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Updated: May 29, 2026
08:28
A Lab-On-A-Chip Platform for Stimulating Osteocyte Mechanotransduction and Analyzing Functional Outcomes of Bone Remodeling
Published on: May 21, 2020
Bone development: overview of bone cells and signaling
1Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio-Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy. annamaria.teti@univaq.it
Current Osteoporosis Reports
|September 28, 2011
Summary
The vertebrate skeleton, composed of over 200 bones, supports locomotion and protects organs. This review explores cellular mechanisms governing skeletal development and homeostasis, crucial for lifelong bone health.
Area of Science:
- Skeletal Biology
- Cellular Biology
- Homeostasis
Background:
- The vertebrate skeleton comprises over 200 bones and cartilages, enabling locomotion, organ protection, hematopoiesis, and mineral homeostasis.
- Skeletal development (skeletogenesis) begins in fetal stages and continues postnatally through modeling and remodeling for mass accretion.
- Skeletal homeostasis relies on balanced remodeling for tissue renovation, maintaining mechanical, structural, and metabolic properties against aging and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review landmark discoveries on the cellular basis of skeletal development and homeostasis.
- To elucidate the intricate cellular network connecting bone cells with each other and other bodily systems.
- To understand the cellular underpinnings of normal and abnormal bone conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of landmark discoveries in skeletal biology.
- Analysis of cellular interactions within the bone microenvironment.
- Integration of knowledge on systemic and local regulators of skeletal homeostasis.
Main Results:
- Identification of specialized bone cells crucial for skeletal homeostasis.
- Elucidation of the complex cellular communication mesh within the skeletal system.
- Understanding of how cellular interactions influence bone development and maintenance.
Conclusions:
- Bone cell interactions and systemic regulators are fundamental to skeletal development and homeostasis.
- Disruptions in this cellular network can lead to abnormal bone conditions.
- This review provides a cellular perspective on maintaining skeletal integrity throughout life.
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