Effect of genistein on the expression of bone metabolism genes in ovariectomized mice using a cDNA microarray

• Published in: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 2006-03, Vol.17 (3), p.157-164
• Main Authors: Pie, Jae-Eun, Park, Jin-Hee, Park, Yoon-Hee, Ryu, Yeon-Mi, Kim, Ki-Nam, Suh, Seung-Woo, Becker, Kevin G., Cho-Chung, Yoon S., Kim, Meyoung-kon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - drug effects; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Bone Density - drug effects; Bone metabolism; cDNA microarray; Collagenases - genetics; Cytokines - genetics; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; DNA, Complementary - genetics; Estradiol - administration & dosage; Female; Femur; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Gene profiling; Genistein; Genistein - administration & dosage; Genistein - pharmacology; Growth Substances - genetics; Humans; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; Medical sciences; Mice; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - genetics; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Organ Size - drug effects; Osteocalcin - blood; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal - drug therapy; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Ovariectomy; Skeleton and joints; Uterus - anatomy & histology; Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system
• ISSN: 0955-2863; 1873-4847
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2005.06.002

Osteoporosis associated with estrogen deficiency is defined as an abnormal decrease in bone mass leading to an increased fracture risk. Genistein (GEN), as a phytoestrogen, is a type of soybean-derived isoflavone that possesses structural similarity to estrogen. In this study, we assessed the effect of GEN in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. To determine the effect of GEN on bone metabolism, we investigated gene expression profiles using a radioactive cDNA microarray. Eight-week-old female mice were either sham operated (SHAM) or OVX. From 1 week after the operation, OVX mice were injected daily with intraperitoneal GEN (0.1, 0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 mg/day) or 17β-estradiol (E 2, 0.03 μg/day) for 4 weeks. A cDNA microarray was used to evaluate changes in the expression of 1,152 genes. OVX mice showed bone mineral density (BMD) loss versus SHAM mice (5.8±0.4 vs. 6.9±0.6 mg/cm 2). However, femur BMDs were completely restored by GEN and by E 2 administration in OVX mice. Serum osteocalcin in OVX mice treated with 0.5 mg/day of GEN was 1.6-fold (44.30±5.73 ng/ml) higher than that in untreated mice. GEN treatment up-regulated 38 genes (e.g., mitogen-activated protein kinase 10) and down-regulated 18 (e.g., matrix metalloproteinase 13). Moreover, GEN was found to have a protective effect on bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency in OVX mice. The present study suggests that GEN modulates bone metabolism-related gene expression, including calciotropic receptor, cytokines, growth factors and bone matrix proteins.