Speaker
Description
The osteocyte network is a spatial cellular network connected by dendritic cell protrusions whose structure is determined by the embedment of bone forming cells (osteoblasts) at the moving bone-forming surface. Network architecture is important for many bone functions, but little is known about how the network forms during bone growth. It has been suggested that osteoblast embedment may be controlled by connections between osteoblasts and the network. In this contribution, we develop a mathematical model of osteocyte network growth to explore how the regulation of osteoblast embedment by the existing osteocyte network may affect the development of the osteocyte network.
We propose a novel, two dimensional agent-based model of osteocyte network growth. In this model, each osteocyte produces cell protrusions that are connected to other osteocytes in the network and osteoblasts in the bone surface, generating embedment signals. Embedding osteoblasts differentiate into osteocytes, thereby expanding the osteocyte network. The osteocyte networks produced by this model are analysed using a variety of geometric and network properties, such as betweenness centrality.
We find that network architecture depends strongly on the type of embedment signals received by osteoblasts. Inhibitory embedment signals consistently produced qualitatively realistic osteocyte networks. Excitatory embedment signals produce networks with clusters of osteocytes, that are not observed experimentally.
