title: Modulating Bone Resorption and Bone Formation in Opposite Directions in the Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.
abstract: Bone remodeling, the fundamental process for bone renewal, is targeted by treatments of osteoporosis to correct the imbalance between bone resorption and bone formation and reduce the risk of fractures and associated clinical consequences. Currently available therapeutics affect bone resorption and bone formation in the same direction and either decrease (inhibitors of bone resorption) or increase (parathyroid hormone [PTH] peptides) bone remodeling. Studies of patients with rare bone diseases and genetically modified animal models demonstrated that bone resorption and bone formation may not necessarily be coupled, leading to identification of molecular targets in bone cells for the development of novel agents for the treatment of osteoporosis. Application of such agents to the treatment of women with low bone mass confirmed that bone resorption and bone formation can be modulated in different directions and so far two new classes of therapeutics for osteoporosis have been defined with distinct mechanisms of action. Such treatments, if combined with a favorable safety profile, will offer new therapeutic options and will improve the management of patients with osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Bone Quality, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Natasha M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Appelman-Dijkstra
authors.forename: Socrates E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Papapoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone