Mechanosensation and transduction in osteocytes

Exploring the molecular basis for mechanosensation, signal transduction, and cytoskeletal remodeling.

Living cells respond to mechanical stimulation in a variety of ways that affect nearly every aspect of their function. Such responses can range from changes in cell morphology to activation of signaling cascades and changes in cell phenotype. Although the biochemical signaling pathways activated by mechanical stimulus have been extensively studied, little is known of the basic mechanisms by whi...

Cardiac Myocytes and Mechanosensation

Assaying mechanosensation.

C. elegans detect and respond to diverse mechanical stimuli using neuronal circuitry that has been defined by decades of work by C. elegans researchers. In this WormMethods chapter, we review and comment on the techniques currently used to assess mechanosensory response. This methods review is intended both as an introduction for those new to the field and a convenient compendium for the expert...

Primary cultures of chick osteocytes retain functional gap junctions between osteocytes and between osteocytes and osteoblasts.

The inaccessibility of osteocytes due to their embedment in the calcified bone matrix in vivo has precluded direct demonstration that osteocytes use gap junctions as a means of intercellular communication. In this article, we report successfully isolating primary cultures of osteocytes from chick calvaria, and, using anti-connexin 43 immunocytochemistry, demonstrate gap junction distribution to...

Signal transduction pathways involved in fluid flow-induced PGE2 production by cultured osteocytes.

To maintain its structural competence, the skeleton adapts to changes in its mechanical environment. Osteocytes are generally considered the bone mechanosensory cells that translate mechanical signals into biochemical, bone metabolism-regulating stimuli necessary for the adaptive process. Prostaglandins are an important part of this mechanobiochemical signaling. We investigated the signal trans...