FIGURE 13.

Schematic overview of the effects of SFN/DMSO on bone cells. DMSO and SFN induce active DNA demethylation via up-regulation of the Tet genes in vitro. This leads to apoptosis of preosteoclasts and to a lesser extent of preosteoblasts. Active DNA demethylation also enhances osteoblast differentiation. SFN further decreases the expression of RANKL/Tnfsf11 by a yet undefined mechanism. mCpG, methylated cytosines; hmCpG, hydroxymethylated cytosines; CpG, unmethylated CpGs; TSS, transcriptional start site.