title: Yeast-incorporated gallium attenuates glucocorticoid-induced bone loss in rats by inhibition of bone resorption.
abstract: Glucocorticoids (GC) are potent anti-inflammatory agents and widely used for the treatment of many immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases, whereas GC-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is the most common cause of secondary osteoporosis and significantly increases the patients' morbidity and mortality. GIOP is characterized as diminished osteogenesis and accelerated bone resorption. Yeast-incorporated gallium (YG) as an organic compound not only reduces elements-associated toxicity, but also maintains its therapeutic effect on improving bone loss or promoting fracture healing in ovariectomized female rats. The aim of this study was to examine whether YG could prevent GC-induced bone loss. Five-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6): two groups were administered dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (PBS) subcutaneously for 5 weeks; one other group was received dexamethasone subcutaneously and YG (120 μg/kg/day) orally. Trabecular bone microarchitectural parameters, bone mineral density (BMD), bone strength, body weight, and serum biochemical markers of bone resorption and formation were examined. Compared to the GC alone group, treatment with YG not only prevented microarchitectural deterioration of trabecular bone volume relative to tissue volume, trabecular number, and trabecular separation, but also significantly improved BMD, mechanical strength, and body weight in GC-treated rats. Moreover, YG decreased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b level but failed to change alkaline phosphatase level in GC-treated rats. This is the first study to show that YG prominently attenuates bone loss and microarchitectural deterioration and inhibits the increased bone resorption in GIOP. It implies that YG might be an alternative therapy for prevention of GC-induced bone loss in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhaozhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Liqing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Qingjie
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Kejia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005708:Gallium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015003:Yeasts / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005708:Gallium; C027235:gallium nitrate