A coupled mechano-biochemical model for bone adaptation

J Math Biol. 2014 Dec;69(6-7):1383-429. doi: 10.1007/s00285-013-0736-9. Epub 2013 Nov 12.

Abstract

Bone remodelling is a fundamental biological process that controls bone microrepair, adaptation to environmental loads and calcium regulation among other important processes. It is not surprising that bone remodelling has been subject of intensive both experimental and theoretical research. In particular, many mathematical models have been developed in the last decades focusing in particular aspects of this complicated phenomenon where mechanics, biochemistry and cell processes strongly interact. In this paper, we present a new model that combines most of these essential aspects in bone remodelling with especial focus on the effect of the mechanical environment into the biochemical control of bone adaptation mainly associated to the well known RANKL-RANK-OPG pathway. The predicted results show a good correspondence with experimental and clinical findings. For example, our results indicate that trabecular bone is more severely affected both in disuse and disease than cortical bone what has been observed in osteoporotic bones. In future, the methodology proposed would help to new therapeutic strategies following the evolution of bone tissue distribution in osteoporotic patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
  • Bone Remodeling / physiology*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological*
  • Osteoporosis / physiopathology*
  • Osteoprotegerin / physiology
  • RANK Ligand / physiology
  • Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B / physiology

Substances

  • Osteoprotegerin
  • RANK Ligand
  • Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B
  • TNFRSF11A protein, human
  • TNFSF11 protein, human