Regulation of Sclerostin Production in Human Male Osteocytes by Androgens: Experimental and Clinical Evidence

Endocrinology. 2015 Dec;156(12):4534-44. doi: 10.1210/en.2015-1244. Epub 2015 Sep 22.

Abstract

In this study we aimed to elucidate a possible role of T in the regulation of sclerostin, a glycoprotein secreted by osteocytes known to regulate bone mass. To this end, we evaluated the effect of T stimulation on sclerostin production and gene expression in human cultured osteocytes. In addition, we evaluated serum sclerostin levels in a cohort of 20 hypogonadal male patients, compared with 20 age-matched eugonadal controls. Stimulation with DHT decreased sclerostin expression in cultured osteocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Confirming a direct androgen receptor-mediated effect on sclerostin production, flutamide coincubation and silencing of androgen receptor gene in osteocytes abolished the DHT effects. In addition, hypogonadal patients showed higher serum sclerostin levels with respect to controls (145.87 ± 50.83 pg/mL vs 84.02 ± 32.15 pg/mL; P < .001) and in both probands and controls, serum T levels were negatively correlated with sclerostin (R = -0.664, P = 0.007, and R = -0.447, P = .045, respectively). Finally, multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that T represented the only independent predictor of sclerostin levels. In conclusion, by showing a direct correlation between T and sclerostin, both in vivo and in vitro, this study adds further support to the emerging clinical and experimental studies focusing on sclerostin as a therapeutic target for osteoporosis treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Adult
  • Androgens / metabolism*
  • Androgens / pharmacology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / genetics*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dihydrotestosterone / pharmacology
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Genetic Markers / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Hypogonadism / genetics*
  • Hypogonadism / metabolism
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Male
  • Osteocytes / drug effects
  • Osteocytes / metabolism*
  • Osteoporosis / genetics*
  • Osteoporosis / metabolism
  • Parathyroid Hormone / blood*
  • Parathyroid Hormone / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics*
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Testosterone / blood
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Androgens
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Genetic Markers
  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • SOST protein, human
  • Dihydrotestosterone
  • Testosterone
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone