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Overview of Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism

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Biomarkers in Bone Disease

Abstract

The bone has the function of supporting the body; the bone is a tissue characterized by its rigidity, hardness, and power of regeneration and repair. The bone has several functions including protection of the vital organs, environment for marrow, mineral reservoir for calcium homeostasis, reservoir of growth factors and cytokines, and taking part in acid–base balance. Bone metabolism is a dynamic and continuous remodeling process that is normally maintained in a tightly coupled balance between resorption of old or injured bone and formation of new bone. Several hormones and factors are involved in bone metabolism, which regulation depends from the complex interaction among them. Considering the various phases of the bone cycle, markers of bone metabolism may be classified either as markers of bone formation, markers of bone resorption, and markers of bone metabolism regulation. The aim of this chapter will be to examine biochemical markers in bone metabolism in order to give readers a guide about the normal physiological process to better understand the mechanisms underlying bone diseases.

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Abbreviations

D-Pyr:

Deoxypyridinoline

FGF:

Fibroblast growth factors

IGF:

Insulin-like growth factors

IL-1:

Interleukin-1

IL-6:

Interleukin-6

PG:

Prostaglandins

PTH:

Parathyroid hormone

Pyr:

Pyridinoline

TGF-β:

Transforming growth factor-β

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-α

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, P.le C. Golgi, 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Pamela Maffioli & Giuseppe Derosa

  2. PhD School in Experimental Medicine, University of Pavia, P.le C. Golgi, 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Pamela Maffioli

  3. Center for Prevention, Surveillance, Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, P.le C. Golgi, 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Pamela Maffioli & Giuseppe Derosa

  4. Center for the Study of Endocrine-Metabolic Pathophysiology and Clinical Research, University of Pavia, P.le C. Golgi, 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Giuseppe Derosa

  5. Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, P.le C. Golgi, 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Giuseppe Derosa

Authors
  1. Pamela Maffioli
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  2. Giuseppe Derosa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pamela Maffioli .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Division of Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

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Maffioli, P., Derosa, G. (2017). Overview of Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V. (eds) Biomarkers in Bone Disease. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7693-7_24

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