Osteocrin Human

Osteocrin was first identified as a novel myokine, a type of cytokine produced and released by muscle cells in response to muscular contractions. The name “Osteocrin” is derived from its role in bone (osteo) and its secretory nature (crin). It is also referred to as Musclin due to its expression in muscle tissues .

The human Osteocrin protein shares 77% and 78% amino acid sequence identity with the rat and mouse proteins, respectively . It is synthesized as an 11 kDa proprotein that undergoes proteolytic processing to produce a mature 5 kDa C-terminal peptide . The protein is primarily expressed in bone and muscle tissues, and its secretion is increased with exercise .

Osteocrin plays several crucial roles in the body:

1. Bone Growth and Differentiation: Osteocrin modulates osteoblastic differentiation, which is essential for bone formation and growth .
2. Glucose Metabolism: It functions as an autocrine and paracrine factor linked to glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle .
3. Neuronal Function: Osteocrin has been shown to regulate neuronal function, contributing to overall physical endurance .
4. Cardiovascular Health: Recent studies suggest that Osteocrin may prevent diabetic cardiomyopathy, a condition characterized by damage to the heart muscle in people with diabetes .

Recombinant human Osteocrin is produced using E. coli expression systems. The recombinant protein is typically tagged with a His-tag for purification purposes and is available in lyophilized form for research use . It is used in various research applications to study its biological functions and potential therapeutic benefits.

Lyophilized recombinant Osteocrin is stable for up to 12 months when stored at -20 to -80°C. Reconstituted protein solutions can be stored at 4-8°C for 2-7 days or at -20°C for up to 3 months .