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Effects of Aluminum Exposure on the Bone Stimulatory Growth Factors in Rats

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Abstract

Aluminum (Al) is considered to be a potentially toxic metal and inhibits bone formation. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) play an important role in regulating the bone formation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of Al on the TGF-β1 and BMP-2 in rats. In this study, Wistar rats were randomly divided into Al-treated group and control group. The Al-treated rats were provided with drinking water containing 100 mg/L AlCl3, and the control rats were given distilled water for 30, 60, and 90 days, respectively. Ten rats were sacrificed in each group every 30 days. The Al-treated rats showed lower body weight and higher serum and bone levels of Al compared with the control rats. The expression levels of TGF-β1 and BMP-2 were also significantly decreased in the Al-treated rats. Serum levels of bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein (BGP), carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP), and bone alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) were markedly lower in the Al-treated groups than in the control group. These results indicate that Al inhibits the expression of TGF-β1 and BMP-2 in bone, which inhibits the activity of osteoblasts and reduces the synthesis of BGP, B-ALP, and type I collagen, thereby inhibiting bone formation.

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Abbreviations

Al:

Aluminum

TGF-β1:

Transforming growth factor β1

BMP-2:

Bone morphogenetic protein 2

BGP:

Bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein

PICP:

Carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen

B-ALP:

Bone alkaline phosphatase

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Correspondence to Hongsheng Ouyang.

Ethics declarations

Experiments were carried out in accordance with the Guiding principles in the use of animals in toxicology, adopted by the Chinese Society of Toxicology. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee on the Use and Care of Animals, Jilin University (Changchun, China).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Peng Li and Weiwei Luo contributed equally to this work.

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Li, P., Luo, W., Zhang, H. et al. Effects of Aluminum Exposure on the Bone Stimulatory Growth Factors in Rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 172, 166–171 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0569-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0569-z

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