Parathyroid gland regulation: contribution of the IN VIVO and IN VITRO screening models.

Importance of the field: The current regulation of parathyroid hormone and the development of parathyroid disorders in chronic kidney disease involve complex mechanisms. Factors such as calcium, phosphorous, calcitriol, vitamin D receptor, calcium-sensing receptor and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), play a key role in the regulatory process in the pathogenesis of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Areas covered in this review: This review provides an analysis of published results related to the different models and approaches used to study the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The review includes clinical studies, animal and ex vivo/in vitro models which have been extensively used in this area. What the reader will gain: Readers will have an overview of the main findings and progresses achieved in the knowledge of the parathyroid function combining the results obtained from the different models used to understand the parathyroid gland regulation. Take-home message: Each of the available models used to study the complex system of parathyroid regulation has advantages and limitations; therefore, it is necessary to combine the information obtained from more than one model in order to have a more complete knowledge of the mechanisms involved in parathyroid hormone regulation.Marino Santirso Ruiz and Cristina Riesgo for the language review. The papers from our group cited in this review have received support from Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS 00/0008/01, 00/3124, 01/0294, 01/3635, 02/0688, 02/0613, 07/0893), Fundación para el Fomento en Asturias de la Investigación Científica Aplicada y la Tecnología (FICYT PC-SPV01-01, IB05-060), ISCIII-Retic- RD06, REDinREN (16/06) and Fundación Renal Iñigo Alvarez de Toledo. NCL was supported by Fundación Renal Iñigo Alvarez de Toledo, FICYT (IB05-060, 01/3139) and ISCIII-Retic-RD06, REDinREN (16/06) and PRG by Fundación Renal Iñigo Alvarez de Toledo and FICYT