Different molecular targets of Icariin on bMSCs in CORT and OVX -rats.
Icariin (ICA) is an active component of Herba Epimedium effective in preventing osteoporosis. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) are an important target by which ICA promotes osteogenesis. However, its molecular mechanisms are poorly defined. In the present study, we induced osteoporosis in rats by corticosterone (CORT) and ovariectomy (OVX), treated both with ICA for 2 weeks or 3 months. As results, both models displayed bone loss tendency within 2 weeks and a significant bone loss after 3 months. ICA promoted bMSCs diffenentiation from CORT rat, and increased the secretion of osteocalcin, collagen I, runt-related transcription factor 2 in OVX model. Gene profile revealed a marked shift of gene expression by ICA, with much more significance in CORT rats. These potential molecular targets were involved in cell communication, adhesion, cycle and cytokines secretion. But very few genes overlapped in these two models, suggesting the effects and molecular mechanisms of ICA on osteoporosis might be pathogenesis-dependent. However, the Notch signaling pathway was common in both models, and should be paid close attention to for further study.
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 725 South Wan-ping Road, Shanghai, China.
Qin
Q
Bian
Jian-hua
JH
Huang
Shu-fen
SF
Liu
You
Y
Ning
Zhu
Z
Yang
Yong-jian
YJ
Zhao
Zi-yin
ZY
Shen
Yong-jun
YJ
Wang
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers; D005419:Flavonoids; C056599:icariin