Bone Abstracts

Introduction: Bone metastases represent a frequent complication of breast cancer and are characterized by increased tumour-driven activation of osteoclasts and subsequent bone loss. Aminobisphosphonates inhibit osteoclast function and are established therapies of skeletal metastases. Similar to statins, they block the mevalonate pathway and are thought to have direct anti-tumour effects. Here, we report on the anti-tumour potential of a sequential inhibition of the mevalonate ...

The osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), primarily described as a co-stimulatory regulator of osteoclast differentiation, represents a novel link between bone metabolism and vascular biology. Previously, we identified OSCAR on endothelial cells responding to the proatherogenic factor oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Additionally, OSCAR expression was increased in the aorta of atherogenic apoE-knock-out (apoE-KO) mice, where it was further induced by feeding a high-...

Postmenopausal women with early stage hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer (EBC) are standardly treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs). However, one side-effect of AIs treatment is a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of fracture. The objectives of this study were to examine: i) changes in bone formation (N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen; PINP) and bone resorption (cross-linked C-telopeptides of bone type I collagen; CTX) markers, as we...

Osteoporosis is a frequent disease leading to an increased risk of fractures caused by a systemic impairment of bone mass, strength, and microarchitecture. Given the emerging role of the Wnt signaling pathway in bone biology, we focused on the function of the important Wnt inhibitor dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) and examined how the deletion of Dkk-1 solely in osteoblasts or osteocytes influences bone homeostasis. Therefore, we used the Cre-LoxP recombination system and crossed Dkk-1-flo...

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women and frequently results in osteolytic bone metastases. Amino-bisphosphonates are a standard bone protective therapy and, similarly to statins, inhibit the mevalonate pathway that is crucial for posttranslational protein modifications (farnesylation and geranylation). Direct anti-tumor effects of amino-bisphosphonates and statins have been suggested but high concentrations are necessary to achieve meaningful effects. Our stu...

Wnt proteins and their cognate receptors play a significant role in malignant diseases, in particular in prostate cancer (PCa). We previously showed that WNT5A inhibits PCa cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in vitro, leading to reduced PCa growth in vivo. However, the involved receptors remain unknown. Here, we determine the role of two Wnt receptors (FZD8, RYK) and their influence on the WNT5A-induced effects on PCa cells.The ex...

Introduction: Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) is an inflammatory disease causing rapid loss of teeth in young patients.Aim: Determine degree of impact of COL1A1 gene on likelihood of AgP development.Materials and methods: Study included 47 patients with AgP, 40 patients with osteoporosis (OP), and 64 healthy patients (HP). Polymorphic variant c.104-441G>T (COL1A1) was studied. Statistics: Fisher’s...

Diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system are a major cost burden to society. Articular cartilage loss or damage in these diseases is detected by radiography and measuring decreases in joint space width (JSW). The early stages of the disease may remain latent and asymptomatic for many years. This forms the rationale for applying molecular marker technology (biomarkers) to identify patients prone to joint diseases. One such biomarker is cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (...

Uncarboxylated osteocalcin, allegedly via G-protein coupled receptors, interacts with adipocytes and pancreatic β-cells, thus affecting metabolic homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that MK-7 directly and indirectly, via osteocalcin, modulates the endocrine functions of both β-cells and adipocytes.• It was shown (by applying the Mir@nt@n-based emulation algorithm) that MK-7 was involved in a network of intracellular regulat...

Osteoarthritis is a complex pathogenesis because diverse factors interact causing a process of deterioration of the cartilage and the subchondral bone. Despite the multifactorial nature of the knee osteoarthritis, it is related to a strong genetic component. Determination of molecular genetic causes of osteoarthritis is an actual problem. There are several approaches to assess the contribution of a candidate gene in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. The aim of the study was ...