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Utilization and Reference Values of Bone Turnover Markers: Osteocalcin and Procollagen Type 1 N-Propeptide

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Biomarkers in Bone Disease

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Abstract

All body bones undergo continual remodeling. This process consists of bone resorption and bone formation which are closely coupled actions. Changes in bone tissue are accompanied by changes of biochemical markers. Plasma (and/or urine) concentration of these markers depends on bone resorption/formation activity, i.e., bone turnover rate. Osteocalcin is important noncollagenous protein in bone matrix, synthetized by osteoblasts and osteocytes. It is a good marker of bone turnover. Its undercarboxylated form has a role in regulation of energy metabolism. Osteocalcin is also involved in biosynthesis of testosterone or neurotransmitter production. Procollagen type 1 N-propeptide is a aminoterminal part of procollagen precursor cleaved by proteases during bone formation process. Its serum concentration is significantly related to newly formed collagen. Procollagen type 1 N-propeptide is supposed to be the most reliable biochemical marker of bone formation at present time. Reference values of both laboratory markers for central European population of children and adolescents are presented, and some data about reference intervals in adults from different ethnic groups are mentioned.

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Abbreviations

AMP:

5′-adenosinmonophosphate

Atf4:

Activating transcription factor 4

BMI:

Body mass index

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

FoxO1:

Forkhead box protein O1

mRNA:

Messenger ribonucleic acid

OC:

Osteocalcin

P1NP:

Procollagen type 1 N-propeptide

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Children and Adolescents Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Šrobárova 1150/50, 100 34, Prague 10, Czech Republic

    Milan Bayer

  2. University Hospital Hradec Králové, Sokolská 581, 500 05, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

    Vladimir Palicka

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  1. Milan Bayer
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  2. Vladimir Palicka
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Correspondence to Milan Bayer .

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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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Bayer, M., Palicka, V. (2017). Utilization and Reference Values of Bone Turnover Markers: Osteocalcin and Procollagen Type 1 N-Propeptide. 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_37

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