title: [Effect of alendronate on expressions of osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand in mouse osteoblasts].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of alendronate on the expressions of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) in mouse osteoblasts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mouse calvarial osteoblasts cultured in vitro were identified by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and immunofluorescence assay of OPG and RANKL expressions. The second passage of the osteoblasts were treated with different concentrations of alendronate (10(-4) to 10(-7) mol/L) for 48 h, and the changes in OPG and RANKL mRNA and protein expressions were examined using real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The isolated osteoblasts were positive for ALP and expressed OPG and RANKL. Real-time PCR and Western blotting showed that at the concentration of 1×10(-4) mol/L, alendronate caused an obvious down-regulation of OPG and RANKL expressions in the cells, whereas at lower concentrations, alendronate increased the expressions of both genes with the highest expressions occurring after treatment with 1×10(-5) mol/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High concentrations of alendronate (>1×10(-4) mol/L) decrease the expressions of OPG and RANKL, whereas low concentrations (1×10(-5) to 1×10(-7) mol/L) increase their expressions in mouse osteoblasts cultured in vitro.
authors.affiliation: College of Stomatology, Hebei United University, Tangshan 063000, China. dongweibisheng@sina.com
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Mengchun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Jiupeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaojie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Nannan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D019386:Alendronate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000378:metabolism*; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; C506031:Tnfrsf11b protein, mouse; C505689:Tnfsf11 protein, mouse; D019386:Alendronate