Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Diabetic patients with high glucose level have poor bone accumulation, bone quality, and an elevated risk of bone fracture. However, the effects of high glucose level on the most abundant bone cells, osteocytes, are not fully understood. Dispersed in the bone matrix and well-connected with each other and with cells lining bone surfaces, osteocytes serve not only as primary sensors that detect and respond to mechanical stimulation, one of the most potent anabolic signals, but also as a regulator of cells responsible for bone formation and resorption. Whether high glucose level would alter osteocyte sensitivity to mechanical loading and whether the alterations are involved in the skeletal diseases associated with diabetes have not been elucidated. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that high glucose level suppresses the beneficial effects of mechanical loading (fluid flow) on osteocytes. In particular, we will examine secretion of signaling molecules as well as osteocyte cell death under normal glucose and high glucose conditions with and without fluid flow. This study investigated signaling molecules involved in bone metabolism regulation as well as osteocyte cell death in high glucose conditions. High glucose abolished mechanical loading induced changes in signaling molecule released by osteocytes. Elevated glucose levels in diabetic patients may have direct effects on osteocytes, adversely influencing osteocyte's ability to respond to mechanical loading. This may be responsible for the impaired bone structure and properties seen in diabetic patients.