Abstract:
It is widely believedthat mechanical environment plays a critical role in theformation, proliferation and maturation of bone cells. Osteocytesas mechanosensors have the ability to transmit mechanical signalsto effector cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Bone mechanicalintegrity is maintained by a dynamic balance between boneresorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts.However, the mechanisms of cellular mechanical regulations in bonecells are not clearly understood. In this paper, several relevantstudies on the cellular mechanobiology and intercellularmechanical regulation in bone are reviewed and discussed. Based ona brief introduction of the biological properties of osteoblasts,osteocytes and osteoclasts, the principle of mechanical regulationin bone remodeling is presented, and the resent progresses in thecellular mechanobiology and intercellular mechanical regulation ofbone cells are elaborated. Finally, the future trend of researchon three-dimensional web of mechanical regulation in bone cells isprospected.