Page 19 - Physico-Chemical Niche Conditions for Bone Cells

Figure 2. Schematic diagram showing that physical and chemical niche conditions affect osteoblast cell shape (e.g. cell body/nuclear area and volume), integrins, cytoskeleton (e.g. F-actin, microtubules, paxillin), mitochondrial network structure, and cell function. 3D: 3 dimensional; ECM: extracellular matrix; RGD: Arginine-glycine-aspartate.
Bone and muscle mass are influenced by physical and (bio)chemical factors. Bone and muscle cells have few similarities and reside in very different niche conditions. Close communication and/or interaction between bone and muscle is very important. Therefore, in Chapter 2 we reviewed the physicochemical niche conditions of (pre)-osteocytes and myocytes and how these niche conditions affect the manner in which mechanical cues are sensed, thereby determining cell fate and function.
The mechanical environment is essential and pivotal for proper morphogenesis and maintenance of a healthy bone structure and function. It can affect bone matrix deformation resulting in the flow of interstitial fluid surrounding bone cells. When bone cells sense mechanical stimuli, their shape is changed and subsequently they produce signaling molecules (e.g. nitric oxide). Therefore, we assessed in Chapter 3 the effects of fluid shear stress on cell and nucleus morphology and volume of osteoblasts, and how these effects relate to changes in actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesion formation.
Chapter 1
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