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Osteocyte death promotes bone loss

Nature Reviews Rheumatology volume 16, page 539 (2020)Cite this article

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Excessive osteocyte death can occur in several skeletal diseases, including bone fracture, osteonecrosis and inflammatory bone diseases, and is thought to stimulate osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. However, the molecular mechanisms linking osteocyte death and bone loss have been unclear. New findings suggest that damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released from dying osteocytes promote osteoclast formation and activity, as well as bone loss, providing a new potential therapeutic avenue for these diseases.

Further analysis showed that osteoclasts can detect and respond to osteocyte necrosis via macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (MINCLE). The bindings of this receptor to DAMPs released by necrotic osteocytes modulates the gene expression network of osteoclasts, skewing their metabolism towards oxidative phosphorylation and promoting osteoclast activation.

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  1. Nature Reviews Rheumatology http://www.nature.com/nrrheum/

    Jessica McHugh

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  1. Jessica McHugh
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Correspondence to Jessica McHugh.

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McHugh, J. Osteocyte death promotes bone loss. Nat Rev Rheumatol 16, 539 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-020-0498-x

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