Cell signaling and estrogens in female rat osteoblasts: a possible involvement of unconventional nonnuclear receptors

Estrogen deficiency is associated with bone loss, and estrogen replacement is an effective treatment of this osteoporotic process. This study examines the early (5-120 s) effects of 17 beta-estradiol on the intracellular calcium and phospholipid metabolism in confluent female rat osteoblasts. The cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was determined using fura-2/AM as Ca2+ probe. Cells were labeled with myo-[2-3H]inositol or [14C]arachidonic acid for inositol or lipid determination. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG) production were determined by either mass measurement or anion-exchange chromatography or by thin-layer chromatography, respectively. 17 beta-Estradiol (1 pM to 1 nM) increased [Ca2+]i in a biphasic manner within 10 s via Ca2+ influx from the extracellular milieu, as shown by the effects of the calcium chelator EGTA and the Ca2+ channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil, and via Ca2+ mobilization from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), as shown by the effects of thapsigargin. 17 beta-Estradiol (1 pM to 1 nM) induced a biphasic and concomitant increase in IP3 and DAG formation. Estradiol immobilized on bovine serum albumin (BSA) [E-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime BSA] and its derivative (O-carboxymethyl)oxime rapidly increased ([Ca2+]i, IP3, and DAG and were full agonists, although they were less potent than the free estradiol. They had the same action time course and acted via Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ mobilization from ER. Tamoxifen, a potent inhibitor of genomic steroid responses, did not block the rapid increase in Ca2+, IP3, and DAG induced by estradiol. Finally, inhibitor of phospholipase C (neomycin) and pertussis toxin abolished the effects of 17 beta-estradiol on IP3 and DAG formation. These results suggest that female rat osteoblasts bear non-genomic unconventional cell surface receptors for estradiol, belonging to the class of the membrane receptors coupled to a phospholipase C via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein.