Purpose of review: Bone turnover is a regulated process. Osteoglycin is suggested to have an important impact on bone function but may also affect cardiovascular and metabolic functions. This review investigates the action of osteoglycin in bone as well as its potential endocrine effects.
Recent findings: Osteoglycin is expressed by several tissues including bone and muscle. Some studies suggest that osteoglycin increases osteoblast differentiation whereas others suggest that osteoglycin decreases osteoblast differentiation. Thus, findings on the influence of osteoglycin in bone are conflicting. A recent study found increased bone mass in osteoglycin deficient mice. Another study reported that osteoglycin is a marker of low bone mineral density and vertebral fractures in women with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, clinical studies link osteoglycin to insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. Osteoglycin may be a novel marker of a muscle, pancreatic, and bone axis. However, current evidence is limited and further research investigating osteoglycin in both a pre-clinical and a clinical setting is needed.
Keywords: Bone; Bone turnover; Insulin resistance; Osteoglycin.