[Osteocytes and Wnt signaling.]

Abstract

Osteocytes has many functions such as sensing mechanical stress to bone, regulating formation and activity of osteoclasts as well as modulation of bone metabolism and function of other organs through production of humoral factors such as sclerostin and FGF23. Sclerostin suppresses bone formation and stimulate bone resorption by inhibiting Wnt activity. FGF23 regulates phosphate metabolism mainly acting on kidney. In contrast, it is also reported that sclerostin works in kidney and FGF23 inhibits Wnt activity in osteoblasts. However, the physiological significance of these actions of sclerostin and FGF23 needs to be established by future investigations.