Disrupted osteocyte connectivity and pericellular fluid flow in bone with aging and defective TGF-β signaling.

ABSTRACT: Skeletal fragility in the elderly does not simply result from a loss of bone mass. However, the mechanisms underlying the concurrent decline in bone mass, quality, and mechanosensitivity with age remain unclear. The important role of osteocytes in these processes and the age-related degeneration of the intricate lacunocanalicular network (LCN) in which osteocytes reside point to a primary role for osteocytes in bone aging. Since LCN complexity severely limits experimental dissection of these mechanisms in vivo, we used two in silico approaches to test the hypothesis that LCN degeneration, due to aging or an osteocyte-intrinsic defect in transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling (TβRIIocy-/-), is sufficient to compromise essential osteocyte responsibilities of mass transport and exp

SUBMITTER: Schurman CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8237574 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature