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Role of Endocrine and Paracrine Factors in the Adaptation of Bone to Mechanical Loading

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Abstract

There appears to be no unique mechanically sensitive pathway by which changes in bone loading regulate bone mass and architecture to ensure adequate structural strength. Rather, strain-derived changes in bone cells activate a number of nonspecific strain-sensitive pathways (including calcium fluxes, prostanoids, nitric oxide, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and sclerostin), the activities of which are modified by a number of factors (including estrogen receptors) for which this contribution is subsidiary to other purposes. The strain-sensitive pathways modified by these factors interact with a number of other pathways, some of which appear to have specific osteoregulatory potential (eg, the parathyroid hormone pathway), whereas others such as the Wnt pathway appear to be associated primarily with the response mechanisms of proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The outcome of these multiple interactions are stimuli for local bone formation, resorption, or maintenance of the status quo, to maintain existing bone architecture or adapt it to a new mechanical regimen.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust. G.L. Galea and L.B. Meakin are recipients of Integrated Training Fellowships for Veterinarians from the Wellcome Trust.

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No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DU, UK

    Joanna S. Price, Toshihiro Sugiyama, Gabriel L. Galea, Lee B. Meakin & Lance E. Lanyon

  2. School of Veterinary Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Royal College Street, London, NW1 0TU, UK

    Andrew Sunters & Lance E. Lanyon

Authors
  1. Joanna S. Price
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  2. Toshihiro Sugiyama
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  3. Gabriel L. Galea
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  5. Andrew Sunters
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  6. Lance E. Lanyon
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Correspondence to Joanna S. Price.

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Price, J.S., Sugiyama, T., Galea, G.L. et al. Role of Endocrine and Paracrine Factors in the Adaptation of Bone to Mechanical Loading. Curr Osteoporos Rep 9, 76–82 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-011-0050-7

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