Effects of Acute Estrogen Therapy on Bone Formation

Estrogen (E) deficiency is the major cause of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Understanding the mechanisms by which E regulates bone metabolism is critical for developing novel approaches to prevent and treat this disorder. We will focus on defining mechanisms for the age-related decrease in bone formation and the role of E deficiency in mediating this decrease. We will use novel methods we have developed to examine gene expression in highly purified bone marrow osteoblastic cells. We will test whether the increase in bone formation previously observed following acute E treatment in women is associated with an increase in markers of Wnt/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling and/or production and in othe genes related to bone formation by osteoblastic cells.

Inclusion criteria

• At least 10 years postmenopausal; Menopause is defined as no menses for at least 1 year (or documented ovariectomy) and a serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) above 30 IU/L.

Exclusion criteria

• Clinically significant abnormality in any of the following screening laboratory studies (to be reviewed and determined by PI or CI) : serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (see below); phosphorus (minor change outside of normal guidelines is acceptable and does not impact the study); alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase (AST) (minor change outside of normal guidelines is acceptable but not to exceed 50% above normal or ineligible); Creatinine (Cr) (minor change outside of normal guidelines is acceptable but not to exceed a value of 1.2 or ineligible); serum calcium must not exceed upper limits of normal guidelines or subject ineligible; FSH needs to be ≥30; thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) needs to be above 0.3 and not > 10;
• Presence of significant liver disease, renal disease, malignancy (including breast cancer and myeloma), malabsorption syndrome, hypoparathyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome, hypopituitarism, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, untreated gallbladder disease, history of myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke, or history of thrombophlebitis or deep venous thrombosis;
• Undergoing treatment with any of the following drugs: adrenocorticoid steroids (3 months or longer at anytime or > 10 days of treatment within the previous 12 months), anticonvulsant therapy (within the previous year), sodium fluoride (any history of treatment with fluoride), pharmacological doses of thyroid hormone (causing decline of TSH below normal), calcium supplementation of more than 1200 mg/d (within the preceding 3 months), bisphosphonates in the past, calcitonin (within the past six months), E therapy or treatment with a selective estrogen receptor modulator (within the past 6 months), parathyroid hormone (PTH) use in the past. Subjects with a clinical history of an osteoporotic fracture (vertebral, hip, or distal forearm) within the previous 3 years will also be excluded.