title: The effects of Lycii Radicis Cortex on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and activation in RAW 264.7 cells.
abstract: Post-menopausal osteoporosis is a serious age-related disease. After the menopause, estrogen deficiency is common, and excessive osteoclast activity causes osteoporosis. Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells generated from the differentiation of monocyte/macrophage precursor cells such as RAW 264.7 cells. The water extract of Lycii Radicis Cortex (LRC) is made from the dried root bark of Lycium chinense Mill. and is termed 'Jigolpi' in Korea. Its effects on osteoclastogenesis and post‑menopausal osteoporosis had not previously been tested. In the present study, the effect of LRC on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation was demonstrated using a tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assay and pit formation assay. Moreover, in order to analyze molecular mechanisms, we studied osteoclastogenesis-related markers such as nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), c-Fos, receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK), TRAP, cathepsin K (CTK), matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), calcitonin receptor (CTR) and carbonic anhydrase Ⅱ (CAII) using RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Additionally, we also determined the effect of LRC on an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. We noted that LRC inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation via suppressing osteoclastogenesis-related markers. It also inhibited osteoporosis in the OVX rat model by decreasing loss of bone density and trabecular area. These results suggest that LRC exerts a positive effect on menopausal osteoporosis.
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae-Hyun
authors: JH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Eun-Young
authors: EY
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Bina
authors: B
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ju-Hee
authors: JH
authors: Min
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Dea-Uk
authors: DU
authors: Song
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jeong-Min
authors: JM
authors: Lim
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ji Whan
authors: JW
authors: Eom
authors: Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Mijung
authors: M
authors: Yeom
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyuk-Sang
authors: HS
authors: Jung
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Youngjoo
authors: Y
authors: Sohn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056657:Cathepsin K / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C000599698:Lycii Radicis Cortex; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D056657:Cathepsin K; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9