Bisphosphonates: effects on osteoblast.
OBJECTIVE
Bisphosphonates are synthetic analogues of pyrophosphate usually used in treating bone disorders such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, fibrous dysplasia, hypercalcemia of malignancy, and inflammation-related bone loss. Though therapeutic effects of bisphosphonates depend primarily on their inhibitory effect on osteoclasts, increasing attention is being given to other effector cells, such as osteoblasts. This review focuses on the presumed effect of bisphosphonates on osteoblasts.


METHODS
A review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects of bisphosphonates including inhibition of osteoclasts and apoptosis of osteocytes and osteoblasts as well as their potential stimulatory effects on the proliferation of osteoblasts.


RESULTS
Studies have demonstrated that bisphosphonates may stimulate proliferation of osteoblasts and inhibit apoptosis of osteocytes and osteoblasts.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering that osteoblasts may be involved in bone disorders, such as osteoporosis, osteopetrosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, and Paget's disease, and that bisphosphonates may stimulate proliferation of osteoblasts and inhibit apoptosis of osteocytes and osteoblasts, it is conceivable that a role for bisphosphonates exists in these diseases beyond merely the osteoclast influence.
Department of Rheumatology, University of Foggia Medical School, Foggia, Italy.
Nicola
N
Maruotti
Addolorata
A
Corrado
Anna
A
Neve
Francesco Paolo
FP
Cantatore
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates