Homocysteine suppresses the expression of the collagen cross-linker lysyl oxidase involving IL-6, Fli1, and epigenetic DNA methylation

Thaler R, Agsten M, Spitzer S, Paschalis EP, Karlic H, Klaushofer K, Varga F · The Journal of Biological Chemistry

One mechanistic route from homocysteine to weaker connective tissue: homocysteine suppressed lysyl oxidase, the enzyme that cross-links collagen, acting through IL-6, the transcription factor Fli1 and changes in DNA methylation.

Population

Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells

Intervention

Homocysteine exposure, with epigenetic and IL-6 pathway analysis

Comparator

Untreated cells

Limitations

A bone-cell line in culture at experimental homocysteine concentrations; cartilage was not studied, and no supplement was tested.