Normal bone remodeling requires a continuous supply of osteoblasts and
osteoclasts from stem cells in the bone marrow. In bone-related diseases and fractures,
this process becomes disrupted. There are a number of therapeutic strategies being
employed that are attempting to repair diseased or damaged bone, including bone
grafts, demineralized bone implantation, and recombinant protein treatments. However,
likely more than these strategies, stem cells hold great potential to completely
regenerate bone tissue. In this chapter, we provide a discussion on the physiology and
pathophysiology of osteogenesis, as well as current therapies for bony defects, with
specific emphasis placed on the advantages of utilizing various types of stem cells as
therapeutic approaches to treat bone-related diseases and difficult-to-heal fractures.
Keywords: Bone graft, Bone-related disease, Bone remodeling, Fracture,
Hematopoietic stem cell, Mesenchymal stem cell, Mobilization, Regeneration,
Skeletal stem cell, Stem cell.
