The differential expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) in human osteoarthritic subchondral bone osteoblasts is an indicator of the metabolic state of these disease cells

摘要

ObjectiveWe previously reported that human OA subchondral bone osteoblasts could be discriminated into two subpopulations identified by their levels of endogenous production (low [L] or high [H]) of PGE2. Here, we investigated the OPG and RANKL expression levels, the histologic analysis of the subchondral bone as well as the osteoclast differentiation effect of osteoblasts on normal and both OA subpopulations (L and H), and further examined on the L OA osteoblasts the modulation of bone remodelling factors on the OPG and RANKL levels, as well as on the resorption activity.