The Role of the Osteocyte in Bone and Non-bone Disease

Abstract

When normal physiological functions go awry, disorders and disease occurs. This is universal, even for the osteocyte, a cell embedded within the mineralized matrix of bone. It was once thought that this cell was simply a place-holder in bone. However, within the last decade, the number of studies of osteocytes has dramatically increased leading to the discovery of novel functions of these cells. But with the discovery of novel physiological functions came the discoveries of how these cells can also be responsible for not only bone diseases and disorders, but also those of kidney, heart, and potentially muscle.