title: The potential role of spectrin network in the mechanotransduction of MLO-Y4 osteocytes.
abstract: The spectrin is first identified as the main component of erythrocyte membrane skeleton. It is getting growing attention since being found in multiple nonerythroid cells, providing complex mechanical properties and signal interface under the cell membrane. Recent genomics studies have revealed that the spectrin is highly relevant to bone disorders. However, in osteocytes, the important mechanosensors in bone, the role of spectrin is poorly understood. In this research, the role of spectrin in the mechanotransduction of MLO-Y4 osteocytes was studied. Immunofluorescence staining showed that, the spectrins were elaborately organized as a porous network throughout the cytoplasm, and linked with F-actin into a dense layer underlying the cell membrane. AFM results indicate that, the spectrin is pivotal for maintaining the overall elasticity of osteocytes, especially for the cell cortex stiffiness. Disruption of the spectrin network caused obvious softening of osteocytes, and resulted in a significant increase of Ca2+influx, NO secretion, cell-cell connections and also induced a translocation of eNOS from membrane to cytoplasm. These results indicate that the spectrin network is a global structural support for osteocytes involving in the mechanotransduction process, making it a potential therapeutic target for bone disorders.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 37th Xue-yuan Road, Hian-dian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Tong
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 37th Xue-yuan Road, Hian-dian District, Beijing, China.|International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 37th Xue-yuan Road, Hian-dian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lian-Wen
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 37th Xue-yuan Road, Hian-dian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 37th Xue-yuan Road, Hian-dian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, 37th Xue-yuan Road, Hian-dian District, Beijing, China.|National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids, 1th Ronghuazhong Road, Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D013049:Spectrin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D013049:Spectrin