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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Peptides from Phage Display Library Modulate Gene Expression in Mesenchymal Cells and Potentiate Osteogenesis in Unicortical Bone Defects
Published on: December 10, 2010
Teriparatide increases the maturation of circulating osteoblast precursors
P D'Amelio1, C Tamone, F Sassi
1Department of Surgical and Medical Disciplines Gerontology Section, University of Torino-Italy, Corso Bramante 88/90, 10126 Torino, Italy. patrizia.damelio@unito.it
Unlabelled:
This study shows that teriparatide promotes the circulating osteoblast (OB) precursor degree of maturation in patients affected by postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Introduction:
Anabolic treatment with teriparatide has proven effective for the therapy of postmenopausal osteoporosis and significantly reduces the risk of non-vertebral fragility fractures. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of teriparatide on circulating OB precursors.
Methods:
We evaluated by flow cytometry and real-time PCR the expression of OBs typical markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during treatment with teriparatide plus calcium and vitamin D, raloxifene plus calcium and vitamin D or calcium and vitamin D alone at various time points. Serum bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin (OC) were measured as markers of bone turnover.
Results:
Our results show that circulating OB precursors are more numerous and more immature in patients affected by fragility fractures than in osteoporotic patients without fractures. We also show that teriparatide treatment increases the expression of alkaline phosphatase and of OC in OB precursors; thus, it increases their degree of maturation.
Conclusions:
We suggest that teriparatide acts as anabolic agents also by promoting the maturation of OB precursors.
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