Protein array test detected three osteoporosis related plasma inflammatory cytokines in Chinese postmenopausal women

Anti-osteoporosis effect of bioactives in edible medicinal plants: a comprehensive review

Current treatments for osteoporosis include a calcium-rich diet, adequate exercise, and medication. Many synthetic drugs, although fast-acting, can cause a range of side effects for patients when taken over a long period, such as irritation of the digestive tract and a burden on the kidneys. As the world's population ages, the prevalence of osteoporosis is increasing, and the development of safe and effective treatments is urgently needed. Active compounds in edible and medicinal homologous plants have been used for centuries to improve bone quality. It is possible to employ them as dietary supplements to prevent osteoporosis. In this review, we analyze the influencing factors of osteoporosis and systematically summarize the research progress on the anti-osteoporosis effects of active compounds in edible and medicinal homologous plants. The literature suggests that some naturally occurring active compounds in edible and medicinal homologous plants can inhibit bone loss, prevent the degeneration of bone cell microstructure, and reduce bone fragility through alleviating oxidative stress, regulating autophagy, anti-inflammation, improving gut flora, and regulating estrogen level with little side effects. Our review provides useful guidance for the use of edible and medicinal homologous plants and the development of safer novel anti-osteoporosis dietary supplements.

The causal role of circulating inflammatory markers in osteoporosis: a bidirectional Mendelian randomized study

Background

Osteoporosis (OP) associated with aging exerts substantial clinical and fiscal strains on societal structures. An increasing number of research studies have suggested a bidirectional relationship between circulating inflammatory markers (CIMs) and OP. However, observational studies are susceptible to perturbations in confounding variables. In contrast, Mendelian randomization (MR) offers a robust methodological framework to circumvent such confounders, facilitating a more accurate assessment of causality. Our study aimed to evaluate the causal relationships between CIMs and OP, identifying new approaches and strategies for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of OP.

Methods

We analyzed publicly available GWAS summary statistics to investigate the causal relationships between CIMs and OP. Causal estimates were calculated via a systematic analytical framework, including bidirectional MR analysis and Bayesian colocalization analysis.

Results

Genetically determined levels of CXCL11 (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.85-0.98, P = 0.008, PFDR = 0.119), IL-18 (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.83-0.94, P = 8.66×10-5, PFDR = 0.008), and LIF (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.76-0.96, P = 0.008, PFDR = 0.119) were linked to a reduced risk of OP. Conversely, higher levels of ARTN (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.02-1.20, P = 0.012, PFDR = 0.119) and IFNG (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.03-1.30, P = 0.013, PFDR = 0.119) were associated with an increased risk of OP. Bayesian colocalization analysis revealed no evidence of shared causal variants.

Conclusion

Despite finding no overall association between CIMs and OP, five CIMs demonstrated a potentially significant association with OP. These findings could pave the way for future mechanistic studies aimed at discovering new treatments for this disease. Additionally, we are the first to suggest a unidirectional causal relationship between ARTN and OP. This novel insight introduces new avenues for research into diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for OP.

Three Classes of Antioxidant Defense Systems and the Development of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common bone imbalance disease that threatens the health of postmenopausal women. Estrogen deficiency accelerates the aging of women. Oxidative stress damage is regarded as the main pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the bone microenvironment plays a role in osteoblast and osteoclast apoptosis. Improving the oxidative state is essential for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. There are three classes of antioxidant defense systems in the body to eliminate free radicals and peroxides including antioxidant substances, antioxidant enzymes, and repair enzymes. In our review, we demonstrated the mechanism of antioxidants and their effect on bone metabolism in detail. We concluded that glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) conversion involved the PI3K/Akt-Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and that the antioxidant enzyme-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway of osteoblasts was necessary for the development of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Since the current therapeutic effects of targeting bone cells are not significant, improving the systemic peroxidation state and then regulating bone homeostasis will be a new method for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Osteopontin, a bridge links osteoarthritis and osteoporosis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease characterized by degradation of articular cartilage, inflammation, and changes in periarticular and subchondral bone of joints. Osteoporosis (OP) is another systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and bone mineral density (BMD) accompanied by microarchitectural deterioration in bone tissue and increased bone fragility and fracture risk. Both OA and OP are mainly affected on the elderly people. Recent studies have shown that osteopontin (OPN) plays a vital role in bone metabolism and homeostasis. OPN involves these biological activities through participating in the proliferation, migration, differentiation, and adhesion of several bone-related cells, including chondrocytes, synoviocytes, osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). OPN has been demonstrated to be closely related to the occurrence and development of many bone-related diseases, such as OA and OP. This review summarizes the role of OPN in regulating inflammation activity and bone metabolism in OA and OP. Furthermore, some drugs that targeted OPN to treat OA and OP are also summarized in the review. However, the complex mechanism of OPN in regulating OA and OP is not fully elucidated, which drives us to explore the depth effect of OPN on these two bone diseases.