To study the mechanisms by which strain down-regulates SOST, we have previously reported an in vitro model in which exposure of human female Saos-2 osteosarcoma cells to physiological levels of substrate strain by four point bending results in SOST down-regulation in a peak strain magnitude-dependent manner over a time course consistent with that observed following mechanical loading of rodent bones in vivo (Galea et al., 2011; Galea et al., 2013). The gene discussed is SOST; the disease is osteosarcoma.