Biochemistry of Bone

• Bones contain both organic and inorganic material.

• The organic material is mainly protein i.e. type – I collagen, comprising 90-95% of organic material.

• Type – V collagen is also present in small amounts, as are number of non- collagen proteins.

• The inorganic component is mainly crystalline hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 along with sodium, magnesium, carbonate and fluoride.

• Approximately 99% of body calcium is contained in bones.

• Bone is dynamic structure that under goes continuing cycles of remodeling, consisting of resorption followed by deposition of new bone tissues.

OSTEOCLASTS

• Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells; possess an apical membrane domain, exhibiting a ruffled border that plays a key role in bone resorption.

• A proton translocating ATPase expels protons across the ruffled border in to resorption area.

• This Lowers the Local PH to 4.0 or less, thus increasing the solubility of hydroxyapatite & allowing demineralization to occur.

OSTEOBLASTS

• Osteoblasts are mono-nuclear cells; synthesize most of proteins found in bone as well as various growth factors & cytokines.

• They are responsible for the deposition of new bone matrix (Osteoid) and its subsequent mineralization.

• Osteoblasts control mineralization by regulating the passage of calcium & phosphate ions across their surface membranes.

• Many factors are involved in the regulation of bone metabolism.

• Some stimulate Osteoblasts e.g Parathyroid hormone, 1, 25 dihydroxy Cholecalicferol . Other inhibit them e.g. Corticosteriods

• Parathyroid hormone & 1, 25 dihydroxy cholecalciferol also stimulate Osteoclasts, where as calcitonin & estrogen inhibit them.

Role of Parathyroid Hormone

• Human PTH is a linear poltypeptide that contains 84 a.a residues.

• It is synthesized as part of larger molecule containing 115 a.a residues (pre-pro-PTH).

• Upon entry of pre-pro-PTH into endoplasmic reticulum, leader sequence is removing from the amino terminal to form the 90 a.a polypeptide pro-PTH.

• Six additional a.a residues are removed from the amino terminal of pro PTH in the golgi apparatus and the 84 a.a polypeptide PTH is packaged in secretory granules and released as the main secretory product of the chief cells.

Actions of Parathyroid Hormone:

• PTH act directly on bones to increase bone resorption & mobilize Ca2+.

• In addition to increasing plasma Ca2+ and depressing the plasma phosphate, PTH increases phosphate excretion in urine.

• This phosphaturic action is due to a decrease in reabsorption of phosphate in the proximal tubules.

• PTH also increases reabsorption of Ca2+ in the distal tubules

• PTH also increases the formation of 1, 25 dihydroxy Cholecalciferol, and this increases Ca2+ absorption from intestine.

• On longer time scale, PTH stimulates osteoclasts and osteoblasts with the effect osteoclasts predominating so that more Ca2+ is mobilized from bone.

Regulation of secretion:

• Circulating ionized calcium acts directly on the parathyroid gland in a negative feedback fashion to regulate the secretion of PTH.

• The key to this regulation is a cell membrane Ca2+ receptor.

• This serpentine receptor is coupled via G protein to phospholipinositide turn over and is found in many tissues

• In this way when the plasma Ca2+ level is high ,PTH secretion is inhibited and the Ca2+ is deposited in bones.when it is low, secretion is increased and Ca2+ is mobilized from the bones .

• Increased plasma phosphate stimulates PTH secretion by lowering plasma Ca2+ and inhibiting the formation of 1, 25 dihydroxy cholecalciferol.

Role of vitamin D:• The active transport of Ca2+ & PO4 from

intestine is increased by metabolite of vitamin D.

• Vitamin D3 which is also called cholecalciferol is produced in skin from 7-dehydrocholesterol by action of sunlight.

• In liver vitamin D3 is converted to 25-hydroxycholecaciferol (25-OH D3).

• It is than converted to 1, 25 dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol) in the proximal tubules of kidney.

• In addition to increasing Ca2+ absorption from the intestine, it also facilitates Ca2+ reabsorption in the kidneys.

• It acts on bones, where it mobilize Ca2+ and PO4, by increasing the number of mature Osteoclasts.

• It also stimulates osteoblasts, but the net effect is still Ca2+ mobilization.

Mechanism of actions

• The formation of 1, 25 dihydrocholicalciferol in the kidneys which is catalyzed by 1alpha hydroxylase is regulated in feed back fashion by plasma Ca2+ & PO4.

• Its formation is facilitated by PTH and when the plasma Ca2+ level is low, PTH secretion is increase.

• When the plasma Ca2+ level is high ,little 1,25 dihydroxycholicalciferol is produced .

• The production of 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol is also increased by low and inhibited by high plasma PO4 levels, by the direct inhibitory effect of PO4 on alpha hydroxylase .

Calcitonin:

• Human calcitonin has M.W 3500 and contains 32 amino acid residues.

• Calcitonin is not secreted until the plasma calcium level reaches approximately 9.5mg/dl and that above this calcium level.

• Plasma calcitonin is directly proportionate to plasma calcium.

• Beta –adrenergic agonists, dopamine and estrogen, also stimulate calcitonin secretion.

• Gastrin, CCK, glucagon and secretin have all been reported to stimulate calcitonin secretion.

Actions of Calcitonin:

• Serpentine receptors for calcitonin are found in bones and the kidneys.

• Calcitonin lowers the circulating calcium and phosphate levels.

• It exerts its calcium lowering effect by inhibiting bone resorption.

• This action is direct, and calcitonin inhibits the activity of osteocalsts in vitro.

• It also increases Ca2+ excretion in Urine.

DISORDERS INVOLVING BONES

• Rickets: It is due to deficiency of Vitamin D during childhood. The full-blown condition in children is characterized by weakness and bowing of weight bearing bones, dental defects and hypocalcemia.

• Osteomalacia: It is due to deficiency of vitamin D during adulthood, results from demineralization of bones, especially in women who have little exposure to sunlight, often several pregnancies.

 

• Osteoporesis:

It is generalized progressive reduction in bone tissue mass per unit volume causing skeletal weakness. The ratio of mineral to organic elements is unchanged in the remaining normal bone. It is mostly associated with advancing age and the menopause due to estrogen deficiency.

• Hyperparathyroidism:

Excessive parathormone cause bone resorption.

• Osteogenesis imperfecta:

It is brittle bone disease characterized by abnormal fragility of bones. Over 90% of patients with osteo-genesis imperfecta have mutation in genes.