成骨细胞的听觉感应

Can osteoblasts “hear”？Recent studies showed that osteoblasts could respond to single acoustic frequency. Our preliminary data further indicated the far more complicated responses than those to single frequency. Based on these results, we hypothesize that osteoblasts can not only hear, but exist an intrinsic auditory system to distinguish and react to different sounds in parallel with our otoneurologic system. In this proposal, we will systematically investigate the responses of osteoblasts to acoustic frequencies and their superposition. We will also initiate the study of its underlying mechanism. The results will pave the way for a thorough uncovering of the auditory responses of bone cells, and the development of an acoustic-based therapeutic system for notorious osteoporosis in the elderly.

成骨细胞有“听觉”吗？新近研究表明某些音频振动刺激可促进成骨细胞分化，而课题组的前期工作和预实验数据进一步显示这种感应远不限于单一音频。我们推测成骨细胞不仅能听见声音，而且可对特定的音频、音频组合、节奏大小产生感应。这意味着骨组织很可能存在着一个有待发现的、独立于听觉神经系统的、基于细胞水平的自身听觉系统来区分和感应不同的声音。本面上项目将着手这方面的科学探索，初步确定成骨细胞对不同单一音频、音频叠加组合的感应，阐述其相关机理，为后续深层次破解骨组织细胞自身的听觉感应奠定基础。研究成果将为临床防治延缓中老年群体的顽疾 — 骨质疏松 — 建立基于骨组织细胞听觉感应的理论方法。

众所周知，机械刺激对成骨细胞的功能至关重要，作为主要的机械刺激，在声学频率范围内的机械振动是如何调控成骨细胞的呢？换句话说，成骨细胞能听见声音吗？在本课题中我们建立了体外细胞培养系统，及理论模型对这一重要的问题进行系统性的研究。我们的结果发现，成骨细胞的确对声学振动有所感应，尤其是对低频的振动，然而成骨细胞对高频振动感应不敏感。本研究对成骨细胞对声学振动的感应提供了直接的证据，这为未来研发新的治疗老年顽疾之一骨质疏松症提供了新方法。