BackgroundOsteoprotegerin (OPG) has been reported to prevent bone resorption by inhibiting the formation, function, and survival of osteoclasts in a variety of animal models. However, the effects of OPG on bone metabolism in avian species have not been described. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of chicken OPG (chOPG) expressed in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) on chicken osteoclast function in vitro.MethodsThe chOPG sequence containing the open reading frame (ORF) was amplified from chicken embryo frontal bone and inserted into the pcDNA3.1 (+) vector. PcDNA3.1 (+)/chOPG was transiently transfected into CEFs by lipofectamine 2000. Transcription of OPG mRNA and expression of chOPG recombinant protein were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and indirect immunofluorescence. The level of chOPG recombinant protein was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The suspension of osteoclasts was separated from chicken embryos and divided into three groups (control group, pcDNA3.1 (+) group and pcDNA3.1 (+)/chOPG group). The percentage of osteoclast apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) secreted by osteoclasts was measured by the diazol method. The resorbing activity of osteoclasts was evaluated by the area of lacunae on bone flaps and the concentration of calcium in the supernatant liquid of osteoclasts.Results48 h after transfection, the exogenous OPG gene transcription was detected by RT-PCR. After 72 h, the CEFs transfected from pcDNA3.1 (+)/chOPG displayed green fluorescence and the concentration of chOPG protein was 15.78 ± 0.22 ng/mL. After chicken osteoclasts were cultured for 5 d in a medium containing supernatant from transfected CEFs, the percentage of osteoclast apoptosis was increased significantly, the concentration of TRAP, the area of lacunae on bone flaps and calcium concentration were decreased significantly in the pcDNA3.1(+)/OPG group compared to the control group and the pcDNA3.1 (+) group.ConclusionConstructed pcDNA3.1 (+)/chOPG transfected into CEFs expressed bioactive OPG protein that was able to inhibit osteoclast function.
Introduction: Patients with beta thalassemia major (TM) have a higher risk of diabetes and an abnormal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), but there is no single agree monitoring parameter that reflects glycemic status. The possible mechanisms include iron overload and blood transfusion, but they require further investigation.Purpose: This study explored the role of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fructosamine, and glycated albumin (GA) in evaluating the glucose dysregulation and to determine the potential relationship between iron deposition and glucose metabolism disorder in beta TM.
Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed on 118 patients with beta TM and the control group consisted of 33 healthy children with no statistical differences in age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Fast plasma glucose (FPG), fast insulin (FINS), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IRI), and insulin sensitivity index (HOMA-ISI) were compared between the patient and control groups. HbA1c, GA, fructosamine, and serum ferritin (SF) were measured in the patient group. OGTT, as well as heart and liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2*, was performed. For all statistical analyses, SPSS 21.0 was used and p < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.Results: FPG, FINS, and HOMA-IRI were significantly increased while HOMA-ISI decreased in the beta TM patients when compared with those in the control group.In patients with beta TM, 17 (14.41%) of patients had been diagnosed with diabetes, while 48 (40.68%) had both impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. HbA1c, GA, and fructosamine were increased according to the degree of abnormal glucose metabolism. Statistically significant differences were found in age, SF, and cardiac T2* between the abnormal and normal OGTT groups.Conclusion: HbA1c may be used as a significant measure for monitoring glycemic levels in patients with beta TM. Furthermore, GA and fructosamine were alternative indicators of glucose status. Patients with heart iron deposition or an SF > 4000 μg/L
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