title: Gap Junctions and Biophysical Regulation of Bone Cells.
abstract: Communication between osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes is integral to their ability to build and maintain the skeletal system and respond to physical signals. Various physiological mechanisms, including nerve communication, hormones, and cytokines, play an important role in this process. More recently, the important role of direct, cell-cell communication via gap junctions has been established. In this review, we demonstrate the integral role of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in skeletal physiology and bone cell mechanosensing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Musculoskeletal Sciences, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Shane A J
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Henry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Donahue
keywords: Cell-to-cell communication; Connexins; Gap junctions; Intercellular communication; Mechanosensing; Mechanotransduction; Osteocytes