Which of the following is false?

The statement regarding the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on bone metabolism, specifically that NO increases bone resorption, is identified as false.

To clarify, nitric oxide plays a multifaceted role in bone biology. Low concentrations of NO, typically produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), are associated with the promotion of bone formation. This is beneficial as NO has been shown to stimulate osteoblast activity, which is crucial for bone formation.

On the other hand, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) produces high concentrations of NO, especially in response to inflammatory stimuli. While high levels of NO can influence bone metabolism, the nuanced effects depend on the context and concentrations involved. Generally, excessive NO can lead to various detrimental effects, but the direct assertion that NO increases bone resorption lacks strong support from current understanding.

Thus, investigating NO's role indicates that rather than promoting resorption directly, it tends to influence bone turnover through its effects on osteoblasts and osteoclasts in a complex manner, often leading to beneficial outcomes for bone formation. Therefore, the assertion that it inherently increases bone resorption stands in contrast to the prevailing evidence observed in tissue engineering and bone biology research.