title: Apoptosis--a significant cause of bone cell death in osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
abstract: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head usually affects young individuals and is responsible for up to 12% of total hip arthroplasties. The underlying pathophysiology of the death of the bone cells remains uncertain. We have investigated nitric oxide mediated apoptosis as a potential mechanism and found that steroid- and alcohol-induced osteonecrosis is accompanied by widespread apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes. Certain drugs or their metabolites may have a direct cytotoxic effect on cancellous bone of the femoral head leading to apoptosis rather than purely necrosis.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine, Science and Technology, London, England.
authors.forename: J D F
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buttery
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Revell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pearse
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Polak
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005270:Femur Head / Q000473:pathology*; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: C496319:NOS2 protein, human; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III