应力对生长板的形成和发育至关重要，而力学对生长板软骨细胞的调控机制以及相应力学传导过程尚不明确。申请者在前期研究中发现YAP (Yes-associated protein)参与生长板软骨细胞力学信号传导过程，推测YAP在应力调控生长板正常发育和异常病变中发挥重要作用。本项目首先体外分离培养生长板软骨细胞；然后研究应力对生长板软骨细胞内YAP活性的调控作用；同时观察和检测FAK（Focal adhesion kinase）、RhoA、F-actin和LINC(linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complex的表达；并采用激动剂或拮抗剂，研究这些可能的信号传导因子和YAP之间的关系；最后我们研究YAP在力学调控生长板软骨细胞肥大分化中的作用。对生长板力学信号转导过程的认识越深，越能为早期干预生长板异常病变提供新方法。

Mechanical loading has been proved to be extensively important to the formation and development of growth plate. However, the regulatory mechanism of mechanical loading and related mechanotransduction are still not completely understood. It is found, in previous study, YAP (Yes-associated protein) was involved in the mechanotransduction of growth plate chondrocytes and we hypothesized that YAP may play an important role in the physiological development and pathological disorders of growth plate. In our studies, firstly, the growth plate chondrocytes will be obtained and culture in vitro. Then we will investigate the activation of YAP in growth plate chondrocytes which will be subjected to mechanical loading. Simutaneously, the expression of FAK（Focal adhesion kinase）, RhoA，F-actin and LINC (linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complex will be observed and detected. And the relationship between these possible signal transduction factors and YAP will be analyzed by using agonist or antagonist. Finally, the role of YAP in hypertrophic differentiation of growth plate chondrocytes in response to mechanical loading will be explored. In a word, the more we understand the mechanotransduction of the growth plate, the better we develop a new strategy for interventions of pathological growth plate in early stage.