Title:Do Epigenetic Marks Govern Bone Mass and Homeostasis?
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
Author(s): Jesus Delgado-Calle, Pablo Garmilla and Jose A. Riancho
Affiliation:
Keywords:
DNA methylation, histones, miRNA, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteoporosis, gene expression
Abstract: Bone is a specialized connective tissue with a calcified extracellular matrix in which cells are embedded.
Besides providing the internal support of the body and protection for vital organs, bone also has several important
metabolic functions, especially in mineral homeostasis. Far from being a passive tissue, it is continuously being resorbed
and formed again throughout life, by a process known as bone remodeling.
Bone development and remodeling are influenced by many factors, some of which may be modifiable in the early steps
of life. Several studies have shown that environmental factors in uterus and in infancy may modify the skeletal growth
pattern, influencing the risk of bone disease in later life. On the other hand, bone remodeling is a highly orchestrated
multicellular process that requires the sequential and balanced events of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and
osteoblast-mediated bone formation. These processes are accompanied by specific gene expression patterns which are
responsible for the differentiation of the mesenchymal and hematopoietic precursors of osteoblasts and osteoclasts,
respectively, and the activity of differentiated bone cells. This review summarizes the current understanding of how
epigenetic mechanisms influence these processes and their possible role in common skeletal diseases.