The Effect of Alendronate on Osteoclastogenesis in Different Combinations of M-CSF and RANKL Growth Factors

Bisphosphonate-incorporated coatings for orthopedic implants functionalization

Bisphosphonates (BPs), the stable analogs of pyrophosphate, are well-known inhibitors of osteoclastogenesis to prevent osteoporotic bone loss and improve implant osseointegration in patients suffering from osteoporosis. Compared to systemic administration, BPs-incorporated coatings enable the direct delivery of BPs to the local area, which will precisely enhance osseointegration and bone repair without the systemic side effects. However, an elaborate and comprehensive review of BP coatings of implants is lacking. Herein, the cellular level (e.g., osteoclasts, osteocytes, osteoblasts, osteoclast precursors, and bone mesenchymal stem cells) and molecular biological regulatory mechanism of BPs in regulating bone homeostasis are overviewed systematically. Moreover, the currently available methods (e.g., chemical reaction, porous carriers, and organic material films) of BP coatings construction are outlined and summarized in detail. As one of the key directions, the latest advances of BP-coated implants to enhance bone repair and osseointegration in basic experiments and clinical trials are presented and critically evaluated. Finally, the challenges and prospects of BP coatings are also purposed, and it will open a new chapter in clinical translation for BP-coated implants.

Alendronate induces skeletal alterations in the chicken embryonic development model

Alendronate, a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, has reported long-term clinical success in the management of distinct bone-related conditions, particularly in the modulation of post-menopausal osteoporosis. Nonetheless, whether the inhibitory activity over osteoclastic cells' functionality is widely acknowledged, contradictory evidence arises from the assessment of alendronate activity over osteoblastic populations. This may be of particular relevance in situations in which bone formation exceeds bone resorption, with further emphasis on embryonic development, since alendronate can cross the placental barrier and alendronate-based therapies are being extended into women of reproductive age. Accordingly, the present study aims to assess the effects of alendronate, at distinct concentrations (1.5E-10M to 1.5E-7M) on bone tissue development, within a translational animal model - the embryonic chicken development model. Embryos, at the beginning of osteogenesis (day 7) were exposed to different alendronate concentrations for 4 days. Embryos were following characterized for skeletal development by histomorphometric analysis upon histochemical staining, microtomographic analysis, and gene expression assessment of genes related to osteoclastogenic/osteoclastic and osteoblastogenic/osteogenic differentiation, as well as to the immuno-inflammatory activation. The findings revealed that exposure to alendronate had a dose-dependent impact on skeletal growth and mineralization. This effect was evidenced by diminished bone volume and reduced bone surface parameters, with the 1.5E-7M concentration leading to a remarkable reduction of over 50%. Additionally, a decreased osteoclastogenic/osteoclastic gene expression was verified, associated with a diminished osteoblastogenic/osteogenic program - within the 30-50% range for 1.5E-7 M, supporting the diminished bone formation process. An increased inflammatory activation may contribute, at least in part, to the attained outcomes. Overall present findings suggest a negative influence of alendronate on the embryonic bone development process in a dose-dependent manner, highlighting the potential risk of alendronate use during embryonic development.

Protaetia brevitarsis Extract Attenuates RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis by Inhibiting the JNK/NF-κB/PLCγ2 Signaling Pathway

Protaetia brevitarsis (PB)-derived bioactive substances have been used as food and medicine in many Asian countries because of their antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-cancer, and hepatoprotective properties. However, the effect of PB extracts (PBE) on osteoclast differentiation is unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of PBE on RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). To investigate the cytotoxicity of PBE, the viability of BMMs was confirmed via MTT assay. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and pit assays were performed to confirm the inhibitory effect of PBE on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. The expression levels of osteoclast differentiation-related genes and proteins were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. PBE attenuated osteoclastogenesis in BMMs in TRAP and pit assays without cytotoxicity. The expression levels of osteoclast marker genes and proteins induced by RANKL were decreased after PBE treatment. PBE suppressed osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting the RANKL-induced activated JNK/NF-κB/PLCγ2 signaling pathway and the expression of NFATc1 and c-Fos. Collectively, these results suggest that PBE could be a potential therapeutic strategy or functional product for osteoclast-related bone disease.

Experimental Study on the Inhibition of RANKL-Induced Osteoclast Differentiation In Vitro by Metformin Hydrochloride

OBJECTIVE

Establishment of an in vitro osteoclast induction model under nuclear factor-κB receptor activator ligand (RANKL) induction for investigating the effect of metformin hydrochloride (Met) on osteoclast differentiation.

METHODS

RANKL induced the differentiation of mouse bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) into osteoclasts in vitro, and Met was added at different concentrations for intervention during the induction process. After 5 d of culture and fixation, the number of osteoclasts was counted by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and F-actin staining, and the function of osteoclasts was examined with hydroxyapatite-coated plates. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was performed to detect the expression of Cathepsin K, osteoclast associated receptor (OSCAR), and TRAP, and the effect of Met on Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway was detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Met significantly reduced osteoclast formation, F-actin ring formation, bone resorption, and the expression of relevant genes Cathepsin K, OSCAR, and TRAP. The Western blotting study demonstrated that Met inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway by decreasing the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), which plays important roles in osteoclast formation.

CONCLUSION

Metformin hydrochloride inhibited the differentiation of osteoclasts, decreased the bone resorption area, and suppressed phosphorylation of ERK in vitro.

Programmed core-shell electrospun nanofibers to sequentially regulate osteogenesis-osteoclastogenesis balance for promoting immediate implant osseointegration

The biology of immediate post-extraction implant osseointegration is mediated by a coordinated cascade of osteoblast-osteoclast interactions. The aim of this study was to develop a dual-delivery system that allowed sequential release of substance P (SP) to promote bone regeneration and alendronate (ALN) to reduce bone resorption, which will improve the implant osseointegration. We used coaxial electrospinning to fabricate the core-shell poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)/gelatin nanofibers, which consists of SP in the shell and ALN in the core. This programmed delivery system was shown to release SP and ALN sequentially to match the spatio-temporal specificity of bone healing. The migration assay demonstrated that the SP-ALN dual-delivery system increased bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transmigration. Besides, the expression of osteogenic/osteoclastic markers, Alizarin Red staining, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, F-actin staining and bone resorption experiment showed that the dual-delivery system can render a microenvironment favorable for osteogenic differentiation and adverse to osteoclastogenesis. Using a rat immediate implant model, we validated the promoted osteogenic property and osseointegration around the implants of SP-ALN dual-delivery system by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological analysis. These findings suggest that the dual-delivery system with time-controlled release of SP and ALN by core-shell nanofibers provides a promising strategy to facilitate immediate implant osseointegration through favorable osteogenesis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Immediate implant placement is potentially challenged by the difficulties in achieving primary implant stability and early osteogenesis. Initial period of osteointegration is regulated by osteoblastic/osteoclastic cells resulting in a coordinated healing process. To have an efficient bone regeneration, the coaxial electrospinning was used to fabricate a programmed dual-delivery system. The SP released rapidly and favored for BMSCs migration and osteogenic differentiation, while the sustained release of ALN can reduce the bone resorption. The rat immediate implant model indicated that the SP-ALN dual-delivery system could present the promoted peri‑implant osteogenic property and osseointegration through modulating the osteogenesis-osteoclastogenesis balance. This work highlights the sequential dual delivery of SP and ALN has a promising potential of achieving enhanced osseointegration for immediate implant placement.

The Novel Antioxidant Compound JSH-23 Prevents Osteolysis by Scavenging ROS During Both Osteoclastogenesis and Osteoblastogenesis

Inflammatory osteolysis is a pathological skeletal disease associated with not only the production of inflammatory cytokines but also local oxidative status. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote bone resorption by osteoclasts and induce the apoptosis of osteoblasts. In consideration of the lack of effective preventive or treatments options against osteolysis, the exploitation of novel pharmacological compounds/agents is critically required. In our study, we found that a novel antioxidant compound, JSH-23, plays a role in restoring bone homeostasis by scavenging intracellular ROS during both osteoclastogenesis and osteoblastogenesis. Mechanically, JSH-23 suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, bone resorption and the expression of specific genes (including NFATc1, c-Fos, TRAP, CTSK and DC-STAMP) via inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Meanwhile, JSH-23 suppressed RANKL-induced ROS generation via the TRAF6/Rac1/NOX1 pathway and the enhanced expression of Nrf2/HO-1. In addition, JSH-23 attenuated H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and mineralization reduction in osteoblasts by reducing ROS production and enhancing Nrf2/HO-1 expression. Our in vivo results further revealed that JSH-23 exerts its protective effects on bone mass through its antioxidant activity. In conclusion, our results show that the application of JSH-23 might be a novel and plausible strategy for the treatment of osteolysis-related disease.