HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Magnesium Needed for Osteoblasts

Study Abstract

An adequate intake of magnesium (Mg) is important for bone cell activity and contributes to the prevention of osteoporosis. Because (a) Mg is mitogenic for osteoblasts and (b) reduction of osteoblast proliferation is detected in osteoporosis, we investigated the influence of different concentrations of extracellular Mg on osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cell behavior. We found that low Mg inhibited SaOS-2 cell proliferation by increasing the release of nitric oxide through the up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Indeed, both pharmacological inhibition with the iNOS inhibitor l-N(6)-(iminoethyl)-lysine-HCl and genetic silencing of iNOS by small interfering RNA restored the normal proliferation rate of the cells. Because a moderate induction of nitric oxide is sufficient to potentiate bone resorption and a relative deficiency in osteoblast proliferation can result in their inadequate activity, we conclude that maintaining Mg homeostasis is relevant to ensure osteoblast function and, therefore, to prevent osteoporosis.

Study Information

Leidi M, Dellera F, Mariotti M, Banfi G, Crapanzano C, Albisetti W, Maier JA.
Nitric oxide mediates low magnesium inhibition of osteoblast-like cell proliferation
J Nutr Biochem.
2012 January
Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Luigi Sacco, Università di Milano, Italy.