Estrogens and hyperglycemic modulation of mRNAs expressions involved in bone metabolism: an overshadowed association?

New vitamin D less-calcemic analog affect human bone cell line and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells similar to other less-calcemic analogs

Primary cultures of human bone and vascular cells respond to vitamin D treatment by modulation of cell proliferation measured by DNA synthesis (DNA) and energy metabolism measured by creatine kinase specific activity (CK) via binding to vitamin D receptors (VDR) which are expressed in these cells. Vitamin D compounds also modulate the response to estradiol-17β (E₂) and the expression mRNAs of estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ), VDR, 25-hydroxy vitamin D₃ 1-α hydroxylase (1OHase) and lipoxygenases (12LO and 15LO). We now compared our newly synthesized analog: 1α,25-dihydroxy-9-methylene-19-norvitamin D₃ JK152 (JK), on bone and vascular cells compared to other analogs. Human bone cell line SaOS₂ respond to JK by increased DNA and stimulated CK dose-dependently, similar to the less-calcemic analogs CB 1093 (CB) and EB 1089 (EB). JK also up-regulated the response to E₂ in terms of DNA and CK. JK inhibited DNA synthesis and increased CK in primary human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) dose-dependently similar to EB and CB. JK up regulated the response to E₂ in terms of CK with no effect on DNA. JK similar to CB and EB stimulated mRNA expression of VDR and ERα, 12LO and 15LO, with no effect on ERβ and 1OHase mRNA expression in SaOS₂ measured by real time PCR. Similar treatments of VSMC with JK, CB and EB stimulated 12LO and 15LO, VDR and ERα mRNA expression with no effect on ERβ and 1OHase mRNA expression. The results presented here demonstrate that the new vitamin D less-calcemic analog JK is similar to other analogs in its effects on human cultured cells and therefore may be used in combined hormone replacement treatment (HRT) both in vitro and in vivo.

Gardenia oil increases estradiol levels and bone material density by a mechanism associated with upregulation of COX-2 expression in an ovariectomized rat model

This study aimed to determine the effects and mechanisms of gardenia oil on bone density and bone biomechanics in ovariectomized female rats. An ovariectomized rat model was established and the rats were administered various doses of gardenia oil. Rats administered diethylstilbestrol or saline served as the positive and the untreated controls, respectively. All rats received the same surgery, with the exception of the ovariectomy in the sham group. The levels of serum 17β-estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and calcium, and the bone material density (BMD), maximum stress and maximum strain were determined. The expression of COX-2 was also determined by immunoblotting and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Gardenia oil increased the serum levels of 17β-estradiol, the BMD, and the maximum stress and maximum strain of bones. The levels of COX-2 protein and COX-2 mRNA were significantly increased in the gardenia oil-treated rats. In conclusion, gardenia oil increases estradiol levels and BMD in an ovariectomized rat model. The effects of gardenia oil are associated with upregulation of the expression of COX-2.