Osteoporosis Treatment: Targeting Osteoclast and Osteoblast Function with microRNA Therapeutics
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Tissues and Organs".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 378
Special Issue Editor
Interests: bone; bone remodeling; skeletal pathogenesis; osteoporosis; osteoarthritis; inflammatory arthritis; heterotopic ossification; osteoclasts, osteoblasts; osteocytes; chondrocytes; mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs); microRNA; bone-homing recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV); cartilage-homing AAVs; ER stress
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Osteoporosis is a common age-related disorder characterized by decreased bone mass and structural deterioration, leading to a heightened risk of fractures. It affects approximately 10 million individuals in the United States over the age of 50, with 1.5 million osteoporosis-related fractures occurring annually. This condition arises from an imbalance between bone formation by osteoblasts (OBs) and bone resorption by osteoclasts (OCs), with a shift favoring OC-mediated resorption. The current treatment options, including bisphosphonates and anti-RANK antibodies, target OCs in order to inhibit bone resorption but are limited by side effects and their inability to fully reverse the disease. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) therapies, which enhance OB function, have shown efficacy but are hindered by high costs, frequent injection requirements, and a potential risk for osteosarcoma. Anti-sclerostin (SOST) antibodies promote OB differentiation but are also associated with adverse side effects and diminishing effectiveness over time. Thus, there is still a critical need for safe, effective, and durable therapies for osteoporosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a promising class of disease-modifying agents for osteoporosis therapy. These small, highly conserved non-coding RNAs, approximately 22 nucleotides in length, regulate gene expression by binding to the 3′ untranslated region (3′-UTR) of target mRNAs, resulting in either mRNA degradation or translational inhibition. A growing body of evidence suggests that various miRNAs play crucial roles in bone biology by modulating the differentiation and activity of OBs and OCs. However, despite their potential as therapeutic agents, the clinical application of miRNAs must overcome several challenges, including efficient bone-targeted delivery and the achievement of long-term expression. Addressing these obstacles will be essential in developing miRNAs as viable therapeutic agents for osteoporosis.
Dr. Aijaz Ahmad John Bhat
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- osteoporosis
- microRNA
- osteoblasts
- osteoclasts
- osteocytes
- fracture
- bone remodeling
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