PUBLICATION

Baicalin Ameliorates Dexamethasone-Induced Osteoporosis by Regulation of the RANK/RANKL/OPG Signaling Pathway

Authors
Zhao, Y., Wang, H.L., Li, T.T., Yang, F., Tzeng, C.M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200207-19
Date
2020
Source
Drug design, development and therapy   14: 195-206 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Baicalin, OPG, RANK, RANKL, osteoporosis
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation/drug effects
  • Dexamethasone/antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Flavonoids/administration & dosage
  • Flavonoids/pharmacology*
  • Larva/drug effects
  • Larva/metabolism
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Osteoclasts/drug effects
  • Osteoclasts/metabolism
  • Osteoporosis/chemically induced
  • Osteoporosis/drug therapy*
  • Osteoprotegerin/genetics
  • Osteoprotegerin/metabolism*
  • RANK Ligand/genetics
  • RANK Ligand/metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger/drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger/genetics
  • RNA, Messenger/metabolism
  • Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B/genetics
  • Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B/metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction/drug effects*
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
32021104 Full text @ Drug Des Devel Ther
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a chronic bone metabolism disorder affecting millions of the world population. The RANKL/RANK/OPG signaling pathway has been confirmed to be the main regulator of osteoporosis. It is of great interest to identify appropriate therapeutic agents that can regulate the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway. Baicalin (BA) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine formula against various inflammatory diseases with a proven role of the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway regulation. However, the potential effect of BA on osteoporosis and the mechanisms underlying this remain unclear. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of BA in the prevention of dexamethasone (DEX)-induced osteoporosis in zebrafish.
In this study, growth and development changes of zebrafish and calcein staining were assessed with a micrograph. The expression levels of RANKL and OPG and transcription factors in response to DEX induction and BA administration were evaluated by Western blotting and qRT-PCR. In addition, the intermolecular interactions of BA and RANKL were investigated by molecular docking.
Results show that BA enhances the growth and development of dexamethasone (DEX)-induced osteoporosis in zebrafish larvae. Calcein staining and calcium and phosphorus determination revealed that BA ameliorates mineralization of DEX-induced osteoporosis zebrafish larvae. BA also regulates the expression of RANKL and OPG and hampers the changes in gene expression related to bone formation and resorption under the induction of DEX in zebrafish. It can be inferred by molecular docking that BA may interact directly with the extracellular domain of RANKL.
The findings, herein, reveal that BA ameliorates DEX-induced osteoporosis by regulation of the RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling pathway.
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