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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

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Published on: April 14, 2016
The two faces of serotonin in bone biology
Patricia Ducy1, Gerard Karsenty
1Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. pd2193@columbia.edu
Abstract:
The serotonin molecule has some remarkable properties. It is synthesized by two different genes at two different sites, and, surprisingly, plays antagonistic functions on bone mass accrual at these two sites. When produced peripherally, serotonin acts as a hormone to inhibit bone formation. In contrast, when produced in the brain, serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter to exert a positive and dominant effect on bone mass accrual by enhancing bone formation and limiting bone resorption. The effect of serotonin on bone biology could be harnessed pharmacologically to treat diseases such as osteoporosis.
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