Bone Abstracts

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type VI is caused by recessive null mutations in SERPINF1, encoding pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), an anti-angiogenic secretory glycoprotein. Dominant mutations in IFITM5, encoding BRIL (Bone Restricted Ifitm-Like), a transmembrane protein upregulated in osteoblasts during mineralization, cause either type V OI (c.-14C>T, addition of 5 amino acids on BRIL) or atypical type VI OI (...

Transient receptor potential vanilloid channels (TRPVs) have been implicated in Ca2+ homeostasis and bone metabolism. In particular, TRPV4 deficiency was shown to cause sexual dimorphism in bone metabolism and osteoporotic fracture risk. Cortical bone structure was reported to be altered in male TRPV4 knock-out (TRPV4−/−) mice but not in female TRPV−/− mice compared to sex-matched wildtype (TRPV4+/+) animals.To gain knowledge on t...

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is used to stimulate bone formation in osteoporotic patients, however concerns have been raised about the quality of the matrix produced since lower levels of total matrix mineral have been reported in osteoporotic and fracture patients treated with PTH. High resolution synchrotron-based Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopy (sFTIRM) was used to determine mineral content in age-matched bone during anabolic PTH treatment, using the simplified lamellar ...

Matrix vesicles (MVs) play a key role in bone mineralization. These nano-sized vesicles bud from apical microvilli of osteoblasts and accumulate in osteoid, and initial hydroxyapatite crystals form within these vesicles. MVs appear to share a common feature with exosomes. Recent studies have demonstrated that exosomes include microRNAs (miRNAs) as mediators of intercellular communication. We purified MVs from MC3T3-E1 cell cultures by ultracentrifugation and found approximatel...