Bone Abstracts

A randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 study evaluated the safety and efficacy of BA058, an analog of hPTHrP(1–34), in postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis. 221 patients were randomized to received BA058 20, 40, and 80 μg, placebo or teriparatide (TP) 20 μg, by daily s.c. injection. 184 (83%) patients completed an initial 24 weeks of treatment. The mean percent change in lumbar spine BMD at 24 weeks was 1.6% with placebo, 6.7% with BA058 80 μg, a...

Hypogonadism is common in cardiac transplant (CTX) patients and exerts negative effects on bone but also on libido and quality of life.We investigated whether testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has any positive effects on bone mass, fracture incidence, and quality of sex life when administered in addition to ibandronate (IBN) in hypogonadal CTX recipients. 52 male patients entered the study and received IBN (quarterly 2 μg i.v.). 60% of the pati...

Ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (NPPs) hydrolyse nucleotide triphosphates to the corresponding nucleotide monophosphate and the mineralisation inhibitor, pyrophosphate (PPi). This investigation examined the role of NPP1 in bone and soft tissue mineralisation using a mouse model lacking NPP1(Enpp1−/−). At physiological pH 7.35, cultured Enpp1−/...

Bone has recently emerged as a novel endocrine organ regulating glucose metabolism. Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1 (NPP1) controls bone mineralisation by generating the mineralisation inhibitor pyrophosphate. In clinical studies increased activity of NPP1 has been found in patients with insulin resistance, and it has been shown to directly inhibit the insulin receptor. We hypothesised that mice lacking NPP1 (Enpp1−/−) would exhibit im...

Collagen XV is a secreted proteoglycan localized in the outermost layer of the basement membrane and in the fibrillar matrix. Previously, the collagen XV gene (COL15A1) has been linked to osteogenic differentiation, being identified mainly in mature osteoblasts forming new bone tissue or lining bone trabeculae. Our previous data on collagen XV knockout fetuses reports subtle skeletal changes. The aim of this study was to analyse skeletal changes in adult mice lacking collagen ...

The relationship between bone formation and blood flow is unclear. Recently, PTH was reported to activate production of nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasorelaxing agent, in endothelial cells and we and others have confirmed a strong vasorelaxing action of PTH in vivo in the mouse. Here, we tested the hypothesis that a potent NO synthase inhibitor (L-NAME: NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) may alter the effect of intermittent PTH (iPTH) on b...

Increasing interest is focusing on the role of the FGF-23/Klotho axis in mediating vascular calcification. However, the underpinning mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. Murine VSMCs were cultured in calcifying medium for a 21-day period. FGF-23 mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated by 7 days (1.63-fold; P<0.001), with a concomitant increase in protein expression. mRNA and protein expression of both FGFR1 and Klotho were confirmed. Increased FGF-23...

Genetic approaches to bone physiology utilising judicious gain and loss of function models have identified bone as an endocrine organ, being involved in the regulation of energy metabolism and reproduction. Recent advances expand our understanding and identify a new and unconventional role of bone beyond its classical functions. PHOSPHO1 is a bone specific phosphatase with a recognised role in bone mineralisation, but our present studies have now identified a novel role for PH...

The quantum leaps in scientific progress have frequently come from technological innovations, which can be referred to as the technology push. In the life-sciences this has been exemplified by the emergence of all kinds of ‘omics’ technologies reflecting the capacity to analyse complete and complex molecular mixtures in a hypothesis-free approach, also known as ‘fishing expeditions’ by more sceptical fellow scientists. Such approaches have been developed fo...

Being efficient and productive in research is frequently linked to a structured organization of the available research time. This applies to any individual scientist including PhD students, Postdocs, or PIs. In particular PIs but also to some extend more senior Postdocs have a responsibility for more junior scientists and in the case of PIs even of an entire research team. This does not only require overseeing and organizing his own time but also the time and workload of other...