Role of proton receptor OGR1 in bone response to metabolic acidosis?

Abstract

Chronic metabolic acidosis stimulates bone resorption, resulting in loss of calcium and bicarbonate from bone. Both osteoblasts and osteoclasts sense extracellular H(+) by the G-protein coupled receptor, OGR1, whose activation leads to increased bone resorption as well as decreased bone formation. Krieger et al. examined the effect of OGR1 knockout in mice. They found an unexpected increase in bone resorption, but nevertheless an increase in bone volume linked to enhanced bone formation. This discovery opens a window of opportunity to explore potential new anabolic treatments for patients with low bone mass.