Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (3): 691-700.doi: 10.12307/2026.010

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Role and pathogenesis of pyroptosis and inflammatory factors in osteoporosis

Xu Jiamu1, Yang Cheng2, Li Weimin3, Wang Chunqing4   

  1. 1School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550000, Guizhou Province, China; 2Department of Orthopedics, Guizhou Hospital of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Guiyang 550000, Guizhou Province, China; 3Department of Orthopedics, Guiyang Fourth People's Hospital, Guiyang 550000, Guizhou Province, China; 4Department of Emergency Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550000, Guizhou Province, China 

  • Received:2024-12-20 Accepted:2025-02-06 Online:2026-01-28 Published:2025-07-05
  • Contact: Wang Chunqing, Associate professor, Chief physician, Department of Emergency Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550000, Guizhou Province, China
  • About author:Xu Jiamu, Master candidate, School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550000, Guizhou Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos. 82060271 and 82460300 (both to WCQ)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that there is a close relationship between pyroptosis, inflammatory factors and osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE: To review the effects of pyroptosis and inflammatory factors on the pathogenesis of osteoporosis from the perspectives of osteogenic differentiation and osteoclastic differentiation, based on an overview of pyroptosis in relation to the interaction of relevant inflammatory factors.
METHODS: The first author used the computer to search the literature published by each database until 2024, and searched CNKI, WanFang, VIP and PubMed databases with the search terms of “pyroptosis, inflammatory factors, osteoporosis, osteoblast, osteoclast, bone metabolism, signaling pathway, review” in Chinese and English. A total of 79 papers were finally included according to the inclusion criteria.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The progression of osteoporosis is closely related to inflammation, in which pyroptosis plays a key role. Immune cells induce pyroptosis through apoptosis pathway, promote the secretion of inflammatory factors such as interleukin-18, interleukin-1β and NLRP3, build an inflammatory immune microenvironment, and regulate bone metabolism through complex signaling pathways, resulting in enhanced bone absorption and reduced bone formation, thereby leading to osteoporosis. Previous studies have shown that inhibiting pyroptosis is anti-inflammatory and slows the progression of osteoporosis, and it has been shown to improve inflammatory bone loss in vitro and in animal models. At present, research on pyroptosis and osteoporosis is limited. On the one hand, the exact mechanism of osteoporosis and the pathogenesis of pyroptosis are unknown, and the specific pathways and regulatory mechanisms remain to be understood. On the other hand, therapeutic strategies targeting pyroptosis are still theoretical, not clinically proven, and drug side effects are unknown. In the future, the research focus is to further explore the pathogenesis, especially the mechanism of pyroptosis, identify potential therapeutic targets, further study the pyroptosis signaling pathway and Gasdermin protein, and develop new drugs to improve the therapeutic effect in patients with osteoporosis.


Key words: osteoporosis, pyroptosis, inflammatory factors, osteoblast, osteoclast, signaling pathway, engineered tissue construction

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