The isoflavone genistein enhances osteoblastogenesis: signaling pathways involved

Phytoestrogens have been proposed as a natural therapy for prevention of bone loss. In this work, we studied the mechanism of action of genistein on osteoblast differentiation. Primary cell cultures of calvarial osteoblasts isolated from female Wistar rats were in vitro exposed to genistein. Osteoblast differentiation markers were measured. Genistein stimulated osteoblast migration (71-257% above control). An earlier upregulation of estrogen receptor alpha gene expression and an enhancement of mRNA levels of the Runt-related transcription factor 2 were detected after 3 days of culture. The isoflavone significantly increased osteocalcin expression, extracellular collagen deposition, and alkaline phosphatase activity. The mechanism displayed by genistein involved estrogen receptor and nitric oxide pathway participation, since cell preincubation with the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182780, or the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME, suppressed the phytoestrogen action. Evidence of MAPK and PI3K transduction systems participation on the stimulatory action of genistein on extracellular collagen deposition and alkaline phosphatase activity was also obtained. Genistein favored monocyte adhesion to osteoblasts (77% above control) in an ER; NOS; and MAPK kinase-dependent and PI3K-dependent manner. Co-cultured osteoblast-monocyte long term exposed (21 days) to genistein exhibited a high number of multinucleated and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells added to osteoblasts, suggesting that the phytoestrogen promotes osteoclast differentiation. In conclusion, genistein promoted osteoblastogenesis through the participation of ER and NOS pathways, and the contribution of ERK or PI3K signal transduction pathways, and also stimulates osteoclast differentiation from its mononuclear progenitor.