The Erk Mapk Pathway Causes Osteoporosis And Formation During Bone Remodeling
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Disregulation of the ERK MAPK pathway causes osteoporosis and osteochondroma in mice
Abstract
Introduction
Bones are dynamic tissues that undergo a constant cycle of fracturing, resorbing, and remodeling. Bone mass is reflected by the coupled balance of osteoblasts, which produce bone matrix proteins and osteoclasts, which degrade bone (Miyamoto, 2003). This opposite and complementary activity between these two lineages of cells maintains the homeostasis of bone resorption and formation during bone remodeling. Dysregulation of this process is a major mechanism in the pathogenesis of many human skeletal disorders such as osteoporosis and osteochondroma (Edwards, 2012).
Osteoporosis is one of the major contributors to the overall physical and psychological manifestations of frailty associated with aging. Osteoporosis-related fractures are a common cause of the morbidity and mortality associated with aging. Approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture during their lifetime.14 Osteoporotic hip fractures are associated with a high rate of subsequent mortality and a prolonged period of months to over a year before mobility is regained.15 Predominantly, existing treatments for osteoporosis fail to harness osteoblast biology precisely because many of the molecular pathways that regulate osteoblast function remain largely unknown. Loss of bone mass is caused by high numbers of osteoclasts. Decreased production of estrogen and