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Updated: Dec 18, 2025
05:03
A Fluorescent Intravital Imaging Approach to Study Load-Induced Calcium Signaling Dynamics in Mouse Osteocytes
Published on: February 24, 2023
941
Molecular mechanosensors in osteocytes
Lei Qin1, Wen Liu1, Huiling Cao1
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, and School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055 China.
Bone Research
|June 19, 2020
Summary
Osteocytes are key bone cells that sense mechanical forces. This review details their mechanosensors and signaling pathways, crucial for bone remodeling and preventing fragility.
Area of Science:
- Bone biology
- Mechanobiology
- Cell signaling
Background:
- Osteocytes, abundant bone cells, regulate bone remodeling and metabolism.
- They are critical mechanosensitive cells responding to mechanical stimulation for bone adaptation.
- Osteocyte dysfunction contributes to bone loss and fragility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review osteocyte mechanobiology.
- To detail the various mechanosensors identified in osteocytes.
- To discuss the role of osteocyte mechanosensitive pathways in bone homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of in vitro and in vivo studies.
- Analysis of identified osteocyte mechanosensors.
- Discussion of mechanotransduction pathways.
Main Results:
- Osteocytes sense mechanical cues through cytoskeleton, dendritic processes, focal adhesions, intercellular junctions, primary cilia, ion channels, and extracellular matrix.
- These mechanosensors initiate complex intracellular signaling.
- Mechanotransduction regulates bone formation, adaptation, and loss.
Conclusions:
- Osteocytes are central to bone's response to mechanical stimuli.
- Understanding osteocyte mechanosensors is vital for bone health.
- Targeting these pathways may offer therapeutic strategies for skeletal diseases.
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