{"title":"Mechanobiological response of osteocyte PIEZO1 to induced piezoelectricity of bone matrix","authors":"Yuqing Duanwang \n (, ), Yanru Xue \n (, ), Zhengbiao Yang \n (, ), Shibo Gu \n (, ), Yinuo Zhao \n (, ), Shuo Gao \n (, ), Haochen Li \n (, ), Yanqin Wang \n (, ), Meng Zhang \n (, ), Xiaogang Wu \n (, ), Weiyi Chen \n (, ), Xiaochun Wei \n (, ), Yixian Qin \n (, )","doi":"10.1007/s10409-025-25609-x","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Osteocytes are the main responders to mechanical stimuli and the primary regulators of bone metabolism and homeostasis. Piezo channels are mechanosensitive, nonselective cation channels. This study constructs an osteocyte model with a piezoelectric bone matrix, including lacuna-canalicular system and various mechanosensors, integrating the complex effects of solid field, flow field, and electric field on osteocytes. By applying triaxial dynamic displacement loads, the mechanical signals of seven mechanosensors, namely PIEZO1, integrins, primary cilia, collagen hillocks, processes, actin filaments, and microtubules, were analyzed and compared. It was shown that PIEZO1 on the cell soma underwent greater stress in areas with higher cell membrane stress or lower cytoskeleton density. Curved PIEZO1 (unactivated state) and flat PIEZO1 (activated state) exhibited distinct stress distribution patterns. Specifically, the stress in flat PIEZO1 was approximately 30% higher than that in curved PIEZO1. The blade of curved PIEZO1 experienced the greatest stress, while the ion channel of flat PIEZO1 experienced the greatest stress. The stress of primary cilia has increased by more than 40 Pa when PIEZO1 was nearby. Piezoelectricity significantly increased the fluid shear stress (FSS) and the stress of mechanosensors, and changed the trend of FSS. Notably, the collagen hillock experienced the highest FSS, and the flat PIEZO1 experienced greater FSS than the curved PIEZO1. Additionally, among the seven mechanosensors, collagen hillocks experienced the greatest stress. Furthermore, PIEZO1, primary cilia, and cytoskeletons all exhibited excellent displacement signal amplification capabilities and high sensitivity to piezoelectric signals. In conclusion, this study quantified the electromechanical signals of osteocytes in a complex microenvironment, offering insights into bone’s mechanotransduction mechanism across multiple scales.\n</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":7109,"journal":{"name":"Acta Mechanica Sinica","volume":"42 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6000,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Acta Mechanica Sinica","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10409-025-25609-x","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Osteocytes are the main responders to mechanical stimuli and the primary regulators of bone metabolism and homeostasis. Piezo channels are mechanosensitive, nonselective cation channels. This study constructs an osteocyte model with a piezoelectric bone matrix, including lacuna-canalicular system and various mechanosensors, integrating the complex effects of solid field, flow field, and electric field on osteocytes. By applying triaxial dynamic displacement loads, the mechanical signals of seven mechanosensors, namely PIEZO1, integrins, primary cilia, collagen hillocks, processes, actin filaments, and microtubules, were analyzed and compared. It was shown that PIEZO1 on the cell soma underwent greater stress in areas with higher cell membrane stress or lower cytoskeleton density. Curved PIEZO1 (unactivated state) and flat PIEZO1 (activated state) exhibited distinct stress distribution patterns. Specifically, the stress in flat PIEZO1 was approximately 30% higher than that in curved PIEZO1. The blade of curved PIEZO1 experienced the greatest stress, while the ion channel of flat PIEZO1 experienced the greatest stress. The stress of primary cilia has increased by more than 40 Pa when PIEZO1 was nearby. Piezoelectricity significantly increased the fluid shear stress (FSS) and the stress of mechanosensors, and changed the trend of FSS. Notably, the collagen hillock experienced the highest FSS, and the flat PIEZO1 experienced greater FSS than the curved PIEZO1. Additionally, among the seven mechanosensors, collagen hillocks experienced the greatest stress. Furthermore, PIEZO1, primary cilia, and cytoskeletons all exhibited excellent displacement signal amplification capabilities and high sensitivity to piezoelectric signals. In conclusion, this study quantified the electromechanical signals of osteocytes in a complex microenvironment, offering insights into bone’s mechanotransduction mechanism across multiple scales.
The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.
期刊介绍：
Acta Mechanica Sinica, sponsored by the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, promotes scientific exchanges and collaboration among Chinese scientists in China and abroad. It features high quality, original papers in all aspects of mechanics and mechanical sciences.
Not only does the journal explore the classical subdivisions of theoretical and applied mechanics such as solid and fluid mechanics, it also explores recently emerging areas such as biomechanics and nanomechanics. In addition, the journal investigates analytical, computational, and experimental progresses in all areas of mechanics. Lastly, it encourages research in interdisciplinary subjects, serving as a bridge between mechanics and other branches of engineering and the sciences.
In addition to research papers, Acta Mechanica Sinica publishes reviews, notes, experimental techniques, scientific events, and other special topics of interest.
Related subjects » Classical Continuum Physics - Computational Intelligence and Complexity - Mechanics
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