Promotion effect of extracts from plastrum testudinis on alendronate against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in rat spine.

Abstract

Alendronate (ALN) is a key therapeutic used to treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP), but may induce severe side effects. We showed earlier that plastrum testudinis extracts (PTE) prevented and treated GIOP in vivo. However, clinically, PTE is seldom used alone. Herein, we reveal the synergistic effect of ALN and PTE can treat GIOP of the rat spine and define the mechanism. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: a vehicle group, a GIOP group, an ALN group, and an ALN+PTE group. Each group was further divided into two experimental phases, including dexamethasone (DXM) intervention and withdrawal. Bone mass, microarchitecture, biomechanics, bone-turnover markers, and histomorphology were evaluated. The mRNA and protein expression levels of CTSK and Runx2 were detemined. We found that ALN+PTE improved bone quantity and quality, bone strength, bone turnover; and mitigated histological damage during glucocorticoid intervention and withdrawal. The therapeutic effect was better than that afforded by ALN alone. ALN+PTE reduced CTSK protein expression, promoted Runx2 mRNA and protein expression to varying extents, and more strongly inhibited bone resorption than did ALN alone. Overall, the synergistic effect mediated by ALN+PTE reversed GIOP during DXM intervention and withdrawal via affecting CTSK and Runx2 expression at mRNA and protein levels.

• Authors: Hui Ren, Gengyang Shen, Jingjing Tang, Ting Qiu, Zhida Zhang, Wenhua Zhao, Xiang Yu, Jinjing Huang, De Liang, Zhensong Yao, Zhidong Yang, Xiaobing Jiang
• Journal: Scientific reports (Sci Rep) Vol. 7 Issue 1 Pg. 10617 (09 06 2017) ISSN: 2045-2322 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28878388 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Bone Density Conservation Agents
• Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit
• Glucocorticoids
• Tissue Extracts
• plastrum testudinis
• Dexamethasone
• Alendronate

Topics

• Alendronate (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Biomarkers
• Bone Density (drug effects)
• Bone Density Conservation Agents (pharmacology)
• Bone Remodeling (drug effects)
• Bone and Bones (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit (genetics, metabolism)
• Dexamethasone (adverse effects, pharmacology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Synergism
• Glucocorticoids (adverse effects)
• Immunohistochemistry
• Osteoclasts (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Osteoporosis (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, etiology, pathology)
• Rats
• Spine (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Tissue Extracts (chemistry, pharmacology)
• X-Ray Microtomography