Groundbreaking research from the NIH/ASBMR meeting reveals what truly makes bones strong and resilient
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When we think about strong bones, we often picture dense, heavy structures. But the reality is far more fascinating. Imagine two bridges: one made of solid concrete, another engineered with a complex lattice of steel and concrete. While both might contain the same amount of material, the latter offers far greater strength and resilience.
Dense but less resilient to stress and impact.
Optimized structure for strength and resilience.
Similarly, our bones are not just solid masses—they are living, dynamic tissues whose strength depends on much more than just their mineral content. This concept of "bone quality" encompasses the intricate combination of composition, architecture, and material properties that determine whether our bones can withstand life's daily demands or succumb to fractures.
The recent NIH/ASBMR Annual Meeting in Seattle brought together the world's leading bone specialists, unveiling groundbreaking research that is reshaping our understanding of skeletal health 1 .
From newly discovered proteins that control bone regeneration to advanced imaging techniques that reveal previously invisible structural details, scientists are piecing together a revolutionary picture of what makes bones strong—and how we can protect them throughout our lives. This article explores the most exciting developments from this conference, translating complex science into actionable insights about your bone health.
Bone quality is an umbrella term that describes all the characteristics of bone that contribute to its strength independently of bone mineral density (BMD). While BMD measures how much mineral is in your bones, quality determines how well that mineral is organized and supported.
Calcium and phosphate crystals
Collagen protein scaffold
Essential for nutrient transport
The key components include:
For decades, doctors primarily relied on bone density scans to assess fracture risk. The recent research presented at ASBMR confirms what specialists have suspected: density alone doesn't tell the whole story.
Some patients with normal bone density still experience fractures due to poor bone quality.
of fracture cases occur in people with normal BMD
Others with low density maintain surprisingly strong bones thanks to excellent microarchitecture.
of people with low BMD don't experience fractures
This explains why two people with similar bone density readings might have completely different fracture risks—their bone quality differs substantially. The exciting implication is that by understanding and improving bone quality, we may soon be able to protect bones in ways that go far beyond simply increasing mineral content.
One of the most exciting presentations at the meeting came from UC Davis Health researchers, who discovered a key protein called Basigin that plays a critical role in steroid-induced bone loss 2 .
When people take steroid medications for conditions like asthma, arthritis, or autoimmune diseases, this protein becomes activated in skeletal stem cells, essentially hijacking the bone regeneration system and causing progressive weakening.
Key Finding: Blocking Basigin not only prevented bone loss but actually restored bone strength—even during ongoing steroid treatment.
Another remarkable advancement comes from improved imaging technology. Traditional CT scans struggle to distinguish between bone's different components, but new dual-energy CT (DECT) methods are overcoming this limitation 6 .
Researchers presented a novel framework that more accurately quantifies bone's mineral, organic, and water phases by determining their specific attenuation coefficients—essentially creating a more detailed "map" of bone composition.
Discovery: Bone density correlated more strongly with organic density than with mineral density 6 .
They first examined how skeletal stem cells—the master cells responsible for building and maintaining bones—interact with blood vessel cells in bone tissue. They discovered that glucocorticoid steroids disrupted normal function by triggering the release of Basigin protein.
The researchers theorized that if they could block Basigin, they might prevent or even reverse the bone damage caused by long-term steroid use while preserving the anti-inflammatory benefits of the medication.
Scientists used two methods to inhibit Basigin: introducing a blocking antibody and genetically removing it from skeletal stem cells in mouse models.
They measured outcomes by assessing bone density, strength, and architecture in both young adult mice receiving steroids and aged mice with natural bone deterioration.
The findings were striking across multiple dimensions:
| Experimental Group | Bone Mass Change | Bone Strength Improvement | Blood Vessel Normalization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Young mice + steroids | Prevented loss | Maintained | Yes |
| Aged mice (2 years) | Significant restoration | Improved | Yes |
| Control groups | Progressive deterioration | Weakened | No |
The implications extend far beyond steroid users. Since researchers found elevated Basigin levels in naturally aged mice, this suggests the protein might be a common pathway in multiple forms of bone deterioration.
"Identifying Basigin as a driver of bone deterioration opens the door to targeted therapies that could help patients maintain strong, healthy bones — even while undergoing long-term glucocorticoid treatment"
The connection to blood vessel normalization is particularly significant because bone health depends on a robust blood supply to deliver nutrients and stem cells for repair. By restoring both the skeletal and vascular components, Basigin blockade represents a dual-action therapy that could potentially benefit millions dealing with osteoporosis and other bone loss conditions.
Behind these exciting discoveries lies an array of specialized research tools that enable scientists to decode bone's mysteries. These reagents allow researchers to identify specific proteins, measure critical biomarkers, and test potential therapies.
| Research Tool | Specific Examples | Function in Bone Research |
|---|---|---|
| Antibodies | Anti-Runx2, Anti-NFATc1, Anti-Collagen antibodies 3 | Identify and locate key proteins that control bone formation and resorption |
| Functional Assays | Bone Resorption Assay Kit, TRAP staining 3 | Measure osteoclast activity and bone breakdown processes |
| Stem Cells | Compact Bone-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (CBMSCs) 3 | Study the early stages of bone formation and regeneration |
| Biomarker Panels | osteomiR® kit (measures 19 microRNAs) | Assess bone quality through biomarker signatures in blood |
| Pathway Reagents | Recombinant BMPs, Wnt proteins, DKK1 3 | Manipulate and study signaling pathways that control bone remodeling |
These tools have been instrumental in advancing our understanding. For instance, the Bone Resorption Assay Kit serves as a gold-standard platform for measuring osteoclast activity and evaluating therapeutic compounds designed to mitigate bone loss 3 . Meanwhile, the recently developed osteomiR® kit allows researchers to analyze 19 different microRNA biomarkers associated with bone quality from just 200μL of blood serum . This kind of standardized testing enables different laboratories worldwide to compare findings and accelerate discovery.
The research presented at ASBMR 2025 points toward a future where bone health assessment and treatment become significantly more precise and effective. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach based primarily on bone density, we're moving toward:
Advanced imaging techniques that separately analyze mineral and organic components 6 , combined with biomarker panels .
Treatments like Basigin-blocking antibodies 2 could potentially reverse bone loss rather than just slowing its progression.
Standardized quality toolkits for DXA scanning 7 are already helping clinics improve accuracy and consistency.
While these advanced treatments are still in development, the underlying science reinforces the importance of comprehensive bone health strategies. The research confirms that supporting the organic collagen matrix through adequate protein intake and vitamin C is just as important as maintaining mineral levels through calcium and vitamin D. Similarly, weight-bearing exercise remains crucial as it stimulates improvements in both bone density and architecture.
The groundbreaking research unveiled at the NIH/ASBMR 2025 Annual Meeting marks a pivotal shift in how we understand, assess, and treat bone conditions. By looking beyond simple density measures to appreciate the complex interplay of composition, structure, and cellular activity, scientists are developing powerful new approaches to preserve and restore bone strength.
"This discovery opens the door to new treatments that protect bone health during steroid therapy and aging — potentially improving quality of life for millions"
From the Basigin breakthrough to advanced imaging techniques, we are witnessing the dawn of a new era in bone science—one that promises stronger, more resilient bones throughout our lives.
For those interested in learning more about these developments, the complete proceedings from the ASBMR 2025 Annual Meeting will be available through the organization's official channels 1 .