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Current Osteoporosis Reports
Published in: Current Osteoporosis Reports 1/2014

01-03-2014 | Skeletal Biology and Regulation (MR Forwood and A Robling, Section Editors)

Apoptotic Osteocytes and the Control of Targeted Bone Resorption

Author: Lilian I. Plotkin

Published in: Current Osteoporosis Reports | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Studies from the 1950s and 1960s already recognize the fact that osteocytes, although long living cells, die, as evidenced by accumulation of osteocytic lacunae devoid of cells. More recently, it was demonstrated that these cells die by apoptosis. The rate of osteocyte apoptosis is regulated by the age of the bone, as well as by systemic hormones, local growth factors, cytokines, pharmacological agents, and mechanical forces. Apoptotic osteocytes, in turn, recruit osteoclasts to initiate targeted bone resorption. This results in the removal of “dead” bone and may improve the mechanical properties of the skeleton. However, the molecular regulators of osteocyte survival and targeted bone remodeling are not completely known. In this review, the current knowledge on the molecular mechanism that lead to osteocyte death or survival, and the signals that mediate targeted bone resorption is discussed.
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Metadata
Title
Apoptotic Osteocytes and the Control of Targeted Bone Resorption
Author
Lilian I. Plotkin
Publication date
01-03-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Osteoporosis Reports / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 1544-1873
Electronic ISSN: 1544-2241
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-014-0194-3

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