Osteocalcin (Osteocalcin)
Osteocalcin is synthesized by osteoblasts and is found exclusively in bone tissue. During bone formation, newly synthesized osteocalcin is incorporated into the extracellular bone matrix and a small fraction is released into circulation and reflects bone formation activity. Serum osteocalcin is elevated in diseases characterized by increased bone turnover such as postmenopausal osteoporosis, Paget?s disease of the bone and hyperthyroidism. Serum osteocalcin levels have been found to be an independent risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes as well as an indicator of bone metastasis in cancer.
Swiss-Prot Accession Number: P02818