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Effect of progesterone on apoptosis of murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells

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Abstract

Progesterone (P) has been suggested as a bone-trophic hormone. Previous studies have shown that P promoted bone formation by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. But, the effect of P on apoptosis of osteoblast in vitro has not been reported. We propose that P may promote bone formation by suppressing the apoptosis of osteoblast. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of P on apoptosis of murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Cell apoptosis was measured by acidine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining and sandwich-enzyme-immunoassay. Progesterone receptor (PR), cytochrome c, caspase-9 and caspase-3 protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis. The enzyme substrate was also used to assess the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. Progesterone suppressed MC3T3-E1 cells apoptosis induced by serum deprivation, and this effect was blocked by a PR antagonist RU486. Furthermore, the suppressive effects of P on cytochrome c release and caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation in serum-deprived MC3T3-E1 cells were also reversed by RU486. Our study demonstrated that P protects osteoblast against apoptosis through PR and the downstream mitochondrial pathway. Thus, the data suggest that the effects of P on osteoblast apoptosis may contribute to the mechanisms by which P exerts its action on bone formation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Suzhou University, 213003, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China

    Qing-Ping Wang

  2. Department of Pediatrics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Suzhou University, 213003, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China

    Ping Meng

  3. Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second XiangYa Hospital of Central South University, 410011, Changsha, Hunan, China

    Qing-Ping Wang, Hui Xie, Ling-Qing Yuan, Xiang-Hang Luo, Hui Li, Dan Wang & Er-Yuan Liao

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  1. Qing-Ping Wang
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  2. Hui Xie
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  3. Ling-Qing Yuan
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  4. Xiang-Hang Luo
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  5. Hui Li
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  6. Dan Wang
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  7. Ping Meng
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  8. Er-Yuan Liao
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Correspondence to Er-Yuan Liao.

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Q.-P. Wang and H. Xie contributed equally to this work.

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Wang, QP., Xie, H., Yuan, LQ. et al. Effect of progesterone on apoptosis of murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Amino Acids 36, 57–63 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-008-0028-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-008-0028-7

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