Ovariectomy-induced bone loss occurs independently of B cells

J Cell Biochem. 2007 Apr 15;100(6):1370-5. doi: 10.1002/jcb.21121.

Abstract

Estrogen withdrawal is associated with a significant expansion in B cell precursor and mature B cell populations. However, despite significant circumstantial evidence the role of B lineage cells in ovariectomy-induced bone loss in vivo is unclear. In vitro studies have demonstrated that mature B cells have the potential to both positively and negatively impact osteoclastogenesis by virtue of their capacity to secrete pro-osteoclastogenic cytokines including receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand (RANKL), as well as anti-osteoclastogenic cytokines such as osteoprotegerin (OPG) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta). Although several studies have suggested that expansion of the B lineage following ovariectomy may play a key role in the etiology of ovariectomy-induced bone loss, in vivo studies to directly test this notion have yet to be conducted. In this study, we performed ovariectomy on microMT(-/-) mice which are specifically deficient in mature B cells. Analysis of bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and micro-computed tomography (CT) demonstrate that mature B cell-deficient mice undergo an identical loss of bone mass relative to wild-type (WT) control mice. Our data demonstrate that mature B cells are not central mediators of ovariectomy-induced bone loss in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Bone Density
  • Bone Resorption / etiology
  • Bone Resorption / genetics
  • Bone Resorption / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Models, Biological
  • Ovariectomy / adverse effects*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed