Pro-osteogenic Effects of WNT in a Mouse Model of Bone Formation Around Femoral Implants

The Manganese-Bone Connection: Investigating the Role of Manganese in Bone Health

The complex relationship between trace elements and skeletal health has received increasing attention in the scientific community. Among these minerals, manganese (Mn) has emerged as a key element affecting bone metabolism and integrity. This review examines the multifaceted role of Mn in bone health, including its effects on bone regeneration, mineralization, and overall skeletal strength. This review article is based on a synthesis of experimental models, epidemiologic studies, and clinical trials of the mechanisms of the effect of Mn on bone metabolism. Current research data show that Mn is actively involved in the processes of bone remodeling by modulating the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, as well as the main cells that regulate bone formation and resorption. Mn ions have a profound effect on bone mineralization and density by intricately regulating signaling pathways and enzymatic reactions in these cells. Additionally, Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), located in bone mitochondria, plays a crucial role in osteoclast differentiation and function, protecting osteoclasts from oxidative damage. Understanding the nuances of Mn's interaction with bone is essential for optimizing bone strategies, potentially preventing and managing skeletal diseases. Key findings include the stimulation of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis, and the preservation of bone mass through the RANK/RANKL/OPG pathway. These results underscore the importance of Mn in maintaining bone health and highlight the need for further research into its therapeutic potential.

The role of wnt signaling in diabetes-induced osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a chronic complication of diabetes mellitus, is characterized by a reduction in bone mass, destruction of bone microarchitecture, decreased bone strength, and increased bone fragility. Because of its insidious onset, osteoporosis renders patients highly susceptible to pathological fractures, leading to increased disability and mortality rates. However, the specific pathogenesis of osteoporosis induced by chronic hyperglycemia has not yet been fully elucidated. But it is currently known that the disruption of Wnt signaling triggered by chronic hyperglycemia is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic osteoporosis. There are two main types of Wnt signaling pathways, the canonical Wnt signaling pathway (β-catenin-dependent) and the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway (non-β-catenin-dependent), both of which play an important role in regulating the balance between bone formation and bone resorption. Therefore, this review systematically describes the effects of abnormal Wnt pathway signaling on bone homeostasis under hyperglycemia, hoping to reveal the relationship between Wnt signaling and diabetic osteoporosis to further improve understanding of this disease.

Non-union bone fractures

The human skeleton has remarkable regenerative properties, being one of the few structures in the body that can heal by recreating its normal cellular composition, orientation and mechanical strength. When the healing process of a fractured bone fails owing to inadequate immobilization, failed surgical intervention, insufficient biological response or infection, the outcome after a prolonged period of no healing is defined as non-union. Non-union represents a chronic medical condition not only affecting function but also potentially impacting the individual's psychosocial and economic well-being. This Primer provides the reader with an in-depth understanding of our contemporary knowledge regarding the important features to be considered when faced with non-union. The normal mechanisms involved in bone healing and the factors that disrupt the normal signalling mechanisms are addressed. Epidemiological considerations and advances in the diagnosis and surgical therapy of non-union are highlighted and the need for greater efforts in basic, translational and clinical research are identified.

Controlling Wnt Signaling Specificity and Implications for Targeting WNTs Pharmacologically

Wnt signaling is critical for proper development of the embryo and for tissue homeostasis in the adult. Activation of this signaling cascade is initiated by binding of the secreted Wnts to their receptors. With the mammalian genome encoding multiple Wnts and Wnt receptors, a longstanding question in the field has been how Wnt-receptor specificities are achieved. Emerging from these studies is a picture of exquisite control over Wnt protein production, secretion, distribution, and receptor interactions, culminating in activation of downstream signaling cascades that control a myriad of biological processes. Here we discuss mechanisms by which Wnt protein activities are tuned and illustrate how the multiple layers of regulation can be leveraged for therapeutic interventions in disease.