Circulating profiles of osteoprotegerin and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand in post-menopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to elucidate the detail profiles of circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (sRANKL) in post-menopausal women.


METHODS
Eighty Japanese post-menopausal women were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Circulating OPG and free fraction of sRANKL (free sRANKL), PTH, calcium and phosphorus, age, years since menopause, body mass index, bone mineral density of the vertebral bodies (LBMD) and bone turnover markers were determined in each subject.


RESULTS
In rank order correlation analysis, serum OPG concentrations had a significant positive correlation with age (r=0.291, p=0.024) and a marginal significant negative correlation with LBMD (r=-0.247, p=0.062). However they did not have correlations with LBMD or other parameters after adjustment for age. Serum free sRANKL concentrations had a significant positive correlation with age (r=0.332, p=0.010) and a significant negative correlation with LBMD (r=-0.608, p<0.001). This correlation with LBMD persisted after adjustment for age. In a multiple regression analysis with a stepwise model, the main determinants of LBMD were age and serum free sRANKL (p=0.015 and p=0.006, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
We found the increase in circulating OPG and sRANKL with age and a robust negative correlation between circulating free sRANKL and LBMD after adjustment for age. The increase in circulating free sRANKL may reflect directly or indirectly the conditions coexistent with bone loss in post-menopausal women.
Uemura
H
H
Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, 770-8503 Japan. uemura@basic.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Yasui
T
T
Miyatani
Y
Y
Yamada
M
M
Hiyoshi
M
M
Arisawa
K
K
Irahara
M
M
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D012995:Solubility
D024042:Collagen Type I; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010455:Peptides; D053245:RANK Ligand; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D010758:Phosphorus; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium