Sclerostin regulation: a promising therapy for periodontitis by modulating alveolar bone

Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent epidemics affecting human health and life recently, and exploration of the pathogenesis and treatment of periodontitis has been valued by scholars. In recent years, sclerostin, a new factor on bone resorption and reconstruction caused by inflammation and mechanical stimulation, has been a research hotspot. This article summarizes the researches on sclerostin in periodontitis development in recent years. Among them, sclerostin has been shown to be a critical negative regulator of bone formation, thereby inhibiting bone remodeling in periodontitis development, and is closely associated with tooth movement. Besides, evidence indicates that the removal of sclerostin seems to reasonably protect the alveolar bone from resorption. Regulation of sclerostin expression is a novel, promising treatment for periodontitis and addresses several complications seen with traditional therapies; accordingly, many drugs with similar mechanisms have emerged. Moreover, the application prospect of sclerostin in periodontal therapy combined with orthodontic treatment is another promising approach. There are also a lot of drugs that regulate sclerostin. Anti-sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) is the most direct one that inhibits bone resorption caused by sclerostin. At present, drugs that inhibit the expression of sclerostin have been applied to the treatment of diseases such as multiple myeloma and osteoporosis. Therefore, the application of sclerostin in the oral field is just around the corner, which provides a new therapeutic bone regulation strategy in oral and general health.