title: Dual Effects of Liquiritigenin on the Proliferation of Bone Cells: Promotion of Osteoblast Differentiation and Inhibition of Osteoclast Differentiation.
abstract: Bone is constantly controlled by a balance between osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption. Liquiritigenin is a plant-derived flavonoid and has various pharmacological effects, such as antioxidative, antitumor, and antiinflammatory effects. Here, we show that liquiritigenin has dual effects on the proliferation of bone cells, regarding the promotion of osteoblast differentiation and the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation. Liquiritigenin-treated murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells showed an increased alkaline phosphatase activity and enhanced phosphorylation of Smad1/5 compared with untreated cells. Moreover, liquiritigenin inhibited osteoclast differentiation, its bone-resorption activity through slightly decreased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa Bα; however, the phosphorylation of Akt and p38 slightly increased in bone marrow-derived osteoclasts. The expression levels of the osteoclast marker proteins nuclear factor of activated T-cell cytoplasmic-1, Src, and cathepsin K diminished. These results suggest that liquiritigenin may be useful as a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for osteoporosis or inflammatory bone diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki, 852-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchino
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki, 852-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Kuniaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki, 852-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki, 852-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yoneshima
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki, 852-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwatake
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki, 852-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki, 852-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishishita
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Pharmacology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki, 852-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsukuba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000517:prevention & control; D001842:Bone and Bones; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D044950:Flavanones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010766:Phosphorylation; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D044950:Flavanones; D005419:Flavonoids; D053245:RANK Ligand; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C083152:liquiritigenin
keywords: differentiation; liquiritigenin; osteoblasts; osteoclasts