Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41617674›Full record

ArticleBone research2026

Microenvironmental stiffness directs microtubule perturbation in chondrocyte mitosis via ILK-refilinB/Smad3 axis.

Mengmeng Duan, Chenchen Zhou, Guanyue Su, Chunhe Zhang, Jie Ren, Qingjia Chi, Xiaojing Liu, Li Yang, Haiqing Bai, Yang Claire Zeng and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Bone research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Mengmeng DuanState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Chenchen ZhouState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.ORCID 0000-0002-6427-5869
Guanyue SuInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Chunhe ZhangInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Jie RenInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Qingjia ChiDepartment of Engineering Structure and Mechanics, School of Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
Xiaojing LiuLaboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Li Yang111 project Laboratory of Biomechanics and Tissue Repair, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
Haiqing BaiWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0865-1126
Yang Claire ZengWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Seongmin KimWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Yunhao ZhaiWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7826-217X
Crystal Yuri OhWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Adam Yongxin YeDepartment of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Yuting ChenCAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
Longlong SiCAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China. ll.si@siat.ac.cn.
Xiaoheng LiuInstitute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. liuxiaohg@scu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0001-9267-6339
Jing XieState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. xiejing2012@scu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0001-8156-0322

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 11932014National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 12372315National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 81771047National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82273837
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cells actively sense and transduce microenvironmental mechanical inputs into chemical signals via cytoskeletal rearrangements. During these mechanosensation and mechanotransduction processes, the role of the actin cytoskeleton is well-understood, whereas the role of the tubulin cytoskeleton remains largely elusive. Here, we report the dynamic changes in microtubules in response to microenvironmental stiffness during chondrocyte mitosis. Mechanical stiffness was found to be coupled with microtubule generation, directing microtubule dynamics in mitotic chondrocytes. Refilin B was found to be a key regulator of microtubule assembly in chondrocytes in response to mechanical stiffness. It was found to play its role in microtubule formation via the p-Smad3 signaling pathway. Additionally, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), triggered by mechanical stiffness, was found to play an indispensable role in the process of microtubule dynamics mediated by refilin B. Our data emphasizes stiffness-mediated dynamic changes in the microtubules of chondrocytes in a quiescent state (G0) and at anaphase, which improves our understanding of the mechanical regulation of microtubule assembly during the chondrocyte cell cycle and provides insights into microenvironment mechanics during tissue maintenance, wound healing, and disease occurrence.

Indexed as

Cellular MicroenvironmentChondrocytesMicrotubulesMitosisProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesSmad3 ProteinAnimalsMechanotransduction, CellularScaffold Protein ILKSignal TransductionProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesScaffold Protein ILKSmad3 Protein

Identifiers

PMID41617674
PMCPMC12858872

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.