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Osteoclasts from human giant cell tumors of bone lack estrogen receptors

F M Collier1, W H Huang, W R Holloway

  • 1The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, The Geelong Hospital, Australia.

Endocrinology
|March 10, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Estrogen receptors (ER) are not found in human osteoclasts, suggesting estrogen

Area of Science:

  • Bone biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining skeletal homeostasis.
  • The primary target cells for estrogen in bone remain unidentified.
  • Estrogen receptor (ER) presence in osteoclasts is controversial due to purity issues in cell preparations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of estrogen receptors (ER-alpha and ER-beta) in human osteoclasts.
  • To determine the cellular localization of ER and calcitonin receptor (CTR) mRNA in bone tumor samples.
  • To elucidate the role of osteoclasts in estrogen-mediated skeletal effects.

Main Methods:

  • Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect ER and CTR mRNA.
  • Microisolation technique to obtain pure osteoclast populations.
  • Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for cellular localization of mRNA.
  • Assessment of bone resorbing activity in cultured osteoclasts.

Main Results:

  • ER-alpha and ER-beta mRNA were detected in whole giant cell tumor (GCT) samples and cultured mononuclear cells, but not in pure osteoclast preparations.
  • Calcitonin receptor (CTR) mRNA was identified in pure osteoclasts and whole tumor samples, but not in mononuclear cells.
  • FISH confirmed ER-alpha signal in mononuclear cells, with no detectable signal in osteoclasts.
  • Osteoclasts from GCT showed no significant bone resorbing activity in response to 17Beta-estradiol.

Conclusions:

  • Significant expression of estrogen receptors (ER) does not occur in human osteoclasts derived from GCT.
  • Estrogen's effects on bone homeostasis are likely mediated through other bone cells, not directly by osteoclasts.
  • These findings clarify the cellular targets of estrogen action within the bone microenvironment.

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