The osteocyte as a signaling cell
Year: 2021
Type: review
Abstract: Osteocytes, former osteoblasts encapsulated by mineralized bone matrix, are far from being passive and metabolically inactive bone cells. Instead, osteocytes are multifunctional and dynamic cells capable of integrating hormonal and mechanical signals and transmitting them to effector cells in bone and in distant tissues. Osteocytes are a major source of molecules that regulate bone homeostasis by integrating both mechanical cues and hormonal signals that coordinate the differentiation and function of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Osteocyte function is altered in both rare and common bone diseases, suggesting that osteocyte dysfunction is directly involved in the pathophysiology of several disorders affecting the skeleton. Advances in osteocyte biology initiated the development of novel therapeutics interfering with osteocyte-secreted molecules. Moreover, osteocytes are targets and key distributors of biological signals mediating the beneficial effects of several bone therapeutics used in the clinic. Here we review the most recent discoveries in osteocyte biology demonstrating that osteocytes regulate bone homeostasis and bone marrow fat via paracrine signaling, influence body composition and energy metabolism via endocrine signaling, and contribute to the damaging effects of diabetes mellitus and hematologic and metastatic cancers in the skeleton.
Source: Physiological Reviews
Authors: Jesus Delgado-Calle, Teresita Bellido
Language: English
Topic: Bone Metabolism and Diseases
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, American Society of Hematology, International Myeloma Foundation, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Awards: Glucocorticoid-induced Atrophy in Bone and Muscle, G1554667050, Berries and Bones, G4603428550, G4605789249, G8992108187, Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research (CMDR), Bone-Targeted Therapies to Improve Bone Health and Prevent Relapse in Multiple Myeloma, Contribution of osteocytes to the musculoskeletal effects of Multiple Myeloma
OpenAlex ID: W3193137059