Current Topics in Bone Metabolism Pharmacological Research: The Molecular Basis of Ectopic Bone Formation Caused by Mechanical Stress

[摘要] Ectopic Bone Formation (EBF) is common in many tissues and has an impact on the prognosis of diseases associated with EBF. Severallocal factors that influence the progression of EBF have been proposed, despite the fact that the mechanism of EBF remains unknown. Wehave been studying the role of mechanical stress as a local factor in EBF in spinal ligament tissues, specifically Ossification of the PosteriorLongitudinal Ligament (OPLL), which causes severe neurological deficits. Transcriptome analyses revealed that the expression of severalbone remodelling marker genes was increased after exposing OPLL cells to cyclic stretching as a type of mechanical stress. However, nosignificant changes in gene expression were observed after cyclic stretching of ligament cells derived from non-OPLL patients. OPLL cellsexposed to cyclic stretching released several autocrine/paracrine factors known to mediate bone remodelling. These findings suggest thatOPLL cells have been transformed into cells that are highly sensitive to mechanical stress, which may cause OPLL progression. Thesefindings shed light on the role of mechanical stress in the EBF process.

[学科分类] 药理学