Adiponectin exerts its negative effect on bone metabolism via OPG/RANKL pathway: an in vivo study

To explore the effects of adiponectin on the bone metabolism in vivo. Bone mineral density (BMD), bone microstructure, serum adiponectin levels, and biochemical markers of the bone turnover were measured in 12-week-old male Adipo-/- and WT mice. In addition, the osteoclast formation, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) expression were examined. The serum adiponectin levels were normal in the WT mice while undetectable in the Adipo-/- mice. Compared with the WT mice, the Adipo-/- mice had higher BMD, more trabecular bone, greater bone volume fraction, and trabecular thickness in the left femur. On the contrary, fewer osteoclasts were observed in the Adipo-/- mice when compared with the WT mice. Meanwhile, the Adipo-/- mice had a significantly decreased serum carboxyl-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX)/osteocalcin (OC) ratio. Interestingly, both the adiponectin and RANKL would cause a significant increase of CTX/OC ratio in the co-culture of the CD14+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the osteoblasts from Adipo-/- mice. Further, immunohistochemistry assays in tibias and both the RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses in the cultured osteoblasts showed the Adipo-/- mice expressed lower levels of RANKL but higher levels of OPG. Adiponectin had a negative effect on the bone metabolism, and this negative effect might be mediated, at least in part, by the OPG/RANKL pathway.