Cells Involved in Mechanotransduction Including MSCs

Abstract Mechanical signals are primary regulators of bone mass, architecture and repair, with load-induced changes in size and shape typically favoring a more mechanically competent structure. This article discusses the cells involved in bone mechanotransduction in the context of adaptation and repair, including osteocytes, the primary mechanosensors, and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), the effector cells responsible for generating new bone. Known mechanically sensitive signaling pathways are discussed, in both healthy and injured bone, with a particular focus on new developments.