https://phys.org/news/2019-01-stem-cells-fate-stiffness.html

In collaboration with Dr. Oliver Otto, at the University of Greifswald, the Freiburg researchers demonstrated that the chondrogenic potential of MSCs correlates with emergence of a stiffer phenotype and increase in cell size. Their findings allude to a hitherto unknown mechanobiology paradigm in MSC differentiation. "Since MSCs harvested from adult bone marrow are a heterogeneous population of cells and their ability to undergo differentiation into cartilage or bone cells varies from donor to donor, our findings have significant implication for MSC-based strategies for engineering cartilage and bone tissue," explains Shastri.

                                                            
                                    
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                                    Melika Sarem et al. Cell number in mesenchymal stem cell aggregates dictates cell stiffness and chondrogenesis, Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2019). DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-1103-y