Osteoporosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Osteoporosis, including details on symptoms, treatment, prevention, causes.

Cbfa-1 (Runx-2) and osteocalcin expression by human osteoblasts in heparin osteoporosis in vitro.

Handschin AE, Egermann M, Trentz O, Wanner GA, Kock HJ, Zünd G, Trentz OA

Department of Surgery, Research Division, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland. alexander.handschin@usz.ch

Heparin may cause adverse effects on bone formation following long-term application. The exact pathomechanism is unclear, but in vitro data suggest an impaired osteoblast function. The transcription axis of Cbfa-1 (Runx-2) and osteocalcin is crucial in maintaining an equilibrium of bone formation and resorption in vivo. We used a human osteoblast cell culture model to further investigate the effect of heparin (low-molecular-weight heparin, dalteparin) on the expression of these two regulators of osteoblast differentiation. At high doses, dalteparin caused a significant inhibition of both osteocalcin and Cbfa-1 expression in vitro. Our data support the hypothesis of a direct inhibition of osteoblast function underlying heparin osteoporosis.

Published 26 September 2006 in Clin Appl Thromb Hemost, 12(4): 465-72.
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