title: Serum Preadipocyte Factor 1 Levels Are Not Associated with Bone Mineral Density among Healthy Postmenopausal Korean Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into adipocytes or osteoblasts through closely regulated lineage-control processes. However, adipocyte precursor cells release preadipocyte factor 1 (Pref-1), which inhibits the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into mature adipocytes and osteoblasts. Previous studies have also reported an inverse association between Pref-1 levels and bone mineral density (BMD) among patients with anorexia nervosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, we examined the correlations between Pref-1 levels and BMD among 124 healthy postmenopausal women (>50 years old). The patients had provided information regarding their clinical characteristics, and underwent blood testing and serum Pref-1 testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects' mean age was 59.9±7.1 years and the median time since menopause onset was 9.1 years. A history of osteoporotic fracture was identified in 23 subjects (19%). Serum Pref-1 levels were not significantly correlated with BMD values at the lumbar spine (R²=0.038, P=0.109), femur neck (R²=0.017, P=0.869), and total hip (R²=0.041, P=0.09), and multivariate analyses with adjustment for age and body mass index also did not detect any significant correlations. Subgroup analyses according to a history of fracture also did not detect significant associations between Pref-1 levels and BMD values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study population, it does not appear that serum Pref-1 levels are significantly associated with BMD values and osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hoon Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea. ehcho@kangwon.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1349-8894
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Bone density; Osteoporosis; Postmenopausal women; Preadipocyte factor 1