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Bone Lining Cells: Normal Physiology and Role in Response to Anabolic Osteoporosis Treatments

  • Molecular Biology of Skeletal Development (T Bellido, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The goal of this chapter is to review the proposed roles for bone lining cells in bone homeostasis. We will focus on how these cells contribute to normal bone remodeling and how they might participate in bone anabolic responses to osteoporosis therapies.

Recent Findings

Lineage tracing methodologies have recently demonstrated that quiescent bone lining cells can directly convert into active matrix-forming osteoblasts in the setting of treatment with parathyroid hormone and anti-sclerostin antibody.

Summary

Bone lining cells are an abundant yet poorly studied cell type in bone. They most likely participate in normal bone remodeling and have important roles in responses to osteoanabolic osteoporosis treatments and in skeletal repair after injury. Novel models are needed to selectively ablate and interrogate the function of specific genes in bone lining cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MGH Endocrine Unit, Thier Building, Room 1123D, 50 Blossom Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Marc N. Wein

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  1. Marc N. Wein
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Correspondence to Marc N. Wein.

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Marc N. Wein declares no potential conflict of interest.

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This article contains no studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on the Molecular Biology of Skeletal Development

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Wein, M.N. Bone Lining Cells: Normal Physiology and Role in Response to Anabolic Osteoporosis Treatments. Curr Mol Bio Rep 3, 79–84 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40610-017-0062-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40610-017-0062-x

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