Osteocyte and bone metabolism

Osteocytes are stellate-shaped or dendritic cells that represent the most abundant cell type in bone. As mechanosensory cells,osteocytes participate in bone remodeling by producing some factors which regulate the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Apoptosis of osteocyte is at least the part of the pathogen-esis of osteoporosis. Moreover, the protein products from osteocyte including sclero…