- Disruption of the Cx43/miR21 pathway leads to osteocyte apoptosis and increased osteoclastogenesis with aging.
Disruption of the Cx43/miR21 pathway leads to osteocyte apoptosis and increased osteoclastogenesis with aging.
Aging cell (2017-03-21)
Hannah M Davis, Rafael Pacheco-Costa, Emily G Atkinson, Lucas R Brun, Arancha R Gortazar, Julia Harris, Masahiro Hiasa, Surajudeen A Bolarinwa, Toshiyuki Yoneda, Mircea Ivan, Angela Bruzzaniti, Teresita Bellido, Lilian I Plotkin
PMID28317237
ABSTRACT
Skeletal aging results in apoptosis of osteocytes, cells embedded in bone that control the generation/function of bone forming and resorbing cells. Aging also decreases connexin43 (Cx43) expression in bone; and osteocytic Cx43 deletion partially mimics the skeletal phenotype of old mice. Particularly, aging and Cx43 deletion increase osteocyte apoptosis, and osteoclast number and bone resorption on endocortical bone surfaces. We examined herein the molecular signaling events responsible for osteocyte apoptosis and osteoclast recruitment triggered by aging and Cx43 deficiency. Cx43-silenced MLO-Y4 osteocytic (Cx43