Wnt pathway involvement and its response to treatment in the development of bone damage in different inflammatory and non-inflammatory rheumatic contidions

Inflammatory conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are characterised by impaired bone health, with bone loss occurring both systemically and locally (erosions). Other conditions, such as Diffuse Idiopatic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) are not usually associated with significant systemic inflammation but nonetheless can show signs of impaired bone health, in the form of osteoporosis and bone ectopic neoformation. The Wnt/B-catenin pathway is the master regulator of osteogenesis, and its role has been extensively investigated in the last years. The objective of the presen thesis is to investigate the role of the main Wnt pathway modulators (Dkk-1 and sclerostin) in inflammatory conditions such as RA and polymyalgia rheumatica and the effect of different treatment on their serum levels. Furthermore, the Wnt pathway dysregulation in a non-inflammatory conditions such as DISH will be investigated and discussed.