Researchers at Western University investigate how intervertebral disc cells respond to mechanical loading to better understand disc development, maintenance, and degeneration.
In this interview, Prof. Cheryle Séguin describes how controlled mechanical stimulation is applied to cultured annulus fibrosus cells to study changes in cell morphology and gene expression. By applying defined stretch protocols at the cellular level, the work helps distinguish between physiological and excessive mechanical loading and their effects on disc cell behavior.
This research demonstrates how in vitro mechanical stimulation platforms support mechanobiology studies that bridge tissue-level mechanics and cell-level responses.
