Stanozolol promotes osteogenic gene expression and apposition of bone mineral in vitro

Abstract Stanozolol (ST) is a synthetic androgen with high anabolic potential. Although it is known that androgens play a positive role in bone metabolism, ST action on bone cells has not been sufficiently tested to support its clinical use for bone augmentation procedures. Objective: This study aimed to assess the effects of ST on osteogenic activity and gene expression in SaOS-2 cells. Material and Methods: SaOS-2 deposition of mineralizing matrix in response to increasing doses of ST (0-1000 nM) was evaluated through Alizarin Red S and Calcein Green staining techniques at 6, 12 and 24 days. Gene expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), vitamin D receptor (VDR), osteopontin (SPP1) and osteonectin (ON) was analyzed by RT-PCR. Results: ST significantly influenced SaOS-2 osteogenic activity: stainings showed the presence of rounded calcified nodules, which increased both in number and in size over time and depending on ST dose. RT-PCR highlighted ST modulation of genes related to osteogenic differentiation. Conclusions: This study provided encouraging results, showing ST promoted the osteogenic commitment of SaOS-2 cells. Further studies are required to validate these data in primary osteoblasts and to investigate ST molecular pathway of action.

Women with recurrent spontaneous abortion have decreased 25(OH) vitamin D and VDR at the fetal-maternal interface

Immunological mechanisms have been proposed to underlie the pathogenesis of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Vitamin D has a potent immunomodulatory effect, which may affect pregnancy outcome. The objective of this study was to investigate 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] concentration and vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in the decidual tissues of RSA patients. Thirty women with RSA (RSA group) and thirty women undergoing elective abortion (control group) were recruited during 2016 from gynecology outpatient clinics. We measured 25(OH) D, interleukin (IL)-17, IL-23, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), VDR and 1-α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) in decidual tissues collected during the abortion procedure. In the RSA group, 25(OH) D and TGF-β were significantly decreased while IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly increased compared with the control group. VDR expression was significantly decreased in the RSA group compared with the control group. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation between 25(OH) D in decidual tissues and RSA. These results indicated that vitamin D concentrations in the decidua are associated with inflammatory cytokine production, suggesting that vitamin D and VDR may play a role in the etiology of RSA.

Androgen & vitamin D nuclear receptor expression in archival breast tumour samples.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Breast tumour cells have receptors for androgen and vitamin D and their clinical significance is not completely understood. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to analyze androgen and vitamin D receptor levels in human primary infiltrating ductal breast carcinomas (IDC) and benign breast tumour archival samples and to find out their correlation, if any, with the clinical findings. METHODS: Paraffin blocks of benign and malignant breast tumours were sectioned, deparaffinized, and nuclei released by pepsin digestion. After antigen retrieval, nuclei were stained with primary antibodies for androgen or vitamin D receptors and secondary fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled antibodies and propidium iodide respectively, to quantitative receptor expression and DNA content by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Androgen receptor positive nuclei ranged from 16-66 per cent in the IDC tumours as compared to 36-67 per cent in the benign tumours. Based on flow cytometric comparison of AR expression in AR positive and negative cell lines established earlier, 24 of 28 tumours from postmenopausal women were AR positive compared to all benign tumours and 32 of 33 tumours from pre-menopausal patients. Vitamin D receptor positive nuclei ranged from 14-89 and 2-75 per cent in IDC and benign tumours, respectively. All pre- or post-menopausal tumours were VDR positive as compared to 10 of 15 benign tumours that were VDR positive. No correlation was seen between nuclear androgen and vitamin D receptor expression of the IDC or benign tumours. There was a positive correlation between per cent of receptor positive nuclei and antigen density as measured by ratio of the mean log fluorescence channel value (MFC). No statistically significant correlation was found between nuclear receptor expression (per cent positive nuclei or antigen density) with that of tumour stage, lymph node status, tumour grade, patient age or menopausal status. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: There was no significant correlation between androgen or vitamin D receptor expression and clinical findings. The expression of AR and VDR and the antigen density in the nuclei of the archival breast tumour samples were highly variable because of the tumour heterogeneity. Future studies with fresh biopsy samples of tumour on AR and VDR levels and their up- or down-regulation may be useful while stratifying the patients for hormonal therapy.

Hiperparatireoidismo secundário: fatores prognósticos de recidiva atribuída ao implante após paratireoidectomia total e auto-implante / Secondary hyperparathyroidism: prognostic factors of graft-dependent recurrence after total parathyroidectomy and parathyroid autotransplantation

Nos casos de hiperparatireoidismo secundário onde não é possível o tratamento clínico, é indicada a paratireoidectomia. No Serviço de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, o tipo de cirurgia utilizada é a paratireoidectomia total com auto-implante de paratireóide em membro superior. Nesses casos, ao contrário da paratireoidectomia total, pode haver recidiva do hiperparatireoidismo no sítio do implante, com sintomas sistêmicos e com necessidade de intervenção para retirada do tecido hiperplásico. Já na paratireoidectomia total, há hipoparatireoidismo definitivo e risco de doença óssea adinâmica. O presente estudo tem como escopo avaliar os pacientes submetidos a paratireoidectomia com implante e esclarecer se há fatores clínicos e de imunohistoquímica que possam indicar antes da cirurgia algum risco de recidiva no implante.

When clinical treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism fails, parathyroidectomy is mandatory. Total parathyroidectomy and immediate parathyroid autotransplantation in the forearm is the treatment of choice at Head and Neck Surgery of Hospital das Clínicas of University of São Paulo Medical School. In this cases, recurrent hyperparathyroidism may be caused by hyperplastic graft tissue. Without autotransplantation, adinamic bone disease may occur. The present study seek to evaluate patients submitted to total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation and try to clarify clinical or immunohistochemical.

Fractures of the proximal femur: correlation with vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism

Fractures are the feared consequences of osteoporosis and fractures of the proximal femur (FPF) are those that involve the highest morbidity and mortality. Thus far, evaluation of bone mineral density (BMD) is the best way to determine the risk of fracture. Genetic inheritance, in turn, is one of the major determinants of BMD. A correlation between different genotypes of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and BMD has been recently reported. On this basis, we decided to determine the importance of the determination of VDR genotype in the presence of an osteoporotic FPF in a Brazilian population. We studied three groups: group I consisted of 73 elderly subjects older than 65 years (78.5 + 7.2 years) hospitalized for nonpathological FPF; group II consisted of 50 individuals older than 65 years (72.9 + 5.2 years) without FPF and group III consisted of 98 young normal Brazilian individuals aged 32.6 + 6.6 years (mean+SD). Analysis of VDR gene polymorphism by restriction fragment lenght polymorphism (RFLP) was performed by PCR amplification followed by BsmI digestion of DNA isolated from peripheral leukocytes. The genotype distribution in group I was 20.5 percent BB, 42.5 percent and 37 percent bb did not differ significantly from the values obtained for group II (16 percent BB, 36 percent Bb and 48 percent bb) or for group III (10.2 percent BB, 47.6 percent Bb and 41.8 percent bb). No differences in genotype distribution were observed between sexes or between the young and elderly groups. We conclude that determination of VDR polymorphism is of no practical use for the prediction of FPF. Other nongenetic factors probably start to affect bone mass, the risk to fall and consequently the occurence of osteoporotic fractures with advancing age.