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. 2017 Mar 17;7:44682. doi: 10.1038/srep44682

Figure 6. Schematic illustration of the role of CatKI in osseointegration of titanium implants in ovariectomised rats.

Figure 6

After OVX, the bone resorption is activated by oestrogen deficiency, and bone formation increases to fill the resorption cavities. CatKI robustly suppresses bone resorption and decreases the expression of osteoclastic genes by inhibiting CatK. To rebalance bone turnover, the level of bone formation and the compensatory overexpression of osteoblastic genes decreases moderately. However, the additive effects where bone formation exceeds bone resorption promote the bone quality and quantity, which leads to high BMD and increased osseointegration. CatK, cathepsin K; CatKI, cathepsin K inhibitor; BMD, bone mineral density; OVX, ovariectomy.