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Planta Med 2017; 83(11): 888-894
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-107808
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Beta-Ecdysone Protects Mouse Osteoblasts from Glucocorticoid-Induced Apoptosis In Vitro

Wei-Wei Dai   *
1   Central Laboratory of Science and Technology Department, Integrative Medicine Discipline, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
2   Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Internal Medicine, University of California at Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
,
Li-Bo Wang   *
1   Central Laboratory of Science and Technology Department, Integrative Medicine Discipline, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Guo-Qin Jin
3   Department of Biochemistry, Integrative Medicine Discipline, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Hong-Jin Wu
1   Central Laboratory of Science and Technology Department, Integrative Medicine Discipline, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Jie Zhang
1   Central Laboratory of Science and Technology Department, Integrative Medicine Discipline, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Cheng-Long Wang
1   Central Laboratory of Science and Technology Department, Integrative Medicine Discipline, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Yuan-Ji Wei
1   Central Laboratory of Science and Technology Department, Integrative Medicine Discipline, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Joon-Ho Lee
1   Central Laboratory of Science and Technology Department, Integrative Medicine Discipline, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Yu-An Evan Lay
2   Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Internal Medicine, University of California at Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
,
Wei Yao
2   Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Internal Medicine, University of California at Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 13 December 2016
revised 22 February 2017

accepted 23 March 2017

Publication Date:
07 April 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is a common form of secondary osteoporosis. Glucocorticoids affect both bone formation and resorption, and prolonged glucocorticoid exposure can suppress osteoblast activities. beta-Ecdysone, found in many plants, is involved in protein synthesis, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and immunologic modulation. Here, we evaluated the effects of beta-ecdysone on osteoblast viability by assessing apoptosis following treatment with excess glucocorticoids. Mouse bone marrow stromal cells were induced to differentiate and grow into osteoblasts, and then treated with 10 µM glucocorticoid and 10, 1, or 0.1 µM beta-ecdysone. The expression levels of osteoblast growth and differentiation factors (runt-related transcription factor 2, osteogenic protein-1, and alkaline phosphatase), apoptosis-related genes (transformation-related protein 53, ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein, caspase-3, and caspase-8), and Akt1 and phospho-Akt (Thr308) were then assessed via alkaline phosphatase staining, acridine orange-propidium iodide staining, annexin V/PI apoptosis assay, real-time RT-PCR, and Western blot analyses. Notably, treatment with 10 µM glucocorticoid resulted in reduced osteoblast viability and the specific activity of alkaline phosphatase as well as reduced runt-related transcription factor 2, osteogenic protein-1, and alkaline phosphatase mRNA expression in vitro, indicating that glucocorticoid inhibited osteogenic differentiation. Moreover, glucocorticoid treatment yielded increased transformation-related protein 53, ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein, caspase-3, and caspase-8 expression and decreased Akt1 and phospho-Akt levels, indicating glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. Meanwhile, beta-ecdysone inhibited glucocorticoid function, preserving the expression of Akt1 and phospho-Akt and reducing the expression of transformation-related protein 53, ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein, caspase-3, and caspase-8. Thus, beta-ecdysone prevented glucocorticoid-induced osteoblast apoptosis in vitro. These data highlight the potential for beta-ecdysone as a treatment for preventing the effects of glucocorticoid on bone growth.

Key words

glucocorticoid - osteoporosis - beta-ecdysone - apoptosis - gene expression

* These authors contributed equally to this manuscript.


 

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