Effect of irradiation on RANKL/OPG mRNA levels in mouse osteoblast in vitro

Objective To study the influence of irradiation on the osteoblast function by the gene expression changes of RANKL and OPG.Methods Bone marrow stromal cells were induced to develop into early and mature osteoblasts in vitro.The characterization of osteoblasts was indentified by ALP staining.The RANKL and OPG mRNA levels in early and mature osteoblasts, which exposed to 0 -4 Gy radiation were determined by RT-PCR.Results Bone marrow stromal cells had been induced to early and mature osteoblasts by osteoblast differentiation medium in vitro.In early stage of osteoblast, RANKL mRNA expression levels treated with 1Gy irradiation was 2.83-fold higher than those other irradiation dosage groups.The RANKL mRNA expression levels of each group in early stage of osteoblasts were significantly higher than those in the mature counterpart ( t = 8.34 - 103.57, P ＜ 0.05 ).The ratio of RANKL/OPG mRNA was obviously greater in early osteoblast compared with the mature cells ( t = 2.84 - 20.99, P ＜0.05 ), and it was the highest in 1Gy irradiation treated early osteoblast.Conclusions Radiation exposure of the early osteoblasts promotes osteoclasts function and results in the bone loss. Key words: Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand;  Osteopregerin;  Radiation damage; Osteoblast