Bone Abstracts

LIGHT is a TNF superfamily member, expressed by activated T cells. It is involved in erosive bone disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis where it stimulates osteoclastogenesis. In multiple myeloma, LIGHT promotes osteolysis by increasing osteoclastogenesis and inhibiting osteoblastogenesis. We investigated whether LIGHT has a role in the osteolytic bone metastatic process induced by non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is a tumor with a marked osteotropism. We analysed by ...

Inflammatory stimuli can lead to bone loss by mechanisms that are not well understood. We recently showed that skin inflammation induces bone loss in mice and humans. In psoriasis, one of the prototypic IL-17A-mediated inflammatory human skin diseases, low bone formation and bone loss correlates with increased serum IL-17A levels. Similarly, in two mouse models with chronic IL-17A-mediated skin inflammation, K14-IL17Aind and JunB&...

Osteoporosis (OP) is characterised by reduced bone mass, due to an insufficient osteoblast-mediated bone formation, unable to replace the bone tissue removed by osteoclasts. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells capable of differentiating into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondrocytes. Epigenetic marks like DNA methylation could influence the differentiation potential of these cells into osteoblasts and, consequently, the risk of OP. To explore this hypothesis, we...

Objectives: Low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased frequency of peripheral and vertebral fractures have been reported in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but studies on the determinants of low BMD are still very few. We are currently carrying out a multicenter, prospective study aimed to identify the characteristics of DMD boys with a higher risk of bone loss and fractures.Methods: Forty-two DMD boys (mean age 9.9±3.3 years) underw...

Objectives: Early-onset osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and reduced bone strength since childhood or young adulthood. Although several monogenic forms have already been identified, the spectrum of mutations and genes behind this condition remain inadequately characterized. Furthermore, it is not clear whether genetic factors determine susceptibility to bone fractures in children with normal BMD. In order to further explore the genetic background...

Objectives: To evaluate the skeletal profile of paediatric patients with cancer at diagnosis.Methods: Children diagnosed with cancer in our Oncology Centre were recruited during a fifteen-month period and underwent metabolic bone profile and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the time of diagnosis. Subsequently, they were divided in two subgroups, according to diagnosis; haematological malignancy vs solid tumour. For comparison, a group of 38 sex ...

Introduction: Reduced bone mineral density [BMD] and increased fracture risk are common complications in all conditions characterized by severely reduced physical activity and/or requiring long-term glucocorticoid [GC] treatment, including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy [DMD].Objectives: The RisBo-DMD study (EudraCT 2011-005745-12) is a 24-month prospective multicenter study, aimed at identifying DMD patients at higher risk of fractures and improving the bo...

Objective: Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopment disorder. More than 95% of RTT female have mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), whose protein product modulates gene transcription. Specific MECP2 mutations may lead phenotypic variability and different degrees of disease severity. It is known that low bone mass is a frequent complication of subjects with Rett syndrome. This study aimed to investigate if specific MECP2 mutations may affects the degree...

Background: Osteoporosis is common in subjects with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Studies in paediatric DMD identified a high frequency of fragility fractures but there are no studies in the adult population. Recent updated international standards of care (2018) for children and adults with DMD recommend the following for bone monitoring:- Lateral thoracolumbar spine x-rays to screen for vertebral fracture (1–2 yearly if on glucocorticoid; 2&#1...

There is increasing evidence for the key role of osteocytes in the regulation of bone remodeling. One of the main products of these cells, sclerostin, inhibits bone formation and may also stimulate bone resorption. To our knowledge, there are few data in prostate cancer (PC) patients especially in patients with hypogonadism related to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The aim of this study was to compare serum levels of sclerostin in ADT-treated and untreated PC patients wit...