骨细胞在骨重建和维持矿物质稳态中的作用

Role of osteocytes in bone remodeling and maintenance of mineral homeostasis

骨细胞是骨组织中含量最为丰富、分布最广泛的细胞。既往认为骨细胞是相对静止和休眠的细胞,但事实并非如此。在最近几年里,骨生物学的知识发生了很大的变化。目前认为骨细胞是维持骨骼正常功能所必需的高度活跃的细胞,其在骨组织微环境中发挥着重要作用。本文重点介绍了骨细胞的研究现状,以及骨细胞在骨重建中的作用。除此之外,骨细胞还具有内分泌功能。它能分泌硬化素(Sclerostin)和成纤维生长因子(FGF-23)。硬化素对个体的骨量起负性调节作用,而FGF-23可以调节磷酸盐代谢。骨细胞还能感受机械应力,并将机械应力转化为一系列生物化学信号,从而对效应细胞(包括成骨细胞和破骨细胞)起作用。因此,骨细胞在骨生物学中起重要作用。深入了解骨细胞调控成骨细胞和破骨细胞功能的机制,发现新的骨细胞分子,可能成为治疗骨质疏松症和其他骨骼疾病的潜在药理靶点。

Osteocytes are the most abundant and widely distributed cells in bone tissue.Osteocytes were thought to be relatively static and inactive cells,but this is not the case.The knowledge of bone biology has changed a lot in recent years.At present,osteocytes are considered to be highly active cells necessary to maintain the normal function of bone and they play an important role in the microenvironment of bone tissue.This review focuses on the research status of osteocytes and the role of osteocytes in bone remodeling and mineral homeostasis.Osteocytes also have endocrine functions.It secretes sclerostin and fibroblast growth factor 23(FGF-23),which can regulate bone mass and phosphate metabolism.In addition,osteocytes can also act as mechanical stress receptors,converting mechanical stress into biochemical signals that act on osteoblasts and osteoclasts.Therefore,osteocytes play an important role in bone biology.Further understanding of the mechanism by which osteocytes regulate the functions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts will help to discover new molecules and provide potential pharmacological targets for the treatment of bone diseases such as osteoporosis.