G protein-coupled receptor signaling in osteogenic bone mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (opens in new tab)

Skeletal integrity is maintained throughout the lifespan by tightly coordinated actions of cells in the bone microenvironment. In healthy bone, matrix resorption by osteoclasts is balanced by new matrix synthesis by osteoblasts. Tipping this balance to favor resorption depletes bone mineral and disrupts microarchitecture, eventually leading to osteoporosis. Bone mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BMSCs) are the progenitors of osteoblasts and play a central role in maintaining bone mass. With age...