Abstract
Through bone remodeling, bone remodels its structure to functionally adapt to its mechanical environment. Bone cells produce signaling molecules activated by mechanical stimuli. It is considered that signaling molecules regulate bone remodeling. RANK/RANKL/OPG system is known as one of signaling systems. RANKL promotes osteoclastogenesis by binding to RANK, while OPG acts as a decoy receptor by binding to RANKL. In this study, we proposed mathematical models of trabecular bone remodeling combining mechanosensing and RANK/RANKL/OPG system, and conducted computational simulation. Focusing on the active bone remodeling area, we discussed the influence of the balance between RANKL and OPG expression rates on the functional adaptation capacity of trabeculae. We found that, under the condition where RANKL and OPG expressions balance each other, the active remodeling area is larger when both of the rates are higher.
