In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of Gracilaria verrucosa Extracts on Osteoclast Differentiation.
Bone remodeling, a physiological process characterized by bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts, is important for the maintenance of healthy bone in adult humans. Osteoclasts play a critical role in bone erosion and osteoporosis and are bone-specific multinucleated cells generated through differentiation of monocyte/macrophage lineage precursors. Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) has been reported to induce osteoclast differentiation. In this study, we explored whether Gracilaria verrucosa extracts (GE) could affect RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation. GE significantly inhibited RANKL-activated osteoclast differentiation by inhibiting protein expression of c-fos and nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), vital factors in RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis. In addition, GE attenuated ovariectomy-induced bone loss in mice. In summary, GE can prevent osteoclastogenesis and hormone-related bone loss via blockage of c-fos-NFATc1 signaling. Our results suggest that GE may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Department of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jeonnam, Suncheon 57922, Korea. mastiffk@naver.com.
Kwang-Jin
KJ
Kim
Department of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jeonnam, Suncheon 57922, Korea. yojilee@gmail.com.
Yong-Jin
YJ
Lee
Department of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jeonnam, Suncheon 57922, Korea. hyh7733@naver.com.
Yun-Ho
YH
Hwang
Department of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jeonnam, Suncheon 57922, Korea. kang8404@nate.com.
Kyung-Yun
KY
Kang
Department of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jeonnam, Suncheon 57922, Korea. sungtae@sunchon.ac.kr.
Sung-Tae
ST
Yee
Department of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Jeonnam, Suncheon 57922, Korea. sony@sunchon.ac.kr.
Young-Jin
YJ
Son
Gracilaria verrucosa; bone; cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1); in vivo; nuclear factor of activated T-cells; osteoclast; osteoporosis; receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL); seaweed