Dual effects of baicalin on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption.

In this study, we found that baicalin exerted a two-way regulatory effect on OC in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. In detail, baicalin at a low concentration (below 1 μmol/L) enhanced OC differentiation and bone resorption, but baicalin at a high concentration (above 2 μmol/L) exhibited inhibitory effects on OC. We demonstrated that baicalin at low concentrations enhanced the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (ERK) signalling pathway and activated c-Fos and NFATc1 expression, and thus enhanced gene expression, OC differentiation and bone resorption. However, baicalin at higher levels not only suppressed ERK phosphorylation and c-fos and NFATc1 expression, but also altered the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, and therefore inhibiting OC function. This dual effect was further verified in an LPS-induced mouse calvarial osteolysis model, evidenced by enhanced osteolysis at a lower concentration but reduced bone loss at a higher concentration. Overall, our findings indicate that baicalin exerts dose-dependent effects on OC formation and function. Therefore, caution should be applied when using baicalin to treating OC-related bone diseases. PMID: 30010244 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: J Cell Mol Med - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tags: J Cell Mol Med Source Type: research