Finite element modeling demonstrates altered mechanical load distribution in osteocytes, highlighting the compensatory structural support of spectrin under microgravity conditions.
The cytoskeleton mediates osteocyte responses to fluid shear stress from matrix deformation. Under simulated microgravity, cytoskeleton depolymerizes, while Spectrin-MS provides compensatory structural support. We modeled osteocytes with zero to three crosslinking levels under 1.5 Pa shear. Increased crosslinking raised membrane displacement (+2.60%) and stress (+20.71%), but reduced nuclear displacement (−12.93%) and stress (−10.86%). Cytoskeleton displacement and stress decreased with more crosslinking, whereas Spectrin-MS compensated. Crosslinking alters the intracellular mechanical environment, with Spectrin-MS playing a compensatory role, enhancing understanding of osteocyte mechanosensitivity.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Han et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: