Fig 4.

Stearate and palmitate affect osteoblasts function and mineralization – osteoblasts treated with either stearate or palmitate showed a significant reduction in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (A, left panels) and alizarin red (A, right panels and B) as compared with both untreated and linolate -treated cells. Additionally, linolate-treated osteoblasts showed higher function and mineralization than untreated osteoblasts. Finally, combination of both FA was found to potentiate their negative effect on mineralization (B, δP < 0.001 versus all other conditions). *P < 0.001 for dose-dependent effect; **P < 0.01 untreated cells versus FA treated cells; γP < 0.01 for linolate dose-dependent effect; σP < 0.01 for control versus all other conditions. (C) Caspase-3/7 activity was assayed using the Caspase-Glo luminescence assay and data represent the mean values (S.D.) of triplicate cultures. NHOst treated with either stearate or palmitate showed higher caspase 3/7 activity as compared with untreated cells (*P < 0.001). δP < 0.01 Stearate (0.5 mM) versus all other conditions.