The parathyroid hormone-related protein as a regulator of normal tissue functions
January 1994
in “
Current Opinion in Endocrinology & Diabetes
”
TLDR PTHrP regulates various normal body functions, including bone development, skin, and muscle function.
The parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) was initially identified as a factor causing hypercalcemia in cancer patients, but research revealed its broader physiological roles. PTHrP regulated chondrogenesis and cartilage mineralization, with its gene deletion being embryonically lethal in homozygotes. It was highly expressed in lactating mammary tissue, though its function there was unclear. In the skin, PTHrP regulated hair follicle function and keratinocyte differentiation. It also acted as a local regulator of smooth muscle tone and was involved in parturition regulation in rodents and humans. Additionally, PTHrP was proposed to regulate placental calcium transport. While many actions involved the common receptor for parathyroid hormone or PTHrP, evidence suggested additional PTHrP receptors might exist, recognizing different protein regions.
