Clark, AndreaJablonski, Christina Lynn2014-05-232014-11-172014-05-232014Jablonski, C. L. (2014). Integrin α1β1 participates in Chondrocyte Transduction of Osmotic Stress (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26589http://hdl.handle.net/11023/1545Purpose: To determine the role of the collagen binding receptor integrin α1β1 in regulating chondrocyte osmotransduction. Methods: The [Ca2+]i transient response of wildtype and integrin α1-null chondrocytes to osmotic stress was measured ex vivo and in vitro using real-time confocal microscopy. Immunocytochemistry was performed to detect the presence of the osmosensor, transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), and the agonist GSK1016790A (GSK101) was used to test for its functionality. Results: Deletion of the integrin α1 subunit inhibited the ability of chondrocytes to respond to a hypo-osmotic stress ex vivo and in vitro. TRPV4 protein was expressed by both wildtype and integrin α1-null chondrocytes, however TRPV4 could only be activated on wildtype chondrocytes. Conclusion: Integrin α1β1 is a key participant in chondrocyte transduction of a hypo-osmotic stress. Furthermore, the mechanism by which integrin α1β1 influences osmotransduction is independent of matrix binding, but likely dependent on the chondrocyte osmosensor TRPV4.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Animal PhysiologyBiology--CellBiology--MolecularChondrocyteOsmotic StressIntegrin α1β1Extracellular MatrixOsteoarthritismaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/26589