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Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI117995

Regulation of interleukin-6, osteoclastogenesis, and bone mass by androgens. The role of the androgen receptor.

T Bellido, R L Jilka, B F Boyce, G Girasole, H Broxmeyer, S A Dalrymple, R Murray, and S C Manolagas

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.

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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.

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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.

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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.

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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.

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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.

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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.

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Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.

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Published June 1, 1995 - More info

Published in Volume 95, Issue 6 on June 1, 1995
J Clin Invest. 1995;95(6):2886–2895. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI117995.
© 1995 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published June 1, 1995 - Version history
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Abstract

Interleukin-6 is an essential mediator of the bone loss caused by loss of estrogens. Because loss of androgens also causes bone loss, we have examined whether the IL-6 gene is regulated by androgens, and whether IL-6 plays a role in the bone loss caused by androgen deficiency. Both testosterone and dihydrotestosterone inhibited IL-6 production by murine bone marrow-derived stromal cells. In addition, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and adrenal androgens inhibited the expression of a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase reporter plasmid driven by the human IL-6 promoter in HeLa cells cotransfected with an androgen receptor expression plasmid; however, these steroids were ineffective when the cells were cotransfected with an estrogen receptor expression plasmid. In accordance with the in vitro findings, orchidectomy in mice caused an increase in the replication of osteoclast progenitors in the bone marrow which could be prevented by androgen replacement or administration of an IL-6 neutralizing antibody. Moreover, bone histomorphometric analysis of trabecular bone revealed that, in contrast to IL-6 sufficient mice which exhibited increased osteoclast numbers and bone loss following orchidectomy, IL-6 deficient mice (generated by targeted gene disruption) did not. This evidence demonstrates that male sex steroids, acting through the androgen-specific receptor, inhibit the expression of the IL-6 gene; and that IL-6 mediates the upregulation of osteoclastogenesis and therefore the bone loss caused by androgen deficiency, as it does in estrogen deficiency.

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