Ageing is a natural process and we do feel creakier as we grow old. Our bodies go through various changes as we age, and so does the skeletal cell.
But what exactly happens to our bones over time? There have been various researches trying to find possible answers to this question. In a breakthrough, a team led by The University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, might be able to answer our query with their research findings.
The study found that as we age, osteocytes undergo structural and functional changes that cause impairment to their ability to keep the bones strong.
What are osteocytes?
Osteocytes are major regulators of bone health. But, when they are exposed to senescent cells i.e those cells that stop dividing but do not die, osteocytes themselves begin to stiffen.
Senescent cells release a toxic brew of molecules, called senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). This triggers inflammation and damage in surrounding tissues.
This process leads to cytoskeletal stiffening which in turn affects healthy bone remodeling and ends up making the bones more fragile.
"Imagine the cytoskeleton as the scaffolding inside a building. When this scaffolding becomes rigid and less flexible, the building can't adapt to changes and stresses, leading to structural problems. Similarly, stiffened osteocytes can't effectively regulate bone remodeling, contributing to bone loss," said Maryam Tilton, principal investigator of the study.
This breakthrough can help medical practitioners improve treatments for osteoporosis and other age-related bone loss. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, globally, one in three women and one in five men over age 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture over their remaining lifetimes.
The team plans to expand their research by exploring the effects of different stressors on osteocytes and investigating potential therapeutic interventions. The study is published in Small and Aging Cell.