Figure 2. Mechanisms of matrix stiffness in regulating chondrocyte metabolism.

Scaffolds with distinct stiffness affected chondrocyte metabolism through mechanisms of either canonical mechano-transduction pathways such as laminin β1-FAK, RhoA-ROCK or Ca²⁺ channels TRPV4, TRPA1, Piezo1/2 and epigenetic modifications. Downstream events include phosphorylation of YAP, MLC, Smad3 and GSK3β, which activate genes involved in cytoskeleton reorganization, inflammation and metabolism of chondrocytes