OBJECTIVES A critical role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in bone homeostasis has been suggested in experimental studies. We examined whether inhibition of IL-6 receptor in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) results in early alterations of circulating markers of bone remodelling. METHODS Circulating levels of osteoprotegerin, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), Wnt signa...

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare faecal markers of intestinal inflammation in children with cystic fibrosis (CF), and determine whether intestinal inflammation adversely affects the nutritional phenotype. METHODS Faecal samples for markers of intestinal inflammation, calprotectin, S100A12, and osteoprotegerin, were collected from children with CF, healthy controls (H...

Multiple myeloma is a B-cell malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled growth of plasma cells in the bone marrow and the development of osteolytic bone disease. Myeloma cells express the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL), induce RANKL expression in the bone marrow, and down-regulate expression of the decoy receptor osteoprotegerin, thereby promoting bone resorption. ...

Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the major pathogens of periodontitis, a condition characterized by excessive alveolar bone resorption by osteoclasts. The bacterium produces cysteine proteases called gingipains, which are classified according to their cleavage-site specificity into Kgps (lysine-specific gingipains) and Rgps (arginine-specific gingipains). In the present study we examined the ...