Inflammatory Pathway Identified As A Potential Target for Age-Related Bone Loss .

Could age-related osteoporosis be driven partly by inflammatory signaling between bone marrow cells? Researchers identified the STING pathway as a potential regulator of skeletal aging. Experiments in mice demonstrated that aging fat cells activate STING signaling in bone marrow macrophages, promoting inflammation and reducing NAD+ availability in bone-forming stem cells. Suppressing STING protected older mice against bone loss, although its effects differed in younger animals. The findings reveal a potential therapeutic target for osteoporosis, but clinical relevance and treatment safety require further investigation.