| 1. |
- Horkeby, Karin L, et al.
(author)
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Phosphorylation of S122 in ERα is important for the skeletal response to estrogen treatment in male mice
- 2022
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) signaling has beneficial skeletal effects in males. ERα signaling also affects other tissues, and to find bone-specific treatments, more knowledge regarding tissue-specific ERα signaling is needed. ERα is subjected to posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, which can influence ERα function in a tissue-specific manner. To determine the importance of phosphorylation site S122 (corresponding to human ERα site S118) for the skeleton and other tissues, male mice with a S122A mutation were used. Total areal bone mineral density was similar between gonadal intact S122A and WT littermates followed up to 12months of age, and weights of estrogen-responsive organs normalized for body weight were unchanged between S122A and WT males at both 3 and 12months of age. Interestingly, 12-month-old S122A males had decreased body weight compared to WT. To investigate if site S122 affects the estrogen response in bone and other tissues, 12-week-old S122A and WT males were orchidectomized (orx) and treated with estradiol (E2) or placebo pellets for four weeks. E2 increased cortical thickness in tibia in both orx WT (+ 60%, p < 0.001) and S122A (+ 45%, p < 0.001) males. However, the E2 effect on cortical thickness was significantly decreased in orx S122A compared to WT mice (−24%, p < 0.05). In contrast, E2 affected trabecular bone and organ weights similarly in orx S122A and WT males. Thus, ERα phosphorylation site S122 is required for a normal E2 response specifically in cortical bone in male mice, a finding that may have implications for development of future treatments against male osteoporosis.
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| 2. |
- Ohlsson, Claes, 1965, et al.
(author)
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The effects of estradiol are modulated in a tissue-specific manner in mice with inducible inactivation of ERα after sexual maturation.
- 2020
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In: American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 1522-1555 .- 0193-1849. ; 318:5, s. 646-654
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mouse models with lifelong inactivation of estrogen receptor α (ERα) show that ERα is the main mediator of estrogenic effects in bone, thymus, uterus, and fat. However, ERα inactivation early in life may cause developmental effects that confound the adult phenotypes. To address the specific role of adult ERα expression for estrogenic effects in bone and other non-skeletal tissues, we established a tamoxifen-inducible ERα-inactivated model by crossing CAG-Cre-ER and ERαflox/flox mice. Tamoxifen-induced ERα-inactivation after sexual maturation substantially reduced ERα mRNA levels in cortical bone, trabecular bone, thymus, uterus, gonadal fat, and hypothalamus, in CAG-Cre-ERαflox/flox (inducible ERαKO) compared to ERαflox/flox (control) mice. 17β-estradiol (E2) treatment increased trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), cortical bone area and uterine weight, while it reduced thymus weight and fat mass in ovariectomized control mice. The estrogenic responses were substantially reduced in inducible ERαKO mice compared to control mice on BV/TV (-67%), uterine weight (-94%), thymus weight (-70%), and gonadal fat mass (-94%). In contrast, the estrogenic response on cortical bone area was unaffected in inducible ERαKO compared to control mice. In conclusion, using an inducible ERαKO model, not confounded by lack of ERa during development, we demonstrate that ERα expression in sexually mature female mice is required for normal E2 responses in most, but not all tissues. The finding that cortical, but not trabecular bone, responds normally to E2 treatment in inducible ERαKO mice strengthens the idea of cortical and trabecular bone being regulated by estrogen via different mechanisms.
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| 3. |
- Liphardt, Anna-Maria, et al.
(author)
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Changes in mechanical loading affect arthritis-induced bone loss in mice.
- 2020
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In: Bone. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-2763 .- 8756-3282. ; 131
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Arthritis induces bone loss by inflammation-mediated disturbance of bone homeostasis. On the other hand, pain and impaired locomotion are highly prevalent in arthritis and result in reduced general physical activity and less pronounced mechanical loading. Bone is affected by mechanical loading, directly through impact with the ground during movement and indirectly through muscular activity. Mechanical loading in its physiological range is essential for maintaining bone mass, whereas disuse leads to bone loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of mechanical loading on periarticular bone as well as inflammation during arthritis. Mechanical loading was either blocked by botulinum neurotoxin A (Botox) injections before induction of arthritis, or enhanced by cyclic compressive loading, three times per week during arthritis induction. Arthritis was verified and evaluated histologically. Trabecular and cortical bone mass were investigated using micro-computed tomography (μCT), subchondral osteoclastogenesis and bone turnover was assessed by standard methods. Inhibition of mechanical loading enhanced arthritis-induced bone loss while it did not affect inflammation. In contrast, enhanced mechanical loading mitigated arthritis-induced bone loss. Furthermore, the increase in bone resorption markers by arthritis was partly blocked by mechanical loading. In conclusion, enhanced arthritic bone loss after abrogation of mechanical loading suggests that muscle forces play an essential role in preventing arthritic bone loss. In accordance, mechanical loading of the arthritic joints inhibited bone loss, emphasizing that weight bearing activities may have the potential to counteract arthritis-mediated bone loss.
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