Article
Cell Biology
Joseph D. Gardinier, Amit Chougule, Chunbin Zhang
Summary: This study found that the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of senescent cells has a negative effect on the mechanotransduction of osteocytes, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key component that contributes to the loss in mechanotransduction.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Jung Un Ally Choi, Amanda W. Kijas, Jan Lauko, Alan E. Rowan
Summary: Bone homestasis relies on osteoblasts and osteoclasts, with osteocytes playing a crucial role as the most abundant and mechanosensitive bone cells. Osteocytes contribute to the regulation of local matrix and communicate with distant organs. Mechanical stimuli and biochemical signaling govern osteocyte function. However, the understanding of osteocyte mechanotransduction is limited due to technical challenges.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emma Morris, Claire M. Edwards
Summary: Multiple myeloma is a malignancy caused by abnormal plasma cells that can manipulate their microenvironment to promote growth and evade treatment. Different cell types and signaling molecules in the niches of the bone marrow have significant influences on the biology and behavior of myeloma cells.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Liu, Xiaohua Pu, Mengmeng Duan, Cheng Chen, Yanfang Zhao, Demao Zhang, Jing Xie
Summary: Designing a biomimetic physical microenvironment that closely resembles in vivo tissue for observing real cell behaviors is a major challenge. In this study, a novel cell culture platform was established using patterned equidistant micropillars with varying stiffnesses to mimic the changes occurring in the transition from normal to osteoporotic disease. The findings revealed that the soft micropillar substrate decreased osteocyte synaptogenesis and impaired cell mechanoperception and cytoskeletal rearrangement. The reduction in osteocyte synaptogenesis was mainly mediated through the inactivation of Erk/MAPK signaling. Additionally, the soft micropillar substrate-mediated synaptogenesis affected cell-to-cell communication and matrix mineralization of osteocytes. These results provide evidence of cellular mechanical responses that more closely resemble those of real osteocytes at the bone tissue level.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ji Yeon Lee, Jae-Yeon Yang, Sang Wan Kim
Summary: Lineage-tracing studies have shown that parathyroid hormone and anti-sclerostin antibody can convert bone lining cells into active osteoblasts, while these cells may also differentiate into bone marrow adipocytes. Rosiglitazone can stimulate this differentiation process, but Scl-Ab administration may suppress it, contributing to anabolic effects.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mirco Brondolin, Dylan Herzog, Sami Sultan, Fiona Warburton, Alessandra Vigilante, Robert D. Knight
Summary: Skeletal muscle regeneration is mediated by migratory adult muscle stem cells (muSCs), but the relationship between muSC migration and cell fate is poorly understood. This study used zebrafish to investigate the impact of muSC adhesion and behavior on their fate. The results showed that muSCs migrate using protrusive-based means and employ an adhesion-dependent mode of migration regulated by the RhoA kinase ROCK. Impaired ROCK activity leads to changes in gene expression and differentiation in regenerating muscle, indicating that muSC migration and differentiation are coupled processes mediated by RhoA signaling.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yara Haridy, Markus Osenberg, Andre Hilger, Ingo Manke, Donald Davesne, Florian Witzmann
Summary: The study reveals the well-preserved lacunae and canaliculi spaces of osteocytes in fossilized bone, providing evidence for the presence of bone cells and supporting the hypothesis of mineral homeostasis mechanism during the evolution of cellular bone. However, little is known about the physiological pressures that initially favored the evolution of cellular bone.
Article
Cell Biology
Yuanyuan Zeng, Hengxing Liang, Yue Guo, Yunzhi Feng, Qianqian Yao
Summary: The study found that APN can promote the proliferation of MLO-Y4 osteocytes and inhibit the expression of Bcl-2, Caspase 3, Caspase 8, and ROS in a dose-dependent manner in a high-glucose environment. The AMPK/FoxO3A signaling pathway may be a key pathway for the effects of APN on regulating osteocyte apoptosis in diabetics.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuhan Xia, Aoi Ikedo, Ji-Won Lee, Tadahiro Iimura, Kazuki Inoue, Yuuki Imai
Summary: Our study reveals that Utx positively regulates osteoblast-to-osteocyte differentiation through H3K27me3 modifications in osteocyte genes. This provides new insight into the molecular mechanism of osteocyte differentiation.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Karin H. Nilsson, Petra Henning, Maha El Shahawy, Jianyao Wu, Antti Koskela, Juha Tuukkanen, Christine Perret, Ulf H. Lerner, Claes Ohlsson, Sofia Moverare-Skrtic
Summary: The study demonstrated that osteocytes and late osteoblasts are the principal source of NOTUM in cortical bone, and NOTUM produced by these cells reduces cortical bone mass. Inhibition of osteocyte/late osteoblast-derived NOTUM may be an interesting pharmacological target to increase cortical bone mass and reduce the risk of non-vertebral fractures. The findings highlight the specific role of NOTUM derived from DMP1-expressing osteocytes and late osteoblasts in regulating cortical bone mass rather than trabecular bone mass.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Yukun Jiang, Yuzhe Guan, Yuanchen Lan, Shuo Chen, Tiancheng Li, Shujuan Zou, Zhiai Hu, Qingsong Ye
Summary: The Piezo1 channel plays a critical role in mediating bone formation and osteoclastic activities during orthodontic tooth movement, particularly on the tension side. Inhibition of Piezo1 function leads to reduced expression of osteogenesis-associated transcription factors and disruptions in bone remodeling processes.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Minglu Yan, Masayuki Tsukasaki, Ryunosuke Muro, Yutaro Ando, Kazutaka Nakamura, Noriko Komatsu, Takeshi Nitta, Tadashi Okamura, Kazuo Okamoto, Hiroshi Takayanagi
Summary: By analyzing the epigenomic landscape of osteocytic cells, a previously unknown osteocytic cell-specific intronic enhancer in the TNFSF11 gene locus was identified. Further research showed that cell death signaling increases RANKL expression in osteocytic cells, and deletion of this enhancer led to a high-bone-mass phenotype. These findings suggest that osteocytes may utilize a specialized regulatory element to facilitate osteoclast formation by linking signals from cellular senescence/death and RANKL expression.
Article
Biology
Vassanti Audemar, Yannick Guerringue, Joni Frederick, Pauline Vinet, Isaty Melogno, Avin Babataheri, Valerie Legue, Sebastien Thomine, Jean-Marie Frachisse
Summary: A study has investigated how plant roots respond to mechanical compression using a microfluidic system. The researchers found that lateral pressure on the roots resulted in moderate elastic deformation of the root cells and an increase in calcium signaling. They also observed that repeated pressure stimuli led to a decrease in the calcium signal. These findings contribute to our understanding of how roots adapt to mechanical cues in the soil.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Beth S. Lee, Cynthia Murray, Jie Liu, Minji Kim, Min Sik Hwang, Tina Yueh, Myrna Mansour, Sana Qamar, Gunjan Agarwal, Do-Gyoon Kim
Summary: The results of the experiments show that MYO9B plays a crucial role in the mechanical stress-induced responses of bone cells in vitro and in vivo.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yongguang Gao, Suryaji Patil, Jingxian Jia
Summary: Osteoporosis is a major bone disorder affecting both men and women, primarily due to an imbalance in bone remodeling. Understanding the effects of molecules produced by different cells on bone can help identify new therapeutic targets and approaches for preventing and treating bone disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Charlotte Knight, Sally James, David Kuntin, James Fox, Katherine Newling, Sam Hollings, Rebecca Pennock, Paul Genever
CELLULAR SIGNALLING
(2019)
Article
Cell Biology
Marielle Balzano, Maria De Grandis, Thien-Phong Vu Manh, Lionel Chasson, Florence Bardin, Anne Farina, Arnauld Serge, Ghislain Bidaut, Pierre Charbord, Leonard Herault, Anne-Laure Bailly, Amandine Cartier-Michaud, Annie Boned, Marc Dalod, Estelle Duprez, Paul Genever, Mark Coles, Marc Bajenoff, Luc Xerri, Michel Aurrand-Lions, Claudine Schiff, Stephane J. C. Mancini
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Alison Wilson, Andrew Webster, Paul Genever
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
(2019)
Article
Toxicology
Paul Souter, Jim C. Cunningham, Alan Horner, Paul G. Genever
TOXICOLOGY IN VITRO
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
R. A. Rocha, J. M. Fox, P. G. Genever, Y. Hancock
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of Raman spectroscopy for classifying and stratifying bone-derived mesenchymal stromal cells based on biological function, with quantified assessment of biomolecular stratification and cell heterogeneity achieved through high-precision measurements and statistical sampling. The results show the potential of these methods as label-free assays for cell sub-type classification within complex heterogeneous populations, with implications for therapeutic translation and phenotypic characterisation of various cells.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Alison J. Wilson, Emma Rand, Andrew J. Webster, Paul G. Genever
Summary: Many clinical trials involving mesenchymal stem/stromal cells lack comprehensive characterization data of the cellular population, including details on surface marker expression, viability, and differentiation. Functional assessment is very limited and does not always correlate with the likely mechanism of action.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Hematology
Oliver J. Herd, Gulab Fatima Rani, James P. Hewitson, Karen Hogg, Andrew P. Stone, Nichola Cooper, David G. Kent, Paul G. Genever, Ian S. Hitchcock
Summary: ITP progression drives significant expansion of progenitors and bone marrow remodeling in mice, while maintaining LT-HSC functionality through an adaptive BM microenvironment. This includes BM vasodilation, angiogenesis, and increased CXCL12 production, enabling improved progenitor homing to the BM. The changes in BM stromal cells are transient, but the vasculature alterations persist even after platelet count returns to normal.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Carmen C. Piras, Alasdair G. Kay, Paul G. Genever, Juliette Fitremann, David K. Smith
Summary: This study reports simple strategies to fabricate self-assembled artificial tubular and filamentous systems using a low molecular weight gelator (LMWG). The LMWG can be used in combination with a polymer gelator or alone to create stable gel structures with the ability to generate gold nanoparticles. The results show potential for tissue engineering applications.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Carmen C. Piras, Clare S. Mahon, Paul G. Genever, David K. Smith
Summary: Hydrogels with spatio-temporally controlled properties were fabricated using mild acidification protocols. The hybrid gels showed highly tunable properties and antibacterial activity, making them potential candidates for regenerative medicine applications.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lydia J. Barber, Nicholas D. J. Yates, Martin A. Fascione, Alison Parkin, Glyn R. Hemsworth, Paul G. Genever, Christopher D. Spicer
Summary: Protein N-termini offer unique reactive motifs for protein modification, but the selectivity, generality, and stability of the conjugates formed at this site have not been well studied. A comprehensive comparative study of the most promising methods for N-terminal protein modification reveals the need for reagent screening based on specific proteins or applications, and highlights the importance of continuous innovation and development in the field of bioconjugation.
RSC CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jordan Tzvetkov, Louise A. Stephen, Scott Dillon, Jose Luis Millan, Anke J. Roelofs, Cosimo De Bari, Colin Farquharson, Tony Larson, Paul Genever
Summary: Lipids play a crucial role in regulating the development and maintenance of the skeleton. This study investigated the lipid atlas of healthy mouse knee and revealed the effects of PHOSPHO1 ablation on the growth plate lipidome. The findings highlight the essential role of PHOSPHO1-mediated membrane phospholipid metabolism in lipid and bone homeostasis.
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Carmen C. Piras, Paul G. Genever, David K. Smith
Summary: The researchers have developed hybrid hydrogels that combine gellan gum polymer gelator with a low-molecular weight gelator. These gels have enhanced stiffness and resistance to shear strain, making them potentially useful for orthopedic applications. The hybrid gel beads also support the growth of human mesenchymal stem cells for extended periods of time. Importantly, the low-molecular weight gelator in the hybrid gels retains its ability to reduce precious metal salts to nanoparticles, allowing for in situ fabrication of silver nanoparticles.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Carmen C. Piras, Alasdair G. Kay, Paul G. Genever, David K. Smith
Summary: In this study, hybrid self-assembled microgel beads were prepared by combining low molecular weight gelator and natural polysaccharide polymer gelator. The resulting microgels showed reproducible diameters and enhanced growth of human mesenchymal stem cells in cell culture medium. This approach has the potential for future applications in tissue repair.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paul Souter, John Vaughan, Kerry Butcher, Adam Dowle, Jim Cunningham, James Dodd, Michael Hall, Darren Wilson, Alan Horner, Paul Genever
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Matthew Walker, Iain Will, Andrew Pratt, Victor Chechik, Paul Genever, Daniel Ungar
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2020)
Article
Biophysics
Nathan D. Camarillo, Rafael Jimenez-Silva, Frances T. Sheehan
Summary: This article discusses the statistical dependence between multiple measurements from the same participant and provides recommendations for using these measurements when they are not independent.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
J. Huet, A. -S. Boureau, A. Sarcher, C. Cornu, A. Nordez
Summary: Standard compression in freehand 3D ultrasound induces a bias in volume calculations, but minimal compression and gel pad methods have similar results. With a trained examiner and precautions, the bias can be minimized and become acceptable in clinical applications.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
C. Lariviere, A. H. Eskandari, H. Mecheri, F. Ghezelbash, D. Gagnon, A. Shirazi-Adl
Summary: Recent developments in musculoskeletal modeling have focused on model customization. Personalization of the spine profile may affect estimates of spinal loading and stability. This study investigates the biomechanical consequences of changes in the spinal profile and finds that personalizing the spine profile has medium to large effects on trunk muscle forces and negligible to small effects on spinal loading and stability.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Luke T. Mattar, Arash B. Mahboobin, Adam J. Popchak, William J. Anderst, Volker Musahl, James J. Irrgang, Richard E. Debski
Summary: Exercise therapy fails in about 25.0% of cases for individuals with rotator cuff tears, and one reason for this failure may be the inability to strengthen and balance the muscle forces that keep the humeral head in the correct position. This study developed computational musculoskeletal models to compare the net muscle force before and after exercise therapy between successfully and unsuccessfully treated patients. The study found that unsuccessfully treated patients had less inferiorly oriented net muscle forces, which may increase the risk of impingement.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Natsuki Sado, Takeshi Edagawa, Toshihide Fujimori, Shogo Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Okamoto, Takahito Nakajima
Summary: The existing methods for predicting hip and lumbosacral joint centres in Japanese adults are biased and differ between sexes. We propose new regression equations that consider soft-tissue thickness, sex differences, and a height-directional measure, and validate them using leave-one-out cross-validation.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Peimin Yu, Xuanzhen Cen, Qichang Mei, Alan Wang, Yaodong Gu, Justin Fernandez
Summary: This study aimed to explore the intra-foot biomechanical differences among individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI), copers, and healthy individuals during dynamic tasks. The study found that copers and CAI individuals had smaller dorsiflexion angles and copers presented a more eversion position compared to healthy participants. Copers also had greater dorsiflexion angles in the metatarsophalangeal joint and more inversion moments in the subtalar joint during certain tasks. These findings can help in designing interventions to restore ankle joint functions in CAI individuals.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2024)
Article
Biophysics
Jon Skovgaard Jensen, Anders Holsgaard-Larsen, Anders Stengaard Sorensen, Per Aagaard, Jens Bojsen-Moller
Summary: This study investigates the biomechanical effects of robot-assisted body weight unloading (BWU) on gait patterns in healthy young adults. The results show that dynamic robot-assisted BWU enables reduced kinetic requirements without distorting biomechanically normal gait patterns during overground walking.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2024)