Osteoporosis: Interrupting inflammation-induced bone loss Lung inflammation stimulates the production of signaling molecules that cause stem cells in the marrow to drive accelerated bone loss. Several studies have linked respiratory inflammation in disorders like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to osteoporosis, but the pathways linking lung and bone remain poorly understood. Guangwang Liu at Xuzhou Central Hospital, China, and colleagues have investigated this connection by assessing skeletal damage in mice after lung injury due to inhalation of a bacterial toxin. Within weeks, the researchers observed high levels of a protein called CCL12 in the bone marrow. This protein acts on stem cells in the marrow and stimulates bone degeneration. This bone loss could be prevented by either blocking CCL12 activity or knocking out its coding gene, revealing a potential opportunity to protect skeletal integrity in patients with pulmonary disorders.
【저자키워드】 Mesenchymal stem cells, Acute inflammation, Osteoporosis, Mechanisms of disease,