title: Intrauterine growth restriction may not suppress bone formation at term, as indicated by circulating concentrations of undercarboxylated osteocalcin and Dickkopf-1.
abstract: The objective was to investigate circulating concentrations of bone formation markers (undercarboxylated osteocalcin [Glu-OC], an established marker of bone formation during fetal and early postnatal life], and Dickkopf-1 [DKK-1], a natural inhibitor of osteoblastogenesis during fetal development]) in intrauterine-growth-restricted (IUGR; associated with impaired fetal skeletal development) and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) pregnancies. Circulating concentrations of Glu-OC and DKK-1 were determined by enzyme immunoassay in 40 mothers and their 20 asymmetric IUGR and 20 AGA singleton full-term fetuses and neonates on postnatal day 1 (N1) and 4 (N4). Parametric tests were applied in the statistical analysis. No significant differences in Glu-OC concentrations were observed between IUGR and AGA groups, whereas fetal DKK-1 concentrations were lower in the IUGR group (P = .028). In both groups, maternal Glu-OC and DKK-1 concentrations were lower than fetal, N1, and N4 concentrations (P ≤ .012 in all cases), whereas fetal Glu-OC concentrations were higher than N1 and N4 ones (P ≤ .037 in all cases). In addition, N1 Glu-OC concentrations were higher than N4 concentrations (P = .047). Finally, maternal Glu-OC and DKK-1 concentrations positively correlated with fetal, N1, and N4 ones (r ≥ 0.404, P ≤ .01 in all cases). Fetal/neonatal bone formation may not be impaired in full-term asymmetric IUGR infants, as indicated by the similar Glu-OC concentrations in both groups. Fetal DDK-1 concentrations are lower in the IUGR group, representing probably a compensatory mechanism, favoring the formation of mineralized bone. Fetal/neonatal bone turnover is markedly enhanced compared with maternal one and seems to be associated with the latter in both late pregnancy and early postpartum.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Athens 10682, Greece.
authors.forename: Despina D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Briana
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gourgiotis
authors.forename: Anestis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Georgiadis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boutsikou
authors.forename: Stavroula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baka
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marmarinos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hassiakos
authors.forename: Ariadne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malamitsi-Puchner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008423:Maternal Age; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: C501126:DKK1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015675:Osteocalcin