Icariin attenuates thioacetamide ‑induced bone loss via the RANKL‑p38/ERK‑NFAT signaling pathway

Mol Med Rep. 2022 Apr;25(4):126. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2022.12642. Epub 2022 Feb 16.ABSTRACTThere is an increasing incidence of destructive bone disease caused by osteoclast proliferation. This is characterized by reduced bone mass and imbalance of bone homeostasis. Icariin (ICA), a flavonoid compound isolated from Epimedium, has anti‑osteoporosis activity and inhibits the formation of osteoclasts and bone resorption. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of ICA on osteoclastic differentiation induced by thioacetamide (TAA) and its possible mechanism in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. In the present study, SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with TAA (300 mg/kg) for the bone loss model, treated with ICA (600 mg/kg, intragastric gavage) in the ICA group and TAA+ICA group for treatment of bone loss for 6 weeks. Indexes associated with bone metabolism, such as alkaline phosphatase, N‑terminal telopeptide of type‑I collagen (NTX‑I), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) in the serum, were detected. Osteoclast differentiation of femoral tissues was detected by hematoxylin and eosin and tartrate‑resistant acid phosphatase staining. The femoral bone mass was evaluated using a three‑point bending test and micro computed tomography. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of osteoclast‑related proteins in each group. In the rats treated with TAA, the serum concentrations of Ca, P and Mg were decreased, the serum co...
Source: Molecular Medicine - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Source Type: research