Estrogen and bone: osteoclasts take center stage.
Loss of estrogen at menopause causes osteoporosis in many women, but estrogen's relevant cellular target in this process has remained unclear. In a recent study in Cell, Kato and colleagues (Nakamura et al., 2007) selectively ablate estrogen receptor alpha in osteoclasts and demonstrate that estrogen directly induces osteoclast apoptosis.
Novack
Deborah V
DV
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. novack@wustl.edu
D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens