ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effects of genistein (Gen) on apoptosis in human osteoblast. Methods:Human periosteum was maintained in DMEM medium containing 10% newborn calf serum through four passages to isolate and proliferate osteoblast. Then, cells were maintained in phenol red-free DMEM supplemented with 5% charcoal-stripped FCS for 4 d before addition of treatments. Flow cytometer and DNA fragment were used to explore apoptosis in osteoblast, and immunohistochemistry was used to study protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3. Results:Estrogen depletion could induce apoptosis in human osteoblast. With the similarity of 10-8 mol/L E2, at the conentrations of 10-6 mol/L and 10-5 mol/L, Gen could inhibit apoptosis induced by estrogen depletion. Compared with vehicle control, Gen significantly decreased protein expression of Bax and caspase-3 and increased protein expression of Bcl-2. Conclusion:Genistein could inhibit apoptosis induced by estrogen depletion in human osteoblast.