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REVIEW article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1516038
This article is part of the Research Topic Pharmacological Mechanisms of Drugs Affecting Bone Formation and Bone Resorption Volume II View all 15 articles

The Role of Neuropeptides in Bone Metabolism and Their Regulation by Anti-Osteoporosis Traditional Chinese Medicine The role of neuropeptides in bone metabolism and related anti-osteoporosis traditional Chinese medicine

Provisionally accepted
Qing Lin Qing Lin 1Biyi Zhao Biyi Zhao 1Rumeng Chen Rumeng Chen 1Jiajia Huang Jiajia Huang 2Weipeng Sun Weipeng Sun 1Qianyun Ye Qianyun Ye 2Yang Li Yang Li 1Xiaofeng Zhu Xiaofeng Zhu 1*Xiaoyun Li Xiaoyun Li 1*Ronghua Zhang Ronghua Zhang 1*
  • 1 Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
  • 2 First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Osteoporosis (OP) is a complex bone metabolism disorder disease that affects the skeleton, nervous system, muscles, and multiple tissues. Neuropeptides, which are endogenous substances derived from both bone and brain, play a critical role in maintaining the balance of bone metabolism. This review summarizes research conducted from 1986 to 2024 on the pathological mechanisms of neuropeptides and their receptors in the context of OP. Specifically, the roles of Neuropeptide Y, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide, and Substance P and their receptors in key processes of OP were examined, including their function of bone formation and resorption, osteoblast differentiation, and osteoclast differentiation. Our study showed that these neuropeptides could promote bone formation and inhibit bone resorption, while their receptors in osteocytes exhibit distinct functions, indicating complex regulatory mechanisms that require further investigation. Additionally, we summarize the progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulae, single TCM herbs, and bioactive compounds derived from TCM in exerting anti-OP effects through neuropeptide modulation. These studies highlight the multi-targeted and multi-mechanistic pharmacological actions of TCM in treating OP. By integrating these findings, we aim to enhance the understanding of neuropeptides’ roles in bone metabolism and to explore the development of neuropeptide-targeted TCM therapies for OP management. This comprehensive perspective highlights the potential of neuropeptides as therapeutic targets, paving the way for innovative approaches to treating OP.

    Keywords: Neuropeptide, Bone formation, Bone Resorption, Osteoporosis, Traditional Chinese Medicine

    Received: 23 Oct 2024; Accepted: 03 Feb 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Lin, Zhao, Chen, Huang, Sun, Ye, Li, Zhu, Li and Zhang. 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:
    Xiaofeng Zhu, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
    Xiaoyun Li, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
    Ronghua Zhang, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.