Phenethyl isothiocyanate suppresses receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis by blocking activation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Osteoclastogenesis is induced by differentiation of hemopoietic cells of monocyte-macrophage lineage into bone-resorbing osteoclasts. The process is initiated by receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and resultant activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, as well as the NFkappaB pathway. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a phytochemical present in various cruciferous plants, has been shown to disrupt those signaling pathways in several cell types. In this study, we examined the efficacy of PEITC for suppressing RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 murine macrophages and addressed the underlying molecular mechanisms. PEITC (2-10 microM) suppressed osteoclastogenesis in a concentration dependent manner, as detected by tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and microscopic observations. RANKL-up-regulated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities were attenuated by PEITC, whereas c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK1/2) activation was increased. PEITC also abrogated the RANKL-induced degradation of IkappaB-alpha, a suppressive partner of nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), thereby inhibiting transcription activity, as detected by a reporter assay. In addition, PEITC reduced the level of NFkappaB-dependent mRNA expression of nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT)c1, a master regulator of osteoclastogenesis. Our results indicate that PEITC is a promising agent for treatment of osteoclastogenesis with a reasonable action mechanism.