Bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats is prevented by gene transfer of parathyroid hormone or an Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptide.
Osteoporosis is a major and growing healthcare concern as the population ages. The genes of both a Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing peptide and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were used to reduce bone loss induced by ovariectomy (OVX) in rats. Plasmids with either RGD or PTH gene were delivered into the quadriceps of OVX rats. The expression of the genes was detected by RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay. Analysis of bone mineral density, bone mechanical testing and bone mineral content indicated an improvement in bone properties in both RGD-transferred and PTH-transferred rats compared to OVX rats. Gene transfer of either RGD or PTH is therefore a possible approach to prevent bone loss in OVX rats thus providing a potential method to prevent osteoporosis in clinical situations.
Chen
Weiqiang
W
National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P.R. China.
Liu
Jian
J
Diao
Weifei
W
Tang
Jianguo
J
Ji
Jianguo
J
D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000235:genetics*; D009929:Organ Size; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology
D009842:Oligopeptides; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid