The role of the mevalonate pathway in osteogenic cells

Abstract

It has been shown that cholesterol-lowering agents, statins, trigger bone growth in tissue culture and in rodents though inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase which is a key enzyme in a mevalonate pathway. On the other hand, a nitrogen-containing Bisphosphonates, synthetic compounds for the treatment of osteoporosis, induce apoptosis of osteoclasts by inhibiting the enzymes in the mevalonate pathway. These evidences suggest that the mevalonate pathway be closely related not only to cholesterol synthesis but also to bone metabolism. In this paper, the involvement of the mevalonate pathway in bone metabolism is described.