Jie-Zhou Wu1, Peng-Cheng Liu1, Run Liu2, Ming Cai1. 1. Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China. 2. Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic alcohol abuse is an important risk factor for osteopenia. However, few studies have focused on the efficacy and mechanism of action of icariin on alcohol-induced osteopenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and underlying mechanism of action of icariin in the treatment of chronic high-dose alcohol-induced osteopenia in a rat model. METHODS: Thirty-six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, alcohol, and low-dose and high-dose icariin groups. Bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD), bone biomechanical properties, and bone morphology were assessed after 16 weeks. Reverse-transcription PCR was used to detect mRNA expression levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I (Col I), osteocalcin (OC), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and osteoprotegerin (OPG). RESULTS: Bone metabolic markers and biomechanical properties in the alcohol group were decreased significantly compared with the sham group. BV/TV, BMD, mineral apposition rate (MAR), percent trabecular area (%Tb.Ar), and bone biomechanical properties were elevated in the low-dose and high-dose icariin groups relative to the alcohol group. ALP, Col I, OC, Runx2, BMP-2, and OPG mRNA levels in the icariin group were significantly elevated in comparison with the alcohol group. CONCLUSION: Icariin can prevent overall progression of chronic high-dose alcohol-induced osteopenia in a rat model, in a dose-dependent manner. Icariin promotes bone formation and inhibits bone loss, and effectively restores bone structure and strength in chronic high-dose alcohol-induced osteopenic rats. Bone metabolism reversal is evidenced by increased BV/TV, BMD, MAR, %Tb.Ar, and biomechanical properties and elevated ALP, Col I, OC, Runx2, BMP-2, and OPG mRNA levels.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic alcohol abuse is an important risk factor for osteopenia. However, few studies have focused on the efficacy and mechanism of action of icariin on alcohol-induced osteopenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and underlying mechanism of action of icariin in the treatment of chronic high-dose alcohol-induced osteopenia in a rat model. METHODS: Thirty-six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, alcohol, and low-dose and high-dose icariin groups. Bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD), bone biomechanical properties, and bone morphology were assessed after 16 weeks. Reverse-transcription PCR was used to detect mRNA expression levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I (Col I), osteocalcin (OC), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and osteoprotegerin (OPG). RESULTS: Bone metabolic markers and biomechanical properties in the alcohol group were decreased significantly compared with the sham group. BV/TV, BMD, mineral apposition rate (MAR), percent trabecular area (%Tb.Ar), and bone biomechanical properties were elevated in the low-dose and high-dose icariin groups relative to the alcohol group. ALP, Col I, OC, Runx2, BMP-2, and OPG mRNA levels in the icariin group were significantly elevated in comparison with the alcohol group. CONCLUSION:Icariin can prevent overall progression of chronic high-dose alcohol-induced osteopenia in a rat model, in a dose-dependent manner. Icariin promotes bone formation and inhibits bone loss, and effectively restores bone structure and strength in chronic high-dose alcohol-induced osteopenicrats. Bone metabolism reversal is evidenced by increased BV/TV, BMD, MAR, %Tb.Ar, and biomechanical properties and elevated ALP, Col I, OC, Runx2, BMP-2, and OPG mRNA levels.