title: Effects of gonadal and adrenal androgens in a novel androgen-responsive human osteoblastic cell line.
abstract: While androgens have important skeletal effects, the mechanism(s) of androgen action on bone remain unclear. Current osteoblast models to study androgen effects have several limitations, including the presence of heterogeneous cell populations. In this study, we examined the effects of androgens on the proliferation and differentiation of a novel human fetal osteoblastic cell line (hFOB/AR-6) that expresses a mature osteoblast phenotype and a physiological number (approximately 4,000/nucleus) of androgen receptors (AR). Treatment with 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alpha-DHT) inhibited the proliferation of hFOB/AR-6 cells in a dose-dependent fashion, while it had no effect on the proliferation of hFOB cells, which express low levels of AR (<200/nucleus). In hFOB/AR-6 cells, co-treatment with the specific AR antagonist, hydroxyflutamide abolished 5alpha-DHT-induced growth inhibition. Steady-state levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and TGF-beta-induced early gene (TIEG) mRNA decreased after treatment of hFOB/AR-6 cells with 5alpha-DHT, suggesting a role for the TGF-beta1-TIEG pathway in mediating 5alpha-DHT-induced growth inhibition of hFOB/AR-6 cells. In support of this, co-treatment of hFOB/AR-6 cells with TGF-beta1 (40 pg/ml) reversed the 5alpha-DHT-induced growth inhibition, whereas TGF-beta1 alone at this dose had no effect on hFOB/AR-6 cell proliferation. Furthermore, treatment of hFOB/AR-6 cells with 5alpha-DHT and testosterone (10(-8) M) inhibited basal and 1,25-(OH)2D3-induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and type I collagen synthesis without affecting osteocalcin production. Thus, in this fetal osteoblast cell line expressing a physiological number of AR, androgens decrease proliferation and the expression of markers associated with osteoblast differentiation. These studies suggest that the potential anabolic effect of androgens on bone may not be mediated at the level of the mature osteoblast.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hofbauer
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hicok
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khosla
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003094:Collagen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051765:Early Growth Response Transcription Factors; D005485:Flutamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008297:Male; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051765:Early Growth Response Transcription Factors; C098111:KLF10 protein, human; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015675:Osteocalcin; C014290:hydroxyflutamide; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D005485:Flutamide; D003094:Collagen; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase