| Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which bone microstructure degradation and strength decrease are the main changes, which often lead to fractures. It is usually caused by increased bone resorption, and the corresponding increase in bone formation cannot fully compensate. Osteoporosis is often caused by multiple factors, among which genetic factors are critical to peak bone mass, bone structure, and susceptibility to bone deterioration and fragility fractures. However, genetic factors alone are not enough to explain the occurrence and development of osteoporosis and the occurrence of fragility fractures. At present, epigenetic factors are considered to be closely related to osteoporosis, and it has been confirmed that bone metabolism is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. DNA methylation, an important component of epigenetics, affects the occurrence and development of osteoporosis by regulating the expression of osteoporosis-related genes. This article reviews the mechanism of DNA methylation on osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and mesenchymal stem cells, and explores the significance and possibility of using DNA methylation as a biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. |