• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.173-180
• /
• 2011

Osteocalcin (OC), a marker of bone turnover, displays patterns in relation to physiological and genetic factors. Here, we present an association study in a population of Chinese Holstein cattle (n = 24) with OC serum concentration as a phenotypic trait. We hypothesised that OC status is associated with phylogeny, vitamin D serum level and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was used as an unlinked marker to examine phylogeny and linkage to measured phenotypic traits of vitamin D and OC status. Following an association study with OC serum variability as the trait, genotyping of SNPs (n = 27) in OC-related genes was performed. Candidate SNPs were chosen in genes with an emphasis on the vitamin D and vitamin K pathways. Multivariant factor analysis revealed a correlation between vitamin D serum concentration and a SNP in the gene GC (rs43338565), which encodes a vitamin D-binding protein, as well as between a SNP in NFATc1 (rs42038422) and OC concentration. However, univariate analysis revealed that population structure, vitamin D serum levels and SNPs were not significant determinants of OC status in the studied group.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2015

Osteocalcin (OC) is the most abundant noncollagenous protein of extracellular matrix in the bone. In an OC deficient mouse, bone formation rates are increased in cancellous and cortical bones. OC is known as a negative regulator of mineral apposition. OC is also expressed in the tooth of the rat, bovine, and human. However, little is known about OC during tooth development in Xenopus. The purpose of this study is to compare the expression of OC with mineralization in the developing tooth of Xenopus, by using von Kossa staining and in situ hybridization. At stage 56, the developmental stage of tooth germ corresponds to the cap stage, and an acellular zone was apparent between the dental papilla and the enamel organ. From stage 57, calcium deposition was revealed by von Kossa staining prior to OC expression, and the differentiated odontoblasts forming predentin were located at adjoining predentin. At stage 58, OC transcripts were detected in the differentiated odontoblasts. At stage 66, OC mRNA was expressed in the odontoblasts, which was aligned in a single layer at the periphery of the pulp. These findings suggest that OC may play a role in mineralization and odontogenesis of tooth development in Xenopus.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.726-731
• /
• 1999

Many studies show that the bone loss in postmenopausal women is closely related with status of vitamin K. The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of the vitamin K supplements on the carboxylation of serum osteocalcin in postmenopausal women. Twenty-four healthy postmenopausal women were recruited for the double-blind controlled study. Before and after daily administration of 1.0mg of phylloquinone for one month, the levels of serum vitamin K, osteocalcin, undercarboxylated osteocalcin were measured. Daily intake of vitamin K was also calculated. After the 4-weeks of supplements of 1.0mg/day of vitamin K, there were no significant differences for the levels of serum vitamin K, osteocalcin, and ucOC between the experimental and placebo groups. In this study, it was not found that the supplements of vitamin K to the postmenopausal women had any positive effects on.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.121-132
• /
• 2009

Purpose : To investigate the effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and quercetin (QCT) on gene expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OC) during the differentiation in irradiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Materials and Methods : When MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells had reached 70-80% confluence, cultures were transferred to a differentiating medium supplemented with 5 mM 2-DG or $10{\mu}M$ QCT, and then irradiated with 2, 4, 6, and 8 Gy. At various times after irradiation, the cells were analyzed for the synthesis of type I collagen, and expression of BSP and OC. Results : The synthesis of type I collagen in cells exposed to 2 Gy of radiation in the presence of 2-DG or QCT showed no significant difference compared with the control group within 15 days post-irradiation. When the cells were irradiated with 8 Gy, 2-DG facilitated the irradiation mediated decrease of type I collagen synthesis, whereas such decrease was inhibited by treating with QCT. During MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cell differentiation, the mRNA expression of BSP and OC showed the peak value at 14 days and 21 days, respectively. 2-DG or QCT treatment alone decreased the level of BSP mRNA, but increased the OC mRNA level only at early time of differentiation (day 7). In the cells irradiated with 2, 4, 8 Gy, the mRNA expression of BSP and OC decreased at 7 days after the irradiation. The cells were treated with various dose of radiation in the presence of 2-DG or QCT, the mRNA level of both BSP and OC increased although this increase was observed at low dose of radiation (2 Gy) and at the early stage of differentiation. However, when the cells were exposed to 4, 6, or 8 Gy, the increase of BSP and OC mRNAs was detected only in cells co-incubated with QCT. Conclusion : This study demonstrates that 2-DG and QCT affect differently the expression of bone formation related factors, type I collagen, BSP, and OC in the irradiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblasic cells, according to the dose of radiation and the times of differentiation. Overall, the present findings suggest that 2-DG and QCT could have the regulatory roles as radiation-sensitizer and -protector, respectively.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.287-295
• /
• 1999

This study was conducted to observe the effect of vitamin K on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. Twenty-four healthy postmenopausal women recruited for this one-month, double-blind controlled study. Before and after daily administration of 1.0mg of phylloquinone the levels of serum vitamin K, osteocalcin, under-carboxylated osteocalcin, and urinary deoxy-phyidinoline were measured. The serum vitamin K concentration of Koran women as well as the average dietary intake of vitamin K was shown to be higher than the average levels of foreign women. However, no correlation between serum vitamin K concentration and vitamin K intake was found. Also, serum vitamin K concentration showed no special correlation with either bone mineral density or bone turnover markers in the study group. However, women with low serum vitamin K concentration(vitamin K-low group)had lower bone mineral density levels. After supplementation with 1.0mg/day of vitamin K, there were no changes in the levels of serum vitamin K, osteocalcin, ucOC, or u-DPD. Vitamin K supplementation did not seem to have any positive effects on bone metabolism through carboxylation. It can, however, be expected that vitamin K supplementation has a positive effect on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women with especially low serum vitamin K concentrations.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.337-344
• /
• 2002

Runx2, a Runt-related osteoblast-specific transcription factor, is essential for osteoblast differentiation and function. Runx2 was identified as a key regulator of osteoblast-specific gene expression through its binding to the OSE2 element present in these genes. However, little is known about the signaling mechanism regulating Runx2 activity. This study examines the role of protein kinase C (PKC) pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in regulating Runx2 and bone marker genes (osteopontin; OP, osteocalcin; OC). Luciferase assay and Northern blot analysis suggested that the stimulation of PKC by PMA increased transcription activity of Runx2 and bone marker genes (OP and OC) and also increased expression of Runx2. The stimulation of MAPK by okadaic acid increased transcription activity of Runx2 and bone marker genes (OP and OC). Pretreatment with PD98059 (Erk pathway inhibitor) and SB203580 (P38 pathway inhibitor) prior to PMA treatment decreased PMA stimulated Runx2 activity. Together these results indicate that both PKC and MAPKs are involved in the regulation of Runx2 activity and also the stimulation of Runx2 transcriptional activity by the PKC pathway is through activation of MAPK pathway.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.4 no.6
• /
• pp.507-514
• /
• 2010

Vitamin K intake has been reported as an essential factor for bone formation. The current study was conducted under the hypothesis that insufficient vitamin K intake would affect inflammatory markers and bone mineral density in young adult women. The study was a cross-sectional design that included 75 women in their 20s. Physical assessments, bone mineral density measurements, 24-hr dietary recalls, and biochemical assessments for high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and percentages of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (%ucOC) were performed. An analysis of vitamin K nutritional status was performed comparing first, second, and third tertiles of intake based on %ucOC in plasma. Vitamin K intake levels in the first, second, and third tertiles were $94.88{\pm}51.48\;{\mu}g$, $73.85{\pm}45.15\;{\mu}g$, and $62.58{\pm}39.92\;{\mu}g$, respectively (P < 0.05). The T-scores of the first and third tertiles were 1.06 and -0.03, respectively, indicating that bone mineral density was significantly lower in the group with lower vitamin K intake (P < 0.05). There was a tendency for different serum hs-CRP concentrations between the first ($0.04{\pm}0.02$) and third tertiles ($0.11{\pm}0.18$), however this was not statistically significant. Regression analysis was performed to identify the correlations between vitamin K nutritional status, inflammatory markers, and bone mineral density after adjusting for age and BMI. Serum hs-CRP concentrations were positively correlated with vitamin K deficiency status (P < 0.05). And bone mineral density, which was represented by speed, was negatively correlated with vitamin K deficiency status (P < 0.05). In conclusion, status of vitamin K affects inflammatory status and bone formation. Therefore, sufficient intake of vitamin K is required to secure peak bone mass in young adult women.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.31 no.3 s.86
• /
• pp.357-367
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the alveolar bone turnover in diabetic rat, and to compare the alveolar bone turnover during tooth movement in diabetes with that in normal control Eighty Male Sprague-Dawley strain rats(8th week) were divided into normal control(N), normal-tooth movement (N-tm), diabetes(D), and diabetes-tooth movement(D-tm) groups. Eighteen days before the start of the experiment, diabetes was induced with a single injection of streptozotocin 50 mg/kg of body weight in citrate buffer as vehicle via the tail vein. Maxillary first molars of rats were moved mesially by 40 grams of the closed coil spring. Experimental animals were sacrificed after 1d, 3d, 7d, and 14d experimental period, and the alveolar bone around the maxillary first molars were assayed biochemically for acid phsophatase(ACP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) as bone resorption markers, and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and osteocalcin(OC) as bone formation markers. TRAP and OC concentration in serum and alveolar bone of D group were lower than those in N group, and especially OC concentration decreased mote following diabetes prolonged, which showed the decreased skeletal and alveolar bone resorption and formation potential in diabetic rats. In N-tm group compared with N group, alveolar bone ACP and TRAP concentrations were highest at 1d and 3d(p<0.01), decreased after then, and showed lowest at 14d, and alveolar bone OC concentration was higher at 3d, 7d, and 14d(p<0.001) and showed a tendency of peak level at 7d. which showed the peak of concentration of bone resorption markets at 1d-3d and those of bone formation markers at 7d. In D-tm group compared with N group, alveolar bone ACP and TRAP concentrations were higher at 3d, 7d and 14d(p<0.001), and tended to reach peak value at 7d and persisted through 14d, and alveolar bone ALP and OC concentration increased but not different from that of N group. The amount of tooth movement in D group were greater than that of N group at all experimental period. Those results were suggested that during diabetes, the alveolar and skeletal bone undergo low bone turnover and the mote amount of tooth movement, hut because the peak time of alveolar bone resorption activity was delayed and sustained in longer period of tooth movement and alveolar bone formation activity is lower than that of normal tooth movement, the periodontal space is supposed to be larger doting tooth movement.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.839-847
• /
• 2006

The aim of this study is to monitor reporter gene expression under osteocalcin gene promoter, using a real-time molecular imaging system, as tool to investigate osteoblast differentiation. The promoter region of mouse osteocalcin gene 2 (mOG2), the best-characterized osteoblast-specific gene, was inserted in promoterless luciferase reporter vector. Expression of reporter gene was confirmed and relationship between the reporter gene expression and osteoblastic differentiation was evaluated. Gene expression according to osteoblstic differentiation on biomaterials, utilizing a real-time molecular imaging system, was monitored. Luciferase was expressed at the only cells transduced with pGL4/mOGP and the level of expression was statistically higher at cells cultured in mineralization medium than cells in growth medium. CCCD camera detected the luciferase expression and was visible differentiation-dependent intensity of luminescence. The cells produced osteocalcin with time-dependent increment in BMP-2 treated cells and there was difference between BMP-2 treated cells and untreated cells at 14days. There was difference at the level of luciferase expression under pGL4/mOGP between BMP-2 treated cells and untreated cells at 3days. CCCD camera detected the luciferase expression at cells transduced with pGL4/mOGP on Ti disc and was visible differentiation-dependent intensity of luminescence This study shows that 1) expression of luciferase is regulated by the mouse OC promoter, 2) the CCCD detection system is a reliable quantitative gene detection tool for the osteoblast differentiation, 3) the dynamics of mouse OC promoter regulation during osteoblast differentiation is achieved in real time and quantitatively on biomaterial. The present system is a very reliable system for monitoring of osteoblast differentiation in real time and may be used for monitoring the effects of growth factors, drug, cytokines and biomaterials on osteoblast differentiation in animal.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.234-240
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to examine the effects of low molecular weight gelatin hydrolysates (GH, less than 3kDa), extracted from pig skin collagen on the bone metabolism of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats in the experimental groups were randomly segregated into six different treatment groups such as 1) NC, the normal rat fed AIN 93 diet (basal diet) only; 2) OC, the OVX rat fed the basal diet only; 3) GH 0.1, the OVX rat fed the basal diet with 0.1% GH; 4) GH 0.8, the OVX rat fed the basal diet with 0.8% GH; 5) G 0.1, the OVX rat fed the basal diet with 0.1% gelatin; 6) G 0.8, the OVX rat fed the basal diet with 0.8% gelatin. Body weight gain in the GH 0.1, GH 0.8, and G 0.8 was significantly higher than those in the NC and OC. Feed intake of the GH 0.1 and GH 0.8 was higher than that of the NC and OC, while no significant difference was found in feed efficiency ratio (FER). BMD of the GH 0.8 was higher than that of the OC. However, gelatin hydrolysates and gelatin resulted in higher BMC level compare to the OC. Serum HDL-cholesterol of rat fed GH and gelatin was higher than that of OC (p<0.05). LDL-C of the GH 0.1 and the GH 0.8 tended to be less than that of OC. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of the GH 0.1 was lower than that of the OC. The serum of GH 0.8 showed lower osteocalcin value than the OC (p<0.05). In addition, GOT and GPT levels significantly decreased in all treatment groups. These results indicated that gelatin hydrolysates from pig skin gelatin hydrolysates enhanced BMD and serum biochemical parameters related to bone metabolism. Therefore, the gelatin hydrolysates could be used as a beneficial material to improve bone health.