6 research outputs found
Three-Dimensional Co-Culture System of Human Osteoblasts and Osteoclast Precursors from Osteoporotic Patients as an Innovative Model to Study the Role of Nutrients: Focus on Vitamin K2
Several natural compounds, such as vitamin K2, have been highlighted for their positive
effects on bone metabolism. It has been proposed that skeletal disorders, such as osteoporosis, may
benefit from vitamin K2-based therapies or its regular intake. However, further studies are needed
to better clarify the effects of vitamin K2 in bone disorders. To this aim, we developed in vitro a
three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system one step closer to the bone microenvironment based on coculturing osteoblasts and osteoclasts precursors obtained from bone specimens and peripheral blood
of the same osteoporotic patient, respectively. Such a 3-D co-culture system was more informative
than the traditional 2-D cell cultures when responsiveness to vitamin K2 was analyzed, paving
the way for data interpretation on single patients. Following this approach, the anabolic effects of
vitamin K2 on the osteoblast counterpart were found to be correlated with bone turnover markers
measured in osteoporotic patients’ sera. Overall, our data suggest that co-cultured osteoblasts and
osteoclast precursors from the same osteoporotic patient may be suitable to generate an in vitro 3-D
experimental model that potentially reflects the individual’s bone metabolism and may be useful
to predict personal responsiveness to nutraceutical or drug molecules designed to positively affect
bone health.Several natural compounds, such as vitamin K2, have been highlighted for their positive effects on bone metabolism. It has been proposed that skeletal disorders, such as osteoporosis, may benefit from vitamin K2-based therapies or its regular intake. However, further studies are needed to better clarify the effects of vitamin K2 in bone disorders. To this aim, we developed in vitro a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system one step closer to the bone microenvironment based on co-culturing osteoblasts and osteoclasts precursors obtained from bone specimens and peripheral blood of the same osteoporotic patient, respectively. Such a 3-D co-culture system was more informative than the traditional 2-D cell cultures when responsiveness to vitamin K2 was analyzed, paving the way for data interpretation on single patients. Following this approach, the anabolic effects of vitamin K2 on the osteoblast counterpart were found to be correlated with bone turnover markers measured in osteoporotic patients’ sera. Overall, our data suggest that co-cultured osteoblasts and osteoclast precursors from the same osteoporotic patient may be suitable to generate an in vitro 3-D experimental model that potentially reflects the individual’s bone metabolism and may be useful to predict personal responsiveness to nutraceutical or drug molecules designed to positively affect bone health