Molecular mechanisms and translational prospects in osteoporosis

Abstract

Osteoporosis is the most prevalent chronic metabolic bone disease, affecting approximately 200 million individuals worldwide. With the rapid acceleration of global aging, osteoporosis has emerged as a major global health challenge, significantly increasing the occurrence rate of fractures and the associated medical burden. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying osteoporosis, including bone remodeling, osteoblast-osteoclast communication, and signaling pathways such as RANKL/RANK/OPG and Wnt/β-catenin. These mechanistic studies have been translated into clinical applications. Emerging therapies, including targeted biologics and precision medicine approaches, offer novel strategies and methods for future prevention and treatment. This review summarizes recent advances in research, with a particular focus on therapeutic agents and mechanistic studies of osteoporosis. Following the mainline of “mechanism–target–translation,” this review proposes new research perspectives and approaches, and provides an outlook on future research directions for the disease, aiming to promote the development of more effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.