Samples were analyzed immediately after the final loading cycle in each group for mRNA expression of RUNX2 (A), osteopontin (OPN) (B), Yes-associated protein (YAP) (C), and the YAP-TEAD transcriptional target gene, Cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61) (D), calculated as fold change over free-swelling controls, normalized to GAPDH. Data are shown as mean ± s.d. with individual data points. ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc tests were used to determine significance (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01). Mineral deposition was evaluated by alizarin red staining on histological sections (E) (scale bar = 100 μm). N = 4 per group.