Apoptosis--a significant cause of bone cell death in osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
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.
Calder
J D F
JD
Imperial College School of Medicine, Science and Technology, London, England.
Buttery
L
L
Revell
P A
PA
Pearse
M
M
Polak
J M
JM
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
C496319:NOS2 protein, human; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III