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Review
. 2022 Sep 4;27(1):72.
doi: 10.1186/s11658-022-00371-3.

Osteoporosis pathogenesis and treatment: existing and emerging avenues

Bo Liang  1 , George Burley  2 , Shu Lin #  3   4 , Yan-Chuan Shi #  5   6   7
Affiliations
Review

Osteoporosis pathogenesis and treatment: existing and emerging avenues

Bo Liang et al. Cell Mol Biol Lett. .

Abstract

Osteoporotic fractures lead to increased disability and mortality in the elderly population. With the rapid increase in the aging population around the globe, more effective treatments for osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures are urgently required. The underlying molecular mechanisms of osteoporosis are believed to be due to the increased activity of osteoclasts, decreased activity of osteoblasts, or both, which leads to an imbalance in the bone remodeling process with accelerated bone resorption and attenuated bone formation. Currently, the available clinical treatments for osteoporosis have mostly focused on factors influencing bone remodeling; however, they have their own limitations and side effects. Recently, cytokine immunotherapy, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy have become new approaches for the treatment of various diseases. This article reviews the latest research on bone remodeling mechanisms, as well as how this underpins current and potential novel treatments for osteoporosis.

Keywords: Bone formation; Bone remodeling; Bone resorption; MicroRNA-based therapy; Osteoporosis; Pathogenesis; Stem cell therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The process of bone remodeling under physiological conditions. A Local bone degenerates into old bone. Mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into osteoblasts; B osteoclasts migrate to the surface of old bone for bone resorption; C osteoclasts leave the surface after the old bone is absorbed, and then osteoblasts migrate to the surface for bone formation; D new bone replaces old bone to maintain bone quality, strength, and mass. After bone formation, osteoblasts differentiate into osteocytes
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Signaling pathways in the control of osteoclast differentiation and maturation
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Signaling pathways regulating osteoblast differentiation and maturation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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