Bone discovery could lead to ‘Exercise-in-a-Pill’ for osteoporosis — New study

Scientists from the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) have identified how the protein Piezo1 translates physical activity into stronger bones, offering a path to exercise-mimicking therapies.

They said that the discovery could lead to new treatments for osteoporosis and bone loss in people who are unable to be physically active.

Osteoporosis is a chronic skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mass and deterioration of bone microarchitecture, leading to increased bone fragility and fracture risk. It develops when bone resorption outpaces bone formation, a process that commonly accelerates with ageing, hormonal changes, and reduced mechanical loading.

ALSO READ: Owo church massacre: DSS lists 10 witnesses to prove case against five suspects

The researchers said the protein functions as the body’s ‘exercise sensor’, translating physical movement into signals that protect bone health, pointing to the possibility of developing drugs that reproduce the effects of exercise.

According to them, this drug that reproduces the effects of exercise could benefit older adults, bedridden patients, and people with chronic illnesses who face an elevated risk of fractures, in the findings published in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.

Director of the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Chair Professor in the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed, Professor Xu Aimin, who led the study, explained that osteoporosis and age-related bone loss affect millions worldwide, often leaving elderly and bedridden patients vulnerable to fractures and loss of independence.

He declared, “Current treatments rely heavily on physical activity, which many patients simply cannot perform. By activating the Piezo1 pathway, we can mimic the benefits of exercise, effectively tricking the body into thinking it is exercising, even in the absence of movement.”

Professor Eric Honoré, Team Leader at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, French National Centre for Scientific Research, who co-led the research, in a reaction, said that the discovery offers a promising strategy beyond traditional physical therapy.

“In the future, we could potentially provide the biological benefits of exercise through targeted treatments, thereby slowing bone loss in vulnerable groups such as the bedridden patients or those with limited mobility and substantially reducing their risk of fractures,” said Honoré.

By studying mouse models alongside human stem cells, the researchers identified a key ‘switch’ known as Piezo1, a protein located on the surface of mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow.

Piezo1 functions as an exercise sensor, detecting mechanical signals generated by movement that help maintain bone strength and reduce age-related frailty. In mice, activating Piezo1 through physical activity limited fat buildup in the bone marrow and promoted the creation of new bone.

The lack of Piezo1 also increased the release of specific pro-inflammatory signals (Ccl2 and lipocalin-2), which further pushed stem cells toward becoming fat cells and interfered with bone formation. The researchers found that blocking these signals could help restore healthier bone development.

The research team is now working to translate these findings into clinical applications, to develop new treatments to preserve bone health and improve the quality of life for an ageing population and those confined to bed.