Alterations of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and its target genes for the N- and C-terminal domains of parathyroid hormone-related protein in bone from diabetic mice

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is associated with bone loss. Given that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a major regulator of bone accrual, we assessed this pathway in mice with streptozotozin-induced T1D. In diabetic mouse long bones, we found alterations favouring the suppression of this pathway by using PCR arrays and β-catenin immunostaining. Downregulation of sclerostin, an inhibitor of this pathway, also occurred, and related to increased osteocyte apoptosis. Our data show that both N- and C-terminal parathyroid hormone-related peptide fragments might exert osteogenic effects in this setting by targeting several genes of this pathway and increasing β-catenin in osteoblastic cells.