The dependences of osteocyte network on bone compartment, age, and disease

• Published in: Bone research Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 72 - 82
• Main Authors: Lai, Xiaohan, Price, Christopher, Modla, Shannon, Thompson, William R, Caplan, Jeffrey, Kirn-Safran, Catherine B, Wang, Liyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: China Springer Nature B.V 19.05.2015; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA%Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA%DBI Bioimaging Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA%Department of Physical Therapy, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA%Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: LCS; 年龄; 机械信号; 疾病; 网络拓扑; 营养供给; 计算机网络; 骨细胞
• ISSN: 2095-4700; 2095-6231
• DOI: 10.1038/boneres.2015.9

Osteocytes, the most abundant bone cells, form an interconnected network in the lacunar-canalicular pore system （LCS） buried within the mineralized matrix, which allows osteocytes to obtain nutrients from the blood supply, sense external mechanical signals, and communicate among themselves and with other cells on bone surfaces. In this study, we examined key features of the LCS network including the topological parameter and the detailed structure of individual connections and their variations in cortical and cancellous compa~ tments, at different ages, and in two disease conditions with altered mechanosensing （perlecan deficiency and diabetes）. LCS network showed both topological stability, in terms of conservation of connectivity among osteocyte lacunae （similar to the ＂nodes＂ in a computer network）, and considerable variability the pericellular annular fluid gap surrounding lacunae and canaliculi （similar to the ＂bandwidth＂ of individual links in a computer network）. Age, in the range of our study （15-32 weeks）, affected only the pericellular fluid annulus in cortical bone but not in cancellous bone. Diabetes impacted the spacing of the lacunae, while the perlecan deficiency had a profound influence on the pericellular fluid annulus. The LCS network features play important roles in osteocyte signaling and regulation of bone growth and adaptation.