title: Regulation of energy metabolism by the skeleton: osteocalcin and beyond.
abstract: The skeleton has recently emerged as an endocrine organ implicated in the regulation of glucose and energy metabolism. This function of bone is mediated, at least in part, by osteocalcin, an osteoblast-derived protein acting as a hormone stimulating insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion and energy expenditure. Osteocalcin secretion and bioactivity is in turn regulated by several hormonal cues including insulin, leptin, the sympathetic nervous system and glucocorticoids. Recent findings support the notion that osteocalcin functions and regulations are conserved between mice and humans. Moreover, studies in mice suggest that osteocalcin could represent a viable therapeutic approach for the treatment of obesity and insulin resistance. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on osteocalcin functions, its various modes of action and the mechanisms implicated in the control of this hormone.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiology Intégrative et Moléculaire, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, 110 Ave. des Pins O., Montréal, Québec H2W 1R7, Canada; Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada. Electronic address: mathieu.ferron@ircm.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferron
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiology Intégrative et Moléculaire, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, 110 Ave. des Pins O., Montréal, Québec H2W 1R7, Canada. Electronic address: julie.lacombe@ircm.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lacombe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D015675:Osteocalcin; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Energy metabolism; Glucose metabolism; Insulin; Osteoblast; Osteocalcin; Osteoclast