Dark horse in osteocyte biology

Abstract

Osteocytes are considered as the major mechanosensory cells of the bone tissue that control the bone remodeling process. Since osteocytes are buried inside mineralized matrix, they maintain a strong communication network with other cells. Long dendritic processes of the osteocytes act as communication cables, conveying mechanical signals to the neighboring osteocytes and the cells on the bone surface; like osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Gap junctions and hemichannels formed by Connexin (Cx) 43 are observed to be involved in responding to the mechanical stimulus and in communicating the mechano-responsive biochemical signals. The contrast in the arrangement of the osteocyte cell body and the dendrites raises an important question of how these parts of the osteocyte respond to mechanical stimulation. We addressed this issue in our recent report through the stimulation of either osteocyte cell body or dendrites and our findings suggest that the osteocyte dendritic processes are sensitive to mechanical stimulat...