Open AccessBone metabolism: a note on the significance of mouse models
Author(s) -
O Raska,
Klára Bernášková,
Ivan Raška
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
physiological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1802-9973
pISSN - 0862-8408
DOI - 10.33549/physiolres.931459
Subject(s) - bone remodeling , osteoporosis , osteocalcin , energy metabolism , bioinformatics , medicine , physiology , biology , endocrinology , biochemistry , alkaline phosphatase , enzyme
This minireview briefly surveys the complexity of regulationsgoverning the bone metabolism. The impact of clinical studiesdevoted to osteoporosis is briefly summarized and the emphasisis put on the significance of experimental mouse models basedon an extensive use of genetically modified animals. Despitepossible arising drawbacks, the studies in mice are of primeimportance for expanding our knowledge on bone metabolism.With respect to human physiology and medicine, one should bealways aware of possible limitations as the experimental resultsmay not be, or may be only to some extent, transposed tohumans. If applicable to humans, results obtained in miceprovide new clues for assessing unforeseen treatment strategiesfor patients. A recent publication representing in our opinion theimportant breakthrough in the field of bone metabolism in mice iscommented in detail. It provides an evidence that skeleton isendocrine organ that affects energy metabolism and osteocalcin,a protein specifically synthesized and secreted by osteoblasts, isa hormone involved. If confirmed by other groups and applicableto humans, this study provides the awaited connection of longduration between bone disorders on one hand and obesity anddiabetes on the other.