Predicting the Role of Osteal Macrophages and Osteocytes in Bone Tissue Network Using a Mathematical Modeling

Hwang, Soo Jeong

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of osteal macrophages (osteomac) and osteocytes in bone remodeling using a mathematical model. We constructed the bone system with pre-osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes, and osteomac. Each link of the parameters and ordinary differential equations followed the Graham's model in 2013 except for the parameters of osteomac signaling and osteocytes signaling to link preosteoblasts and osteoblasts. We simulated the changes in each cell and bone volume according to the changes in the parameters of osteomac signaling and osteocytes signaling. The results showed bone volume was unstable and decreased gradually when the effectiveness of osteocytes and osteomac dropped below a certain level. When the parameters of osteomac signaling and osteocytes signaling to link preosteoblasts and osteoblasts had a value less than 1, bone volume increased with the increase in the parameter of osteomac signaling to link preosteoblasts and osteoblasts. Moreover, although the parameter of osteocytes signaling to link preosteoblasts and osteoblasts, increased in case of a small parameter of osteomac signaling, bone volulme decreased. If the parameters of osteomac signaling to link preosteoblasts and osteoblasts were over a certain level, bone volume was positively maintained, despite the parameter of osteocyte signaling to link preosteoblasts and osteoblasts. We suggested the osteomac may affect bone remodeling and may play an important role in bone cell network.