title: The osteocyte as a therapeutic target in the treatment of osteoporosis.
abstract: Osteoporosis is characterized by a low bone-mineral density associated with skeletal fractures. The decrease in bone-mineral density is the consequence of an unbalanced bone-remodeling process, with higher bone resorption than bone formation. The orchestration of the bone-remodeling process is under the control of the most abundant cell in bone, the osteocyte. Functioning as an endocrine cell, osteocytes are also a source of soluble factors that not only target cells on the bone surface, but also target distant organs. Therefore, any drugs targeting the osteocyte functions and signaling pathways will have a major impact on the bone-remodeling process. This review discusses potential advances in drug therapy for osteoporosis, including novel osteocyte-related antiresorptive and anabolic agents that may become available in the coming years.
authors.affiliation: EA 2496, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Université Paris Descartes, 1 rue Maurice Arnoux, 92120 Montrouge, France.
authors.forename: Gaël Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Rochefort
keywords: drug therapy; osteocyte; osteoporosis