title: Angiogenic suppression of osteoclasts may play a role in developing bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.
abstract: Since it was firstly reported in 2003, a large number of cases have been published concerning bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). It has generated great interest in the medical and research communities yet remains an enigma, given its unknown pathogenesis. Many hypotheses concerning the underlying pathophysiology are discussed, including two most popular hypotheses: bone remodeling suppression and angiogenesis suppression, but none of them could explain all the unique characters of BRONJ. Bisphosphonates are potent osteoclast inhibitors, and recent studies revealed that osteoclasts were important for bone angiogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesize that bisphosphonates could inhibit osteoclast stimulation of angiogenesis, which plays an important role in developing BRONJ. Our hypothesis could help to explain some unintelligible characters of BRONJ, and deserves further studies.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Sichuan University, Renmin South Avenue, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Guozhu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: En
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw / Q000473:pathology; D008954:Models, Biological; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates