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l-Carnitine protects against apoptosis of murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells

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Summary.

l-Carnitine (LC), an amino acid with a major role in cellular energy metabolism, has positive effects on bone metabolism. However, the effect of LC on apoptosis of osteoblast in vitro has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the action of LC on apoptosis of mouse osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1. Cell apoptosis was measured by sandwich-enzyme-immunoassay. Release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol and Bcl-2, Bax protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis. The enzyme substrate was used to assess the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. LC inhibited MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Our study also shows that LC decreased cytochrome c release and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation in serum-deprived MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, LC protected against MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis induced by the glucocorticoid (GC) dexamethasone (Dex).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second **angYa Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

    H. **e, H. Li, X.-H. Luo, L.-Q. Yuan, D. Wang & E.-Y. Liao

  2. School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

    S.-Y. Tang

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  1. H. **e
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  2. S.-Y. Tang
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  3. H. Li
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  4. X.-H. Luo
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  5. L.-Q. Yuan
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  6. D. Wang
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  7. E.-Y. Liao
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The first two authors contributed equally to this work

Authors’ address: Er-Yuan Liao, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second **angYa Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China

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**e, H., Tang, SY., Li, H. et al. l-Carnitine protects against apoptosis of murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Amino Acids 35, 419–423 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-007-0598-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-007-0598-9

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