title: Parathyroid glands in calcium regulation and human disease.
abstract: In humans and other land-living vertebrates, the parathyroids are known to have an overall regulatory role with action as a thermostat in the systemic calcium homeostasis to ensure tight regulation of serum calcium concentrations and appropriate skeletal mineralization. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is an 84-amino-acid peptide, synthesized and released by parathyroid chief cells in response to hypocalcemia. PTH mobilizes calcium by increasing calcium resorption from bone and by raising calcium reabsorption in the proximal kidney tubule. Treatment with active vitamin D can increase vitamin D receptor expression, inhibit growth of parathyroid tumors, and reduce PTH levels in patients with hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Newly developed vitamin D analogues with reduced calcemic effects and with more pronounced antiproliferative effect may provide new favorable treatment for reversal of HPT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. goran.akerstrom@kirurgi.uu.se
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akerström
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hellman
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hessman
authors.forename: Ulrika
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Segersten
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Westin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium