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Published on: January 1, 2017
Alendronate alters osteoblast activities.
Tormod B Krüger1, Bente B Herlofson1, Maria A Landin2
1a Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry , University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
Alendronate (ALN) affects human osteoblasts by enhancing immune factor secretion and altering proliferation and differentiation. High doses or accumulation may lead to adverse bone changes.
Area of Science:
- Bone biology and pharmacology
- Cellular and molecular mechanisms of bisphosphonates
Background:
- Bisphosphonates (BPs) accumulate in bone with long half-lives, necessitating understanding their cellular effects.
- Alendronate (ALN) is a widely used bisphosphonate for treating bone diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of alendronate (ALN) on human primary osteoblasts.
- To assess ALN's effects on osteoblast proliferation, viability, and differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Human osteoblasts were treated with varying concentrations of ALN (5, 20, 100 μM).
- Cell proliferation was measured using 3H-thymidine incorporation and MTT assays.
- Cell viability, differentiation markers (mRNA expression), and immune factor secretion were analyzed.
Main Results:
- ALN did not affect osteoblast viability.
- Low ALN concentrations increased proliferation; high concentration (100 μM) decreased it.
- ALN reduced osteoblast differentiation markers but increased leptin, IL-8, and RANTES expression/secretion.
Conclusions:
- Alendronate enhances immune factor secretion from osteoblasts.
- Reduced proliferation and differentiation, coupled with immune factor release, suggest potential adverse local bone effects at higher doses or with accumulation.
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