从DNA甲基化探讨中药干预骨质疏松症的研究进展

骨质疏松症是人体骨代谢平衡失调导致成骨细胞减少、破骨细胞增加而形成的一种骨小梁退化、骨结构脆性增加，易引发全身性骨折的中老年人常见疾病。近年来，表观遗传学研究发现骨质疏松与DNA甲基化具有密切的关系。表观遗传学是通过观察周身环境对人机体基因表达的影响，这与中医整体观念相符合。中医以人与自然相统一的理念，重视环境对人体的影响，通过药物调理使机体内阴阳达到一个平衡的稳态。随着表观遗传学对骨质疏松研究的不断深入，以及中医科工作者在补益肝肾类中药干预骨质疏松甲基化机制方面取得了较大研究进展，笔者对近期相关文献进行综述，以期为临床研究、诊疗骨质疏松症提供依据。

Research progress in the intervention in osteoporosis with traditional Chinese medicine based on DNA methylation

Osteoporosis is a common disease of the middle-aged and elderly in which the bone metabolism is imbalanced, leading to a decrease in osteoblasts and an increase in osteoclasts, resulting in the degeneration of bone trabeculae and an increase in the brittleness of bone structure, which predisposes to systemic fractures. Recent epigenetic studies have found a strong relationship between osteoporosis and DNA methylation. Epigenetics, by looking at the influence of the surrounding environment on gene expression in the human organism, is in line with the holistic concept of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With the concept of the unity of man and nature, TCM values the influence of the environment on the human body and regulates the body through medicine to achieve a balanced homeostasis of Yin and Yang within the organism. As epigenetic research on osteoporosis continues to intensify and TCM practitioners have made great research progress in the mechanism of osteoporosis methylation through intervention with liver and kidney tonic herbs, the authors review the recent relevant literature with a view to provide a basis for clinical research and treatment of osteoporosis.