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NADPH oxidase 4 represents a potential target for the treatment of osteoporosis

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 11, pages 317–319 (2014)Cite this article

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease that is characterized by decreased bone density and is associated with an increased risk of fractures.1,2 Due to increased life expectancy, the number of patients with osteoporosis, and thus, osteoporosis-associated complications, such as fractures, are expected to increase further in the near future.3 Therefore, the development of new treatment strategies is essential, as treatment with bisphosphonates, which is the gold standard treatment for osteoporosis, is not recommended for and is not well tolerated by all patients.

Recently, Goettsch et al.4 identified nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4) as a potential target for the treatment of osteoporosis. The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases represent a family of enzymes that solely produce reactive oxygen species (ROS).5 NOX4 is constitutively active, and therefore, continually produces H2O2. NOX4 is further induced in many cell types during the differentiation process.6 The expression level of NOX4 largely controls the production of ROS.6 ROS have been shown to stimulate osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption in vitro and in vivo.7,8,9,10 Goettsch et al.4 identified NOX4 as the relevant enzymatic source of ROS during bone metabolism and analyzed the mechanisms of osteoclastogenesis induced by ROS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany

    Paula Hoff & Frank Buttgereit

  2. Berlin Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany

    Paula Hoff & Frank Buttgereit

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  1. Paula Hoff
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  2. Frank Buttgereit
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Correspondence to Paula Hoff.

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Hoff, P., Buttgereit, F. NADPH oxidase 4 represents a potential target for the treatment of osteoporosis. Cell Mol Immunol 11, 317–319 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2014.9

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