title: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Increases the Risk of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis by Stimulating Osteoclast Differentiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to observe the changes in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women, to research the relationship between FSH and postmenopausal osteoporosis, and to observe the effects of FSH on osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 248 postmenopausal women with normal bone metabolism. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to detect serum FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure forearm BMD. Then, we analyzed the age-related changes in serum FSH, LH and E2. Additionally, FSH serum concentrations were compared between a group of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and a control group. Osteoclasts were induced from RAW264.7 cells in vitro by receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), and these cells were treated with 0, 5, 10, and 20 ng/ml FSH. After the osteoclasts matured, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used to identify osteoclasts, and the mRNA expression levels of genes involved in osteoclastic phenotypes and function, such as receptor activator of NF-κB (Rank), Trap, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (Mmp-9) and Cathepsin K, were detected in different groups using real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction).
  
  
  RESULTS
  1. FSH serum concentrations in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis increased notably compared with the control group. 2. RANKL induced RAW264.7 cell differentiation into mature osteoclasts in vitro. 3. FSH increased mRNA expression of genes involved in osteoclastic phenotypes and function, such as Rank, Trap, Mmp-9 and Cathepsin K, in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The circulating concentration of FSH may play an important role in the acceleration of bone loss in postmenopausal women. FSH increases osteoclastogenesis in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Clinical Medical Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Wenwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Clinical Medical Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Chunxiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Clinical Medical Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Clinical Medical Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Haiqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Clinical Medical Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Qingbo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Clinical Medical Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jiajun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Shandong Clinical Medical Center of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D015519:Bone Density; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000473:pathology*; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000502:physiology; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone