Bone Abstracts

Background: Spondylometaphyseal dysplasias (SMDs) comprise a diverse group of skeletal dysplasias and often manifest as short stature, growth-plate irregularities, and vertebral anomalies. One such condition is SMD with ‘corner fractures’ (OMIM #184255). These individuals generally show development of coxa vara, scoliosis and triangular ossification centers at the edges of metaphyses that simulate fractures.Presenting problem: To date only 16 p...

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of low serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in patients referred to a tertiary children’s hospital. Another item was to explore potentially missed diagnoses and to evaluate the role of laboratory screening for hypophosphatasia.Study design: A retrospective evaluation over an 6-year period (between December 2010 and December 2016) carried out to identify children and adolescents, referred to Anna Meyer Chi...

Background: Congenital multiple hormone deficiency (CMHD) is a rare condition caused by mutations in transcription factors involved in pituitary ontogenesis1. Incidence of mutations in POU1F1 gene in results between 3.8 and 7.7%2. POU1F1 gene mutations lead to somatolactotroph and thryotroph deficiencies. Brain MRI can be normal or shows pituitary hypoplasia without extrapituitary anomalies.Presenting problem: We describe the growth...

Background: Weyers acrofacial dysostosis (WAD, OMIM 193530) is a rare autosomal dominant disease, characterized by mildly short stature, postaxial polydactyly, nail dystrophy and dental anomalies. WAD should be distinguished from Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (OMIM 225500), a similar but more severe disease, comprising chondrodysplasia, orofacial anomalies and, in a proportion of patients, cardiovascular malformations. Both diseases are caused by mutations in either EVC or EVC2<s...

Glucocorticoids (GC) are effective drugs in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including various forms of arthritis. However, their use is limited by negative effects on bone mass and strength, resulting in increased osteoporotic fractures. Conditional knockout mice demonstrated that the GR in osteoblasts is essential for GC-dependent bone loss. Recent studies show that GC profoundly inhibit Wnt signaling by stimulating the expression of Wnt antagonists such as dickkopf-1...

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Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a glycoprotein that controls the engulfment of apoptotic cells and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. It has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases, but its role in the bone microenvironment is still unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis that MFG-E8 also regulates bone metabolism and the development of arthritis.MFG-E8 expression was detected in mouse bones and primary murine osteobl...

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 ...

Introduction: Collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as hyaluronan (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) are basic elements of bone structure and collagen-GAG composites are currently developed for a wide range of applications. Here, we report on the molecular and cellular effects of GAGs and their sulfated derivatives on osteocytes, which are fundamental orchestrators of bone remodeling.Materials and methods: The effects of native and sulfate-modified ...

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-...