REVIEW article
Front. Biophys.
Sec. Mechanotransduction and Mechanobiology
This article is part of the Research TopicThe Impact of Mechanical Environment Alterations on Bone Homeostasis and Genes Involved in Regulating this ProcessView all articles
Novel therapeutic approaches targeting biomechanical pathway alterations in bone diseases
Provisionally accepted
Malkiet Kaur1
MANJU NAGPAL2*- 1Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, India
- 2College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, India
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Bone is a living tissue that undergoes continuous remodelling. This process is regulated not only by hormones and nutrients but also by biomechanical forces such as load, pressure, strain, and stress. These forces are sensed through molecular pathways in a process known as mechanotransduction. Osteocytes act as the main mechanosensors, triggering pathways including integrins, Wnt/β-catenin, ion channels, and prostaglandins. Their activation increases osteoblast activity and reduces osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, helping to maintain skeletal strength and integrity. When these biomechanical pathways are disrupted, bone diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, etc, can develop. Current treatments rely largely on anti-resorptive and anabolic drugs, which improve bone turnover but do not correct the underlying mechanosensory defects. This makes targeting biomechanical pathways an exciting and novel therapeutic direction that could provide more effective and longer-lasting results. This review will explore how biomechanical regulation shapes bone biology, the consequences of altered mechanotransduction, and the recent advances in therapies designed to harness or restore these pathways. By drawing together knowledge from molecular biology, biomechanics, and clinical research, it aims to offer a broader perspective on improving bone disease management beyond traditional treatment approaches.
Keywords: Bone homeostasis, Bone Remodeling, Mechanical transduction, osteoblast, osteoclast
Received: 15 Jan 2026; Accepted: 12 Feb 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Kaur and NAGPAL. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: MANJU NAGPAL
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