Novel effect of estrogen on RANK and c-fms expression in RAW 264.7 cells

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD), a progressive disease entity, and osteoarthrosis preferentially affect females, denoting a possible role of estrogen. Using RAW 264.7 cells, the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) α and ß and the consequent effect of estrogen was investigated. We present the novel detection of ER ß expression in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, we innovatively demonstrated the increase in expression of both ER α and ß, as well as RANK and c-fms, with estrogen treatment. However, a decrease in expression of c-fms, RANK and ER ß, and nearly no change in the expression of ER α were experienced upon further increase in estrogen concentrations. These findings lead us to hypothesize a new mechanism of inflammation in TMD.