Several lines of evidence suggest that osteocytes play a
critical role in bone remodeling. Both healthy and apoptotic
osteocytes can send signals to other bone surface cells such
as osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteoclast precursors, and bone
lining cells through canalicular networks. Osteocytes
responding to mechanical strain may also send signals to
other cells. To determine the role for osteocytes and
mechanical strain in bone remodeling, we examined the
effects of fluid flow shear stress on osteoclast precursor cell
and osteoblast proliferation and recruitment induced by
osteocytes. In addition, the effects of fluid flow shear stress
on osteocyte M-CSF, RANKL, and OPG mRNA expression
were also examined. MLO-Y4 cells were used as an in vitro
model for osteocytes, RAW 264.7 cells and MOCP-5 cells as
osteoclast precursors, and 2T3 cells as osteoblasts. MLO-Y4
cells conditioned medium (Y4-CM) was collected after 24h
culture. For fluid flow experiments, MLO-Y4 cells were
exposed to 2 h of pulsatile fluid flow (PFF) at 2, 4, 8, 16 ±
0.6 dynes/cm
²
using the Flexcell Streamer
TM
system. For
proliferation assays, MOCP-5, RAW 264.7, and 2T3 cells
were cultured with control media or 10 - 100 % Y4 CM.
Cells were cultured for 3 d, and then cells were counted.
RAW 264.7 and 2T3 cell migration was assayed using
transwells with control media or 10 - 100 % Y4-CM. MCSF,
RANKL and OPG in MLO-Y4 mRNA expression was
determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Y4-CM
increased osteoclast precursor proliferation and migration,
but decreased 2T3 cell proliferation and migration. CM
from MLO-Y4 cells exposed to PFF caused decreased RAW
267.4 cell proliferation and migration and 2T3 migration
compared to control Y4-CM. However, Y4-CM from cells
exposed to PFF had no effect on 2T3 osteoblastic cell
proliferation. PFF decreased RNAKL mRNA and
increased OPG mRNA in MLO-Y4 cells compared to
control (without PFF). PFF had no effect on M-CSF mRNA
expression in MLO-Y4 cells. These results suggest that
osteocytes can regulate bone remodeling by communication
with osteoclast precursors and osteoblasts and that
osteocytes can communicate mechanical signals to other
cells.
Several lines of evidence suggest that osteocytes play a
critical role in bone remodeling. Both healthy and apoptotic
osteocytes can send signals to other bone surface cells such
as osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteoclast precursors, and bone
lining cells through canalicular networks. Osteocytes
responding to mechanical strain may also send signals to
other cells. To determine the role for osteocytes and
mechanical strain in bone remodeling, we examined the
effects of fluid flow shear stress on osteoclast precursor cell
and osteoblast proliferation and recruitment induced by
osteocytes. In addition, the effects of fluid flow shear stress
on osteocyte M-CSF, RANKL, and OPG mRNA expression
were also examined. MLO-Y4 cells were used as an in vitro
model for osteocytes, RAW 264.7 cells and MOCP-5 cells as
osteoclast precursors, and 2T3 cells as osteoblasts. MLO-Y4
cells conditioned medium (Y4-CM) was collected after 24h
culture. For fluid flow experiments, MLO-Y4 cells were
exposed to 2 h of pulsatile fluid flow (PFF) at 2, 4, 8, 16 ±
0.6 dynes/cm
²
using the Flexcell Streamer
TM
system. For
proliferation assays, MOCP-5, RAW 264.7, and 2T3 cells
were cultured with control media or 10 - 100 % Y4 CM.
Cells were cultured for 3 d, and then cells were counted.
RAW 264.7 and 2T3 cell migration was assayed using
transwells with control media or 10 - 100 % Y4-CM. MCSF,
RANKL and OPG in MLO-Y4 mRNA expression was
determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Y4-CM
increased osteoclast precursor proliferation and migration,
but decreased 2T3 cell proliferation and migration. CM
from MLO-Y4 cells exposed to PFF caused decreased RAW
267.4 cell proliferation and migration and 2T3 migration
compared to control Y4-CM. However, Y4-CM from cells
exposed to PFF had no effect on 2T3 osteoblastic cell
proliferation. PFF decreased RNAKL mRNA and
increased OPG mRNA in MLO-Y4 cells compared to
control (without PFF). PFF had no effect on M-CSF mRNA
expression in MLO-Y4 cells. These results suggest that
osteocytes can regulate bone remodeling by communication
with osteoclast precursors and osteoblasts and that
osteocytes can communicate mechanical signals to other
cells.