Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published on: June 8, 2014
Molecular alterations of bone quality in sequesters of bisphosphonates-related osteonecrosis of the jaws
C Olejnik1, G Falgayrac, A During
1Université Lille Nord de France, 59000, Lille, France, cecile.olejnik-2@univ-lille2.fr.
Unlabelled:
Compared to healthy bone, the intrinsic bone materials properties in the pre-existing lamellar bone are altered in jaw bone sequesters of bisphosphonates (BP)-related osteonecrosis.
Introduction:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the human jaw bone quality, especially intrinsic bone material properties among sequesters of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) induced by BP.
Methods:
Bone sequesters were obtained from 24 patients suffering from ONJ following a BP treatment. Within BP-exposed bone samples, benign-BP and malignant-BP groups were distinguished in relation to the underlying disease: osteoporosis and bone metastases or multiple myeloma, respectively. Healthy cadaveric cortical jaw bone samples were used as controls. The physicochemical parameters of bone samples - mineral/organic ratio, relative proteoglycan content, crystallinity, monohydrogen phosphate content, and type-B carbonate substitution - were evaluated by Raman microspectroscopy. Representative Raman spectral features of bones control and BP-exposed bone sequesters were identified with the Partial-Least-Square Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA).
Results:
BP-exposed bone sequesters are characterized by a significant increase of mineral to organic ratio (+12 %) and a significant decrease of relative proteoglycan content (-35 %), thus regulating initial collagen matrix mineral deposition. Structural changes on mineral components are revealed by a significant decrease of both crystallinity (-2 %) and mineral maturation (-41 %) in the BP-exposed bone sequesters compared to healthy bones. These modifications were also observed distinctly in both benign-BP and malignant-BP groups. In addition, a shift of the phosphate ν1 band was highlighted by PLS-DA between bones control and BP-exposed bone sequesters, revealing a disruption of the apatitic phosphate environment in the jaw bone sequesters.
Conclusions:
The present data show that jaw bone quality can be altered with an overmineralization and ultrastructural modifications of apatitic mineral in bone sequesters of BP-related ONJ.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling
Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
Bone Remodeling
Bone Remodeling and Repair
The Bone Matrix
