Mathematical Biology Seminar: Lidan You

Bone remodeling involves the coupled action of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteocytes are believed to sense and respond to mechanical loading applied to bone at the tissue level and regulate bone remodeling process. However, how osteocytes regulate the action of osteoblasts and osteoclasts is unknown. To systematically investigate the cellular level mechanism underlying the osteocyte mechanoregulation of bone remodeling, we applied different types of mechanical stimuli to osteocytes. Cell-cell communications and bone formation and bone resorption markers at transcriptional level and protein level were analyzed. We found those osteocytes are highly responsive to dynamic fluid flow, dynamic hydraulic pressure, and low magnitude and high frequency vibration. Our data indicate that mechanically challenged osteocytes release soluble factors promote bone formation and inhibit bone resorption.