Bone and Metabolic Activities
Description:... Substantial progress has been made in defining genes and proteins involved in development, maintenance and regeneration of teeth and bones. This knowledge has improved strategies for diagnosing and treating mineralized tissue diseases. Existing data provide credence for these genes/proteins having roles beyond those attributed to mineralized tissues. For example, they may affect systemic metabolic activity and glucose tolerance. One example is fibroblast growth factor 23 (Fgf23), a hormone secreted by osteocytes, suppressing phosphate reabsorption into the blood stream and vitamin D synthesis in the kidney. Many other bone associated proteins, perhaps acting as endocrine factors, are reported to act at distant sites to alter metabolic activity. However, there remains substantial uncertainty as to whether bone itself functioning as an endocrine organ and/or factors secreted by bone could modulate metabolic activity. Such information should be of value toward informing clinical strategies to treat mineralized tissue and metabolic disorders.
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