Bisphosphonates and Connexin 43: A Critical Review of Evidence

  • Pooyan Sadr-Eshkevari
  • Sajjad Ashnagar
  • Ashkan Rashad
  • Marisa Dietz
  • Jochen Jackowski
  • Amr Abdulazim
  • Nora Prochnow

Abstract

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are drugs commonly used in the treatment of various disease arising or affecting bone tissue. There is a standard use in bone neoplasia and metastasis, hormonal and developmental disorders as well as for compensation of adverse effects in several medical therapies. Many in-vivo and in-vitro studies have assessed the efficacy of this drug and its function in cellular scale. In this concern, BPs are described to inhibit the resorptive function of osteoclasts and to prevent apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes. They can preserve the osteocytic network, reduce fracture rate, and increase the bone mineral content, which is therapeutically used. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a crucial molecule for basal regulation of bone homeostasis, development, and differentiation. It is described for signal transduction in many physiological and pathological stimuli and recently to be involved in BP action.

Bibliographical data

Original languageEnglish
ISSN1541-9061
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
PubMed 24946183