Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

A Lab-On-A-Chip Platform for Stimulating Osteocyte Mechanotransduction and Analyzing Functional Outcomes of Bone Remodeling
Published on: May 21, 2020
On allosteric control model of bone turnover cycle containing osteocyte regulation loop
David Ian Wimpenny1, Adam Moroz
1Faculty of Computing Science and Engineering, De Montfort University, 49 Oxford Street, Leicester LE1 5XY, UK.
This study models bone remodeling using bio-cybernetic principles and allosteric regulation, revealing a conserved "energy potential" crucial for bone recovery and repair. The mathematical model demonstrates robust cyclic behavior across regulatory levels.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Mathematical Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Bone remodeling is a complex biological process essential for maintaining bone integrity.
- Existing models often simplify the intricate regulatory mechanisms involved in bone homeostasis.
- Understanding osteoactivity in bone tissue and biomaterials is critical for regenerative medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a mathematical model predicting osteoactivity in bone tissue and biomaterials.
- To incorporate various allosteric control mechanisms into a bio-cybernetic model of bone remodeling.
- To investigate the existence of a conserved value within the bone remodeling system.
Main Methods:
- A bio-cybernetic model simulating basic multicellular unit (BMU) action was developed.
- Allosteric regulation mechanisms (Michaelis-Menten, Hill, Adair, KNF, MWC) were integrated.
- A four-dimensional dynamic system was analyzed to identify cyclic behavior and conserved values.
Main Results:
- The model exhibited steady cyclic behavior in a four-dimensional phase space.
- A conserved value, interpreted as a substrate-energy regenerative potential, was identified in the osteoclasts-osteoblasts-osteocytes-bone system.
- This potential acts against mechanical and biomechanical damage, similar to energy in physical systems.
Conclusions:
- The mathematical model accurately reflects normal bone remodeling processes.
- The cyclic attractor, consistent with Michaelis-Menten mechanisms, prevails across different feedback controls.
- A conserved value analogous to energy characterizes the bone remodeling cycle's recovery potential, demonstrating robust regulation from cellular to molecular levels.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Remodeling
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling
Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Allosteric Regulation
Allosteric Regulation
Bone Remodeling and Repair
