Does iron affect osteoblast function? StudiesIn vitro and in patients with chronic liver disease

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Abstract
In order to study the role of trace elements as potential osteoblastic toxins, we measured bone aluminum, copper, and iron in 106 ambulant patients with histologically proven liver disease. We used analytical and histochemical methods and we correlated our results with serum biochemistry, forearm and spinal bone density, and dynamic bone histomorphometry. Patients with chronic liver disease had higher iron-stained perimeters than control subjects (PPP=ns) and between bone iron and bone formation (R=−0.30,PIn vitro experiments using rat osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells showed that an iron concentration of 400 μmol/liter was required to diminish cellular proliferation and function. Iron concentrations are elevated in the bones of patients with chronic liver disease. However, there is at present insufficient evidence that this metal is responsible for the osteoblast dysfunction seen in these patients. Bone aluminum and bone copper concentrations were within the relevant reference ranges in all patients.