Mechanically induced Ca2+ oscillations in osteocytes release extracellular vesicles and enhance bone formation

Andrea E. Morrell, Genevieve N. Brown, Samuel T. Robinson, Rachel L. Sattler, Andrew D. Baik, Gehua Zhen, Xu Cao, Lynda F. Bonewald, Weiyang Jin, Lance C. Kam, X. Edward Guo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

The vast osteocytic network is believed to orchestrate bone metabolic activity in response to mechanical stimuli through production of sclerostin, RANKL, and osteoprotegerin (OPG). However, the mechanisms of osteocyte mechanotransduction remain poorly understood. We've previously shown that osteocyte mechanosensitivity is encoded through unique intracellular calcium (Ca2+) dynamics. Here, by simultaneously monitoring Ca2+ and actin dynamics in single cells exposed to fluid shear flow, we detected actin network contractions immediately upon onset of flow-induced Ca2+ transients, which were facilitated by smooth muscle myosin and further confirmed in native osteocytes ex vivo. Actomyosin contractions have been linked to the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs), and our studies demonstrate that mechanical stimulation upregulates EV production in osteocytes through immunostaining for the secretory vesicle marker Lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) and quantifying EV release in conditioned medium, both of which are blunted when Ca2+ signaling was inhibited by neomycin. Axial tibia compression was used to induce anabolic bone formation responses in mice, revealing upregulated LAMP1 and expected downregulation of sclerostin in vivo. This load-related increase in LAMP1 expression was inhibited in neomycin-injected mice compared to vehicle. Micro-computed tomography revealed significant load-related increases in both trabecular bone volume fraction and cortical thickness after two weeks of loading, which were blunted by neomycin treatment. In summary, we found mechanical stimulation of osteocytes activates Ca2+-dependent contractions and enhances the production and release of EVs containing bone regulatory proteins. Further, blocking Ca2+ signaling significantly attenuates adaptation to mechanical loading in vivo, suggesting a critical role for Ca2+-mediated signaling in bone adaptation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number6
JournalBone Research
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Histology

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