Interaction between the nervous and skeletal systems

Jiajia Xu; Zhongmin Zhang; Junjie Zhao; Carolyn A Meyers; Seungyong Lee; Qizhi Qin; Aaron W James

doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.976736

Interaction between the nervous and skeletal systems

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 Aug 30:10:976736. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2022.976736. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Jiajia Xu^{1

2

3}, Zhongmin Zhang², Junjie Zhao², Carolyn A Meyers¹, Seungyong Lee^{1

4}, Qizhi Qin¹, Aaron W James¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.
² Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
³ Academy of Orthopedics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degeneration Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Physical Education, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.

Abstract

The skeleton is one of the largest organ systems in the body and is richly innervated by the network of nerves. Peripheral nerves in the skeleton include sensory and sympathetic nerves. Crosstalk between bones and nerves is a hot topic of current research, yet it is not well understood. In this review, we will explore the role of nerves in bone repair and remodeling, as well as summarize the molecular mechanisms by which neurotransmitters regulate osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, we discuss the skeleton's role as an endocrine organ that regulates the innervation and function of nerves by secreting bone-derived factors. An understanding of the interactions between nerves and bone can help to prevent and treat bone diseases caused by abnormal innervation or nerve function, develop new strategies for clinical bone regeneration, and improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: bone repair and regeneration; crosstalk; nerve innervation; nervous system; skeletal system.

Publication types

Review