人健康和炎性牙槽骨成骨细胞COX-2、PGE2、OPG,RANKL的表达

目的：初步探讨COX-2、PGE2、OPG和RANKL在牙周炎发病机制中所起的作用及其相互关系。方法：采用组织块法对人健康和牙周炎性牙槽骨进行体外培养和传代,加入含100μg/LrhOPG的不含胎牛血清的DMEM2mL。严格按照ELISA试剂盒说明进行操作,获得各指标的检测数值。结果：牙周炎组RANKL、PGE2、COX-2的表达较健康组明显增高,OPG的表达较健康组明显降低。加入rhOPG后,牙周炎组RANKL、PGE2、COX-2的表达明显降低;OPG表达明显增加。健康组RANKL、PGE2、COX-2表达明显降低;OPG表达增加。结论：RANKL、PGE2、COX-2可促进牙周炎的发生、发展,而OPG对牙周炎的发生、发展可起抑制作用,同时表明人工重组OPG可能协同其内源性OPG来共同抑制RANKL、PGE2、COX-2的活性。     

Relationship of Calcification of Atherosclerotic Plaque and Arterial Stiffness to Bone Mineral Density and Osteoprotegerin in Postmenopausal Women Referred for Osteoporosis Screening

Arterial calcification leading to increased arterial stiffness, a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular disease, may underlie the association of osteoporosis with cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), an indirect inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis, may be involved in arterial calcification. We examined relationships between calcification of subclinical atherosclerotic plaque and arterial stiffness with bone mineral density (BMD) and OPG in a group of 54 postmenopausal women referred for routine osteoporosis screening by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometric scanning of the lumbar spine and hip. Presence of calcified and noncalcified plaque in carotid and femoral arteries was examined using ultrasonography. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), a measure of arterial stiffness, was determined by sequential tonometry over the carotid and femoral region. Fifty-nine percent of osteoporotic women had calcified (echogenic) plaque at one or more sites compared with 42% and 20% for women with osteopenia and normal BMD, respectively (P = 0.04). There was a significant negative correlation between PWV and hip BMD (r = -0.35, P = 0.01), which remained significant when age, mean arterial pressure, and serum lipids were taken into account (P = 0.05). No significant relationships were observed between serum concentrations of OPG and lumbar spine or total hip BMD or with the number of arterial sites with calcified or noncalcified plaque. However, there was a strong correlation between OPG and PWV (r = 0.44, P = 0.001), which remained significant when adjusted for age (P = 0.01). These findings suggest that decreased BMD is associated with arterial calcification and stiffening and raise the possibility that OPG is a marker of arterial stiffening, independent of any association with BMD.     

Bisphosphonate Treatment Increases the Size of the Mandibular Condyle and Normalizes Growth of the Mandibular Ramus in Osteoprotegerin-Deficient Mice

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a novel secreted member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family which plays a crucial role in negative regulation of osteoclastic bone resorption. OPG-deficient (OPG–/–) mice develop severe osteoporosis caused by significant enhancement of bone resorption by osteoclasts. We investigated the effect of administering bisphosphonate on mandibular growth and development in OPG–/– mice. Eight-week-old male OPG–/– mice and wild-type (WT) mice were administered bisphosphonate (1.25 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally once every 3 days for 30 days. All bone formation-related parameters and bone resorption-related parameters were significantly lower in OPG–/– mice with bisphosphonate than in those without bisphosphonate. The volume of the whole condyle and the mandibular length in OPG–/– mice without bisphosphonate were significantly smaller than in WT mice without bisphosphonate. Bisphosphonate treatment of the OPG–/– mice resulted in an increase in the volume of the mandibular condyle and mandibular ramus length. In fact, the mandibular ramus length in OPG–/– mice with bisphosphonate was similar to the length in WT mice without bisphosphonate. Histologically, the surface irregularity of the mandibular condyle that was observed in the OPG–/– mice without bisphosphonate tended to be less marked in the OPG–/– mice with bisphosphonate, and the proportion of the area of the cartilage layer relative to the whole condyle was significantly larger in OPG–/– mice with bisphosphonate than in those without bisphosphonate. In conclusion, bisphosphonate treatment results in an increase in mandibular condylar dimensions and normalization of mandibular ramus growth.     

Statins decrease TNF-alpha-induced osteoprotegerin production by endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in vitro

Recent reports have implicated osteoprotegerin (OPG) in cardiovascular disease processes. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells produce OPG and its expression in these cells is upregulated by inflammatory mediators. Statins, which besides their lipid lowering properties have various vasculoprotective effects, have been shown to regulate OPG expression in osteoblasts. We investigated whether statins affect the expression of OPG in human endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Using an ELISA we could demonstrate that statins reduce tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced OPG production in cultured human endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Atorvastatin also downregulated interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha)-induced OPG production in endothelial cells. A significant reduction of TNF-alpha-induced OPG was seen when statins were used in the nanomolar range. These results were confirmed at the level of specific mRNA expression by real-time-PCR. Using LDH leakage as a marker of cell damage we show that cell viability was not affected by statins at concentrations used in our study. The effect of statins on TNF-alpha-induced OPG production was reversed by mevalonate and geranyl-geranyl pyrophosphate at the level of protein production and at the level of mRNA expression, suggesting that it was brought about by inhibition of the mevalonic acid pathway and protein prenylation. Through our results we have added OPG to the list of molecules whose TNF-alpha-induced upregulation is counteracted by statins. If such an effect is also operative in the in vivo setting, one could postulate a role for statins in the modulation of cardiovascular disease processes possibly regulated by OPG.     

骨保护素系统与冠心病及肺部疾病

骨保护素是调节骨质代谢的重要因子,目前发现骨保护素和多种疾病相关,如冠心病、慢性阻塞性肺疾病和肿瘤等,可以作为这些疾病的生物标记,并有潜在的治疗价值.     

甲状旁腺激素在体外对破骨细胞分化及骨重吸收能力的影响

目的 探讨甲状旁腺激素(PTH)在体外直接对破骨细胞(OCs)分化及骨吸收能力的影响，以及其与成骨细胞(OBs)中核因子kB受体激活剂受体配体(ligand of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B，RANKL)基因和OPG(osteoprotegerin)基因表达的关系。方法体外直接用PTH诱导C3h小鼠全骨髓分化出OCs，用牙片小坑法(pits assayr)观察OCs对骨的重吸收能力。并采用多重RT-PCR方法检测在不同PTH作用浓度和不同作用时间的条件下,OBs中RANKL基因和OPG基因的表达情况。结果(1)PTH在体外可诱导C3h小鼠全骨髓分化出OCs，且在一定浓度范围内，随着PTH增加，OCs的形成数目和骨组织的破坏程度随之增加；(2)在一定PTH浓度和时间范围内，OBs中的RANKL-mRNA及OPG-mRNA表达呈剂量依赖性和时间依赖性。结论 PTH在体外可通过诱导RANKL基因和OPG基因表达而直接影响OCs的分化和骨重吸收功能。     

Rheumatoid arthritis: new insights into the role of synovial inflammation in joint destruction

 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by inflammation and proliferation of synovial tissue, leading to degradation of articular cartilage and bone with functional impairment as a result. It has recently become clear that early suppression of synovial inflammation is essential in preventing progressive joint destruction, although inflammation and destruction are in part uncoupled. New insights into the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), aggrecanase, granzyme B, receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK)–receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) interaction, and other factors involved in joint destruction may lead to the development of novel therapies aimed at specific inhibition of cartilage and bone degradation. Correspondence to:P.P. Tak     

Serum osteoprotegerin and its relationship with bone mineral density and markers of bone turnover

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare age-related differences in osteoprotegerin (OPG) in relationship with BMD and the serum bone markers osteocalcin (OC), collagen crosslinks (CTX), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b). Methods: Data were derived from a cross-sectional study on bone health in a random sample of community-dwelling adults aged 30 to 85 years in the Reykjavik area in Iceland. All subjects had whole body, hip, and lumbar spine BMD measured (by DXA), gave blood samples, and answered a thorough questionnaire on medications and medical history. We assessed relationships using the Spearman correlation coefficient, partial correlation, and multivariable linear regression. Men and women were analyzed separately. Results: Of 2,310 subjects invited over 2 years, 1,630 participated. After excluding individuals with diseases and medications affecting bone metabolism, 517 women (age 56.1 ± 16.9 years) and 491 men (age 58.7 ± 14.9 years) remained for analysis. OPG increased steadily with age in both genders without a gender difference. In women, BMD at all sites declined steadily after age 50. In men, BMD remained relatively stable until age 70, after which it declined significantly. After controlling for age, BMI, and other confounding variables, OPG showed only a borderline positive relationship with whole body BMD in men (P=0.10), but the relationship was nonsignificant in women. In multivariable models, OPG was inversely related to TRACP-5b (P=0.002) and positively with OC (P=0.007), the OC/TRACP-5b (P=0.001) and OC/CTX (P=0.02) ratios in women. Among men, multivariable models showed a positive association between OPG and OC (P=0.05) and OC/TRACP-5b (P<0.009). Conclusions: We conclude that serum OPG levels are associated with a profile of bone turnover markers favoring bone formation, suggesting that OPG may be protective against age-related bone loss. Longitudinal studies are needed to address that issue.     

Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with depletion of circulating endothelial progenitor cells and elevation in pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with decompensated systolic heart failure

Background Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is known to occur frequently in and may predict worsening progression of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). SDB is also known to play an important role in the development of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hyperten?sion (PAH) via inducing endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling, a pathological process that can be significantly influenced by factors such as osteoprotegerin (OPG) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). The objective of this study is to determine if CHF with SDB is associated with changes in OPG, EPCs, and PAH. Methods EPCs were isolated, cultured, and quantified from CHF patients with SDB (n = 52), or without SDB (n = 68). OPG and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) from each group was analyzed and correlated with EPCs and the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) measured by right heart catheterization. Results A significant decrease in circulating EPCs (29.30 ± 9.01 vs. 45.17 ± 10.51 EPCs/× 200 field; P < 0.05) was found in CHF patients with SDB compared to those without SDB. Both OPG (789.83 ± 89.38 vs. 551.29 ± 42.12 pg/mL; P < 0.05) and NT-proBNP (5946.50 ± 1434.50 vs. 3028.60 ± 811.90 ng/mL; P < 0.05) were also significantly elevated in SDB CHF patients who also had significantly elevated mPAP (50.2 ± 9.5 vs. 36.4 ± 4.1 mm Hg; P < 0.05). EPC numbers correlated inversely with the episodes of apnea and hypopnea per hour (RDI, r = –0.45, P = 0.037) and blood level of OPG (r = –0.53, P = 0.011). Although NT-proBNP was also increased significantly in patients with SDB, it had no correlation with either EPCs or RDI. Conclusions SDB due to hypoxemia from decompensated CHF is associated with (1) OPG elevation, (2) EPC depletion, and (3) mPAP elevation. The inverse relationship of circulating OPG with EPCs suggests a likely mechanism for hypoxemia and OPG in the development of pulmonary vascular dysfunction via depleting EPCs, thus worsening prognosis of CHF.