The discovery that osteocytes secrete phosphaturic fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) has defined bone as an endocrine organ. However, the autocrine and paracrine functions of FGF23 are still unknown. The present study focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the complex control of FGF23 production and local bone remodeling functions. FGF23 was assayed using ELISA kit in the presence or absence of 17β-estradiol in starved MLO-Y4 osteocytes. In these cells, a relationship between oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and up-regulation of active FGF23 levels due to MAP Kinases activation with involvement of the transcriptional factor (NF-kB) has been demonstrated. The active FGF23 increase can be due to up-regulation of its expression and post-transcriptional modifications. 17β-estradiol prevents the increase of FGF23 by inhibiting JNK and NF-kB activation, osteocyte apoptosis and by the down-regulation of osteoclastogenic factors, such as sclerostin. No alteration in the levels of dentin matrix protein 1, a FGF23 negative regulator, has been determined. The results of this study identify biological targets on which drugs and estrogen may act to control active FGF23 levels in oxidative stress-related bone and non-bone inflammatory diseases.
Keywords: FGF23; estrogen; oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.