Mechanical loading directs the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro and it has been hypothesized that the mechanical environment plays a role in directing the cellular fate of MSCs in vivo. However, the complex multicellular composition of trabecular bone marrow means that the precise nature of mechanical stimulation that MSCs experience in their native environment is not fully understood. In this study, we developed a multiscale model that discretely represents the cellular constituents of trabecular bone marrow and applied this model to characterize mechanical stimulation of MCSs in vivo. We predicted that cell-level strains in certain locations of the trabecular marrow microenvironment were greater in magnitude (maximum ε12 = ∼24,000 με) than levels that have been found to result in osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in vitro (>8000 με), which may indicate that the native mechanical environment of MSCs could direct cellular fate in vivo. The results also showed that cell–cell adhesions could play an important role in mediating mechanical stimulation within the MSC population in vivo. The model was applied to investigate how changes that occur during osteoporosis affected mechanical stimulation in the cellular microenvironment of trabecular bone marrow. Specifically, a reduced bone volume (BV) resulted in an overall increase in bone deformation, leading to greater cell-level mechanical stimulation in trabecular bone marrow (maximum ε12 = ∼48,000 με). An increased marrow adipocyte content resulted in slightly lower levels of stimulation within the adjacent cell population due to a shielding effect caused by the more compliant behavior of adipocytes (maximum ε12 = ∼41,000 με). Despite this reduction, stimulation levels in trabecular bone marrow during osteoporosis remained much higher than those predicted to occur under healthy conditions. It was found that compensatory mechanobiological responses that occur during osteoporosis, such as increased trabecular stiffness and axial alignment of trabeculae, would be effective in returning MSC stimulation in trabecular marrow to normal levels. These results have provided novel insight into the mechanical stimulation of the trabecular marrow MSC population in both healthy and osteoporotic bone, and could inform the design three-dimensional (3D) in vitro bioreactor strategies techniques, which seek to emulate physiological conditions.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
January 2015
Research-Article
Multiscale Modeling of Trabecular Bone Marrow: Understanding the Micromechanical Environment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells During Osteoporosis
T. J. Vaughan,
T. J. Vaughan
Biomechanics Research Centre (BMEC),
Biomedical Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering,
National University of Ireland
,Galway
, Ireland
Search for other works by this author on:
M. Voisin,
M. Voisin
Biomechanics Research Centre (BMEC),
Biomedical Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering,
National University of Ireland
,Galway
, Ireland
Search for other works by this author on:
G. L. Niebur,
G. L. Niebur
Department of Aerospace
and Mechanical Engineering,
and Mechanical Engineering,
University of Notre Dame
,Notre Dame, IN 46556
Search for other works by this author on:
L. M. McNamara
L. M. McNamara
1
Biomechanics Research Centre (BMEC),
Biomedical Engineering,
e-mail: Laoise.McNamara@nuigalway.ie
Biomedical Engineering,
National University of Ireland
,Galway
, Ireland
e-mail: Laoise.McNamara@nuigalway.ie
1Corresponding author.
Search for other works by this author on:
T. J. Vaughan
Biomechanics Research Centre (BMEC),
Biomedical Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering,
National University of Ireland
,Galway
, Ireland
M. Voisin
Biomechanics Research Centre (BMEC),
Biomedical Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering,
National University of Ireland
,Galway
, Ireland
G. L. Niebur
Department of Aerospace
and Mechanical Engineering,
and Mechanical Engineering,
University of Notre Dame
,Notre Dame, IN 46556
L. M. McNamara
Biomechanics Research Centre (BMEC),
Biomedical Engineering,
e-mail: Laoise.McNamara@nuigalway.ie
Biomedical Engineering,
National University of Ireland
,Galway
, Ireland
e-mail: Laoise.McNamara@nuigalway.ie
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received June 1, 2014; final manuscript received October 16, 2014; accepted manuscript posted November 5, 2014; published online December 10, 2014. Assoc. Editor: Ara Nazarian.
J Biomech Eng. Jan 2015, 137(1): 011003
Published Online: January 1, 2015
Article history
Received:
June 1, 2014
Revision Received:
October 16, 2014
Accepted:
November 5, 2014
Online:
December 10, 2014
Citation
Vaughan, T. J., Voisin, M., Niebur, G. L., and McNamara, L. M. (January 1, 2015). "Multiscale Modeling of Trabecular Bone Marrow: Understanding the Micromechanical Environment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells During Osteoporosis." ASME. J Biomech Eng. January 2015; 137(1): 011003. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4028986
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Effect of Internal Mechanical Environment of Porous Scaffolds on Mechano-driven Bone Ingrowth: A Numerical Study
J Biomech Eng (September 2023)
In Silico Mechanical Effort Analysis of the All-On-4 Design Performed With Platform-Switching Distal Short Dental Implants
J Biomech Eng (September 2023)
Related Articles
Biophysical Analysis of Dystrophic and Osteogenic Models of Valvular Calcification
J Biomech Eng (February,2015)
Cellular Microbiaxial Stretching to Measure a Single-Cell Strain Energy Density Function
J Biomech Eng (July,2017)
Trabecular Bone Contributes to Strength of the Proximal Femur Under Mediolateral Impact in the Avian
J Biomech Eng (February,2005)
2016 Editors' Choice Papers
J Biomech Eng (February,2017)
Related Chapters
Vibration Analysis of the Seated Human Body in Vertical Direction
International Conference on Computer Technology and Development, 3rd (ICCTD 2011)
Novel and Efficient Mathematical and Computational Methods for the Analysis and Architecting of Ultralight Cellular Materials and their Macrostructural Responses
Advances in Computers and Information in Engineering Research, Volume 2
Application of Non-Linear Elastic Wave Spectroscopy (NEWS) to In Vitro Damage Assessment in Cortical Bone
Biomedical Applications of Vibration and Acoustics in Imaging and Characterizations