Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (6): 1285-1295.doi: 10.12307/2025.316

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Endoplasmic reticulum stress in the occurrence and development of common degenerative bone diseases

Qian Kun1, 2, Li Ziqing1, 2, Sun Shui1, 2     

  1. 1Department of Joint Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China; 2Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2024-01-27 Accepted:2024-04-19 Online:2025-02-28 Published:2024-06-22
  • Contact: Sun Shui, Chief physician, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Joint Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China; Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, Shandong Province, China
  • About author:Qian Kun, Master candidate, Department of Joint Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China; Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, Shandong Province, China

Abstract:
BACKGROUND:
The specific molecular mechanisms underlying common degenerative bone diseases, such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and intervertebral disc degeneration, are currently unclear and may involve endoplasmic reticulum stress. At present, research on the systematic role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the pathogenesis of these common skeletal diseases and related therapeutic progress is relatively limited.
OBJECTIVE: To review the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in common degenerative bone diseases, explore the molecular mechanisms of these diseases in depth, and provide new ideas and perspectives for prevention and treatment of these diseases.
METHODS: Relevant literature from 2000 to 2024 was searched in CNKI, WanFang, VIP, PubMed and Web of Science databases using the search terms of “endoplasmic reticulum stress, bone disease, unfolded protein response, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, intervertebral disc degeneration, autophagy, apoptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis” in Chinese and English. After removal of duplicates and older literature, a total of 115 articles met the inclusion criteria. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Endoplasmic reticulum stress has a dual effect in regulating cell physiology. Mild endoplasmic reticulum stress promotes osteogenic differentiation and extracellular matrix synthesis; however, persistent excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress leads to cell death. Endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell autophagy and apoptosis are closely related to osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and intervertebral disc degeneration. Aging, drug side effects, metabolic disorders, calcium imbalance, poor lifestyle habits and other reasons may lead to long-term activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress, which causes bone remodeling disorders, cartilage damage, nucleus pulposus cell death and other pathological manifestations, ultimately leading to the occurrence of osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and intervertebral disc degeneration. Intervention in the relevant mechanisms triggering endoplasmic reticulum stress is expected to play a role in the prevention and treatment of common degenerative bone diseases, such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and intervertebral disc degeneration.

Key words:  endoplasmic reticulum stress, bone disease, unfolded protein response, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, intervertebral disc degeneration

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