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Updated: Mar 23, 2026

Immunostaining for DNA Modifications: Computational Analysis of Confocal Images
Published on: September 7, 2017
The Influence of DNA Methylation on Bone Cells
Sjur Reppe1, Harish Datta2, Kaare M Gautvik3
1Oslo University Hospital, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo, Norway; ; Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, Oslo, Norway;; University of Oslo, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Oslo, Norway;
Abstract:
DNA methylation in eukaryotes invokes heritable alterations of the of the cytosine base in DNA without changing the underlying genomic DNA sequence. DNA methylation may be modified by environmental exposures as well as gene polymorphisms and may be a mechanistic link between environmental risk factors and the development of disease. In this review, we consider the role of DNA methylation in bone cells (osteoclasts/osteoblasts/osteocytes) and their progenitors with special focus on in vitro and ex vivo analyses. The number of studies on DNA methylation in bone cells is still somewhat limited, nevertheless it is getting increasingly clear that this type of the epigenetic changes is a critical regulator of gene expression. DNA methylation is necessary for proper development and function of bone cells and is accompanied by disease characteristic functional alterations as presently reviewed including postmenopausal osteoporosis and mechanical strain.
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