Mechanical Stretch-Induced ATP Release from Osteocytes Promotes Osteogenesis of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) is a highly effective method for bone regeneration, commonly employed in treating craniofacial defects and deformities. Osteocytes sense mechanical forces in the pericellular space, relay external stimuli to biochemical changes, and send signals to other effector cells, including bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), to regulate bone resorption and formation. Piezo1 potentially affects the secretion signal molecules of bone cells under mechanical stretch. The primary aim of this study was to enhance our comprehension of the molecular biology underlying this therapeutic approach and to identify specific signaling molecules that facilitate bone formation in response to stretch forces.

Mechanical stretching was applied to negative controls and Piezo1 knockdown osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells. Alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin Red S staining were used to survey the osteogenic potential of BM-MSCs. The production and secretion content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was measured using ATP content determination analysis. Pathway-related and osteo-specific genes and proteins were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blots, and immunofluorescence. Mitochondrial organization was examined with a transmission electron microscope.

The conditioned medium of stretch-exposed MLO-Y4s significantly upregulated osteogenesis-related indicators of BM-MSCs (p < 0.001). The upregulation of BM-MSC osteogenesis was associated with ATP release from osteocytes. Mechanically induced calcium transfer and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) nuclear translocation mediated by Piezo1 could promote mitochondrial fission and ATP release. Osteocytes detected stretch forces through Piezo1, triggering calcium influx, TAZ nuclear translocation, and ATP production.

The stretch stimulation of Piezo1 induces calcium influx, which in turn promotes calcium-related TAZ nuclear translocation, changes in mitochondrial dynamics, and the release of ATP in osteocytes. This signaling cascade leads to an up-regulation in the osteogenic capacity of BM-MSCs. Mitochondrial energy metabolism of mechanosensitive protein Piezo1-dependent and ATP release may provide a new effective intervention method for mechanically related bone remodeling.