| Osteoporosis is a systemic and age-related bone metabolic disease. Along with aging, bone formation is inhibited and bone destruction is increased, leading to decrease in bone mass and fracture susceptibility. The molecular mechanism of osteoporosis formation is relatively complex, and the relationship between autophagy and osteoporosis formation has been a hot topic in recent years. Autophagy is a highly conserved material cycling process in eukaryotic cells. By degradation of macromolecular substances, proteins, and organelles, and the recycling of degradation products, autophagy maintains the stable survival of cells in adverse environments such as stress and lack of energy. With the continuous expansion of autophagy research, progresses have been made in the molecular regulatory pathway of autophagy and its role in cell physiology and disease development, including neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, diabetes, and myocardial diseases. Studies have shown a strong association between autophagy and bone diseases, including osteoporosis. Autophagy plays a vital role in the proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and stability of bone cells, and is deeply involved in the bone remodeling process. Under the influence of various adverse factors, such as aging, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, decrease in estrogen level, and increase in systemic inflammation, autophagy level of cells in the bone tissue changes to different degrees, which leads to the imbalance of bone metabolism and bone homeostasis and gradually develops into osteoporosis. In this paper, the relationship between autophagy and bone homeostasis and osteoporosis is reviewed on the basis of existing literature reports, in order to provide reference for further research. |