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Review
. 2024 Dec;27(6):745-751.
doi: 10.1007/s11102-024-01464-2. Epub 2024 Oct 30.

Growth hormone and bone: a basic perspective

Simona Bolamperti  1 , Isabella Villa  2 , Luigi di Filippo  3
Affiliations
Review

Growth hormone and bone: a basic perspective

Simona Bolamperti et al. Pituitary. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Growth hormone is fundamental for growth during childhood and for maintaining bone mass and homeostasis in the adults. GH deficiency causes decreased bone growth and osteopenia, whereas GH excess causes increased bone fragility and decreased bone quality. In the past, it was common knowledge that GH effects on the skeletal system were due to the production of IGF1 from the liver, which has a huge bone anabolic effect per se. However, with the progress of basic research techniques new light has been shed on the mechanisms underlying GH effect in bone, and it is now clear that GH has effects that go beyond the downstream activation of liver IGFs. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize the milestones in basic research that led to the discovery of GH local activity on bone.

Keywords: Bone homeostasis; Bone quality; Experimental models; GH deficiency; GH excess; GH intracellular signaling; Growth hormone.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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