Serum levels of bone turnover markers, bone metabolism proteins and cytokines.

CTX-I levels are decreased in patients at 6 months follow-up when compared to healthy donors (p = 0.0268). DKK-1, IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-12p70, IL-23, TNF, MCP-1 and TGF-β are increased in patients at baseline when compared to healthy donors. After 6 months of therapy, follow-up patients had decreased levels of IL-17A, IL-23 and TGF-β when compared to their baseline. We have also observed that after therapy the levels of IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-12p70 and TNF were still significantly higher than healthy donors levels’. Each dot represents a sample. Line represents median. * vs Baseline, § vs Follow-up. DKK—dickkopf-related protein, CTX—carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks, IL—interleukin, TNF—tumor necrosis factor, MCP—monocyte chemmotractant protein, TGF—transforming growth factor.