Many epidemiological studies have shown that in some tumors carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) and β-catenin appear to be related. However, it remains to be established whether CEACAM1 is related to β-catenin in osteoporosis. Here, we reveal that CEACAM1 might influence the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway to modulate bone metabolism in postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Introduction: The aim of this study is to assess the serum level of CEACAM1 in postmenopausal women and its correlation with β-catenin and bone mineral density (BMD).
Methods: The BMD was measured at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) or the femoral neck using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Serum CEACAM1, β-catenin, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), β-isomerized C-terminal crosslinking of type I collagen (β-CTX), intact N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PINP), estradiol, and insulin were measured in 350 postmenopausal women. Patients were divided according to lumbar spine or femur neck T-scores into osteoporosis (group I), osteopenia (group II), and normal bone mineral density, the latter serving as control.
Results: Serum CEACAM1 levels were significantly lower in group I and II compared to those in control subjects (P < 0.001). Serum CEACAM1 levels correlated positively with β-catenin and BMD, but correlated negatively to the ratio between RANKL and OPG.
Conclusion: This study provides evidence that decreased serum CEACAM1 levels are related to low BMD in postmenopausal women, and that serum CEACAM1 levels correlated positively to β-catenin. It suggests that CEACAM1 might influence the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway to modulate bone metabolism.
Keywords: Bone mineral density; Carcinoembryonic antigen-related adhesion molecule 1; Postmenopausal osteoporosis; β-catenin.