[Cross-links of collagen and bone quality].

Abstract

Bone tissue is a marvellous material. Basic bone function is to be structurally stiff and strong. Stiffness allows vertebrates to maintain their shape, to protect the organs and to move. Being strong, bone only breaks in exceptional circumstances. Osteoporosis is a disease where fractures happen too often, because of abnormal bone fragility. In this situation, bone--especially cancellous bone--does not take up its first duty. Trabeculae are scarce and thin, leading to very low tissue density. Biomechanical tests and clinical evidence have shown that some subjects have, with equal bone density, stronger or weaker bone tissue. This led to the concept of bone quality. Even if other hypotheses have been systematically explored, it seems that bone collagen chemical nature, especially its cross-link profile, significantly influences human bone quality.