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Klein-Nulend et al. Mechanical stress, estrogen and osteocytes: insights for osteoporosis
DOI:10.1038/bonekey.2015.108
This review provides an overview of the mechanisms by which mechanical stimulation and estrogen act synergistically on osteocytes to enhance bone strength and how this interaction is impaired in people with osteoporosis.
The authors highlight the valuable role of computer stimulation in understanding these processes. Using computer-based models in association with biological data allows links to be made between the behavior of specific cells in bone and changes in bone strength and trabecular morphology.
Of particular note is the link between bone microarchitecture and the sensitivity of osteocytes to mechanical stimuli. Evidence for this has been obtained by in vitro and in vivo modeling together with computer models that simulate the bone remodeling process. Data from these studies have also confirmed that in osteoporosis, low levels of estrogen reduce an already impaired bone response to biomechanical stress.
Editor's comment: The authors hypothesize that bone mechanotransduction is altered in osteoporosis and that the molecular events involved may share common signaling pathways with estrogen. There is no doubt that computer models of bone microarchitecture provide new insights into the mechanosensitivity of osteocytes and their orchestration of osteoclast and osteoblast activity.
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