatic loading

One of the most recurrent medical complications resulting from blast trauma is heterotopic ossification: the pathological formation of extraskeletal bone in non-osseous tissue. Although a number of studies have established the interaction between mechanics and biology in several non-pathological bone formation processes, the exact role of the mechanical stimuli on the activation of the osteogenic differentiation of cells following blast trauma remains unanswered. Here we present the design and calibration of mechanical loading platforms used to examine the effects of blast-relevant mechanical insults on the activation of osteogenesis in periosteum-derived stromal cells. Multiaxial compression was performed on cells using single-pulses of different stress magnitudes and loading regimes, from quasi-static to high strain rate. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to compare the changes in osteogenic gene expression levels between the different loading conditions and the non-loaded controls. This proof of concept also establishes a new window to address fundamental questions regarding blast injuries at the cellular level.