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Blocking FSH action attenuates osteoclastogenesis

Ling-Ling Zhu1, Irina Tourkova, Tony Yuen

  • 1School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|May 8, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) directly impacts bone turnover by stimulating osteoclast formation. This study confirms FSH receptor (FSHR) expression in osteoclasts, revealing a specific isoform involved in this process.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Bone Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has been implicated in bone turnover through osteoclast formation.
  • The precise mechanism and receptor involvement in osteoclasts remain under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the direct role of FSH and its receptor (FSHR) in osteoclast formation and function.
  • To identify and characterize the expression of FSHR in human osteoclast precursors and mature osteoclasts.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against FSH to inhibit FSH-induced osteoclast formation.
  • Generated FSH receptor (FSHR) knockout cells for comparative analysis.
  • Amplified FSHR cDNA from human CD14+ osteoclast precursors and osteoclasts.
  • Performed direct sequencing of PCR products to confirm FSHR expression and identify isoforms.

Main Results:

  • Antibodies targeting FSH significantly inhibited FSH-induced osteoclast formation, comparable to FSHR knockout cells.
  • Confirmed the expression of FSHR cDNA in human osteoclast precursors and osteoclasts.
  • Identified a predominant FSHR isoform lacking exon 9 in these cells, suggesting a distinct signaling pathway.

Conclusions:

  • These findings provide strong evidence for the expression of a specific FSH receptor isoform in osteoclasts and their precursors.
  • This supports a direct role for FSH signaling in regulating bone turnover via osteoclast modulation.

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