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Age-related changes in human oestrogen receptor alpha function and levels in osteoblasts
M A Ankrom1, J A Patterson, P Y d'Avis
1Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
The Biochemical Journal
|July 25, 1998
Summary
Oestrogen receptors (ERs) in human osteoblasts show reduced function with age. Younger women
Area of Science:
- Bone biology
- Endocrinology
- Cellular aging
Background:
- Oestrogen receptors (ERs) play a role in bone health by mediating anti-resorptive effects.
- Understanding ER function in osteoblasts is crucial for bone metabolism research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate oestrogen receptor (ER) function and levels in human osteoblast-like cells from women of different ages.
- To determine the impact of aging on ER signaling pathways in bone cells.
Main Methods:
- In vitro culture of human osteoblast-like cells from young (<50 years) and older (>50 years) healthy female donors.
- Treatment with oestradiol-17beta to assess hydroxyproline levels and ER-responsive element activity.
- Enzyme immunoassay to quantify basal ERalpha levels in cell strains and dermal biopsies.
Main Results:
- Oestradiol-17beta treatment significantly increased hydroxyproline levels in cells from younger women, but not older women.
- Cells from younger women showed a greater response to oestrogen in reporter gene assays.
- Basal ERalpha levels per cell were significantly higher in osteoblast-like cells and skin fibroblasts from older women compared to younger women.
Conclusions:
- Oestrogen receptor (ER) function and ligand-receptor signal transduction diminish with increasing donor age.
- There is an age-related increase in ERalpha number in human osteoblasts, fibroblasts, and dermal biopsies.
- These findings suggest a loss of ER regulation with aging, impacting bone metabolism.