Osteocalcin-mediated crosstalk between bone and cardiovascular diseases

Bone is newly recognized as an endocrine organ. Osteocalcin, secreted by osteoblasts and osteocytes, serves as a biochemical marker for bone metabolism; in addition, it also participates in metabolisms of energy, glucose, and lipid. Recent studies have revealed the associations of osteocalcin with vascular calcification, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular events. This review summarized the current evidences, as well as the research findings of our team on the potential role of osteocalcin in cardiovascular diseases to provide some new insights for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases. Key words: Osteocalcin; Cardiovascular disease; Atherosclerosis; Cytokine