Effects of 17β-estradiol on adiponectin regulation of the expression of osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand

► We investigated, for the first time, the associations of estrogen with adiponectin in osteoblastic OPG and RANKL expression. ► We revealed that E2 blocked the activation of adiponectin-induced p38 MAPK. ► We revealed that E2 suppressed the adiponectin-regulated OPG and RANKL expression. ► E2 attenuated both the decrease of OPG and increase of RANKL expression regulated by adiponectin with time.