αvβ3 Integrin ligands enhance volume-sensitive calcium influx in mechanically stretched osteocytes

We propose that specific osteocyte–matrix interactions regulate the volume-sensitive calcium influx pathway, which we have shown is mediated by stretch-activated cation channels (SA-Cat) and is essential for the stretch-activated anabolic response in bone. The current study measured the hypotonic swelling-induced increase in cytosolic calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i, in rat osteocytes, and found that cells adherent to different matrices behave differently. Osteopontin and vitronectin, matrix molecules that bind the αVβ3 integrin, induced larger responses to the hypotonic swelling than other matrix molecules that bind other integrins. Addition of echistatin, which is a soluble αVβ3 ligand, significantly enhanced the hypotonic [Ca2+]i increase in addition to inducing an immediate increase in [Ca2+]i by itself. These results strongly support the contention that αVβ3 integrin signaling in osteocytes interacts with that in mechanotransduction, which is downstream of SA-Cat.