Regulation of osteoprotegerin production by androgens and anti-androgens in human osteoblastic lineage cells

Estrogens and androgens have anti-resorptive effects on bone, although recent evidence indicates that, even in men, estrogen is the dominant sex steroid regulating bone resorption. The receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand is essential for osteoclastic bone resorption, and its effects are blocked by the decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin (OPG). While estrogen has been shown to induce osteoblastic OPG production, the effects of androgens on OPG production have not been defined.