Fig. 7

Dynamic tensile loading induces chromatin condensation in MSCs via the activation of histone modifying enzymes. a MSCs were seeded onto aligned nanofibrous scaffolds and exposed to dynamic tensile loading (3% strain at 1 Hz). DAPI-stained nuclei (top) and chromatin condensation parameter (CCP) image processing (bottom) for control and under ROCK inhibitor Y27. b Chromatin condensation (assessed by CCP) was increased by dynamic tensile loading (DL): green and blue lines. This was abrogated under GSK343, an inhibitor of histone methyltransferase EZH2. The control is treated with control media (CM). *: p < 0.05 vs. CM at 0 s, +: p < 0.05 vs. DL 3 h in CM. c DL induction of increase in CCP was impaired by ROCK inhibitor Y27. *: p < 0.05 vs. CM control, +: p < 0.05 vs. Y27, α: p < 0.05 vs. 150 s. Adapted and reprinted with permission from [55]