Estrogen regulates pathological changes of bones via bone lining cells

(University of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna) The female sex hormone estrogen plays an important role in the structural stability of bones. To date, however, it had been unclear exactly which cells were involved in the hormone's protective function. Researchers at Vetmeduni Vienna showed for the first time that estrogen uses bone lining cells to regulate the expression of the protein RANKL. Estrogen deficiency leads to uncontrolled expression of RANKL, which can trigger pathological changes in the bones.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news