New JTB Publication: A Theoretical Model of How Stiffness Drives Bone Gene Regulation

Our new paper is now published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology:

Berteau J-P, Chekroun A., Pujo-Menjouet L., Yang K.Y-H. (2026).Stiffness-sensitive gene regulation in human mesenchymal stem cells. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2025.112284

What we found

We investigated how extracellular stiffness controls key genes involved in bone formation. Using new in-vitro data (8–64 kPa) and a revised mathematical model, we show that each bone protein has its own stiffness-dependent behaviour.

  • OPN peaks at low stiffness,
  • RUNX2, OSX, OC at higher stiffness,
  • BSP at an intermediate value.

Why it matters

The study provides one of the first stiffness-based models of the bone Gene Regulatory Network and helps explain how mechanical cues drive mineralization.