Effect of Icariin on Osteoclasts and Its Mechanism

Abstract

Background: The paper aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of Icariin regulating RANKLinduced osteoclast-ogenesis and bone resorption, and to investigate whether Icariin could be a potential therapeutic drug for diseases of bone loss related to osteoclast. Material and methods: Osteoclasts were cultured. MTT to determine cell viability. Von Kossa to determine the effect of Icariin on bone resorption. F-actin ring staining to measure the expressions of various proteins, and WB method was used to measure the expression of p-65. Results: MTT showed that Icariin is not toxic to osteoclasts. The bone resorption result showed that RANKL-mediated osteoclast bone resorption was reduced in the early stage, and the higher the intervention concentration, the smaller the bone resorption area. F-actin ring staining indicated that it is possible to reduce the differentiation and bone resorption capacity of osteoclasts by hindering the formation of F-actin ring in the early stage, and in a concentration-dependentmanner. Significantly reduced the expressions of key transcription factors-NFATc1 and c-Fos. It significantly inhibited the phosphorylation and nucleation of NF-κB subunit p65 induced by RANKL, and significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and p38 proteins in the MAPK pathway activated by RANKL. Conclusion: Icariin can effectively inhibit osteoclast differentiation, F-actin ring formation, and bone resorption. By inhibiting the key transcription factors NFATc1 and c-Fos to down-regulate related expressions, thereby impeding osteoclast differentiation, Icariin may regulate key transcription factors NFATc1 and c-Fos through NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Studies have suggested that Icariin could be a potential treatment for diseases of bone loss related to osteoclasts.