Osteocyte primary cilium and its role in bone mechanotransduction

Abstract

Bone is a dynamic tissue that adapts to its local loading environment. Mechanotransduction, the process by which cells convert mechanical forces into biochemical signals, is important for maintaining bone health and homeostasis. It is less clear, however, what the cellular mechanosensor(s) are that sense and initiate these signaling cascades. Primary cilia are solitary rigid structures that extend from the cell body into the extracellular space and as a consequence are prime candidates for mechanosensing in bone. Primary cilia have been shown to be critical in development and have been implicated in mechanosensing in other tissue types, including liver and kidney. In this review we discuss the potential for primary cilia to play an important role in bone mechanotransduction and possible avenues for future study.

Fig. 1

Primary cilia are microtubule-based structures that are found in nearly every cell type, including osteocytes. Bottom: Immunofluorescence staining of the osteocyte primary cilium with anti-acetylated α tubulin. Top: Schematic showing structure of primary cilium.