Methionine down-regulates TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signalling in osteoclast precursors to reduce bone loss during osteoporosis

Thioether functionalized degradable poly(amino acids) and its calcium sulfate/calcium hydrogen phosphate composites: Reducing oxidative stress and promoting osteogenesis

The imbalance of redox homeostasis, especially the abnormal levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a key obstacle in the bone repair process. Therefore, developing materials capable of scavenging ROS and modulating the microenvironment of bone defects is crucial for promoting bone repair. In this study, to endow poly(amino acids) (PAA) and its composites with anti-oxidative stress properties and enhanced osteogenic differentiation, we designed and prepared a calcium sulfate/calcium hydrogen phosphate/poly(amino acids) (PCDM) composite material with a thioether structure (-S-) in the molecular chain of PAA matrix through situ polymerization and physical blending method. The results showed that the thioether was successfully introduced into the polymer, and the intrinsic viscosities of the poly(amino acids) ranged from 0.27 to 0.73 dL/g. PCDM materials exhibited good mechanical properties, with a compressive strength ranging from 16.28 to 33.83 MPa. The degradation performance results showed that the composite materials had a weight loss of 23.9-35.3 % after four weeks. The antioxidant stress results showed that the PCDM composite materials scavenged 67.6 %-78.3 % of DPPH radicals after 24 h and 61.4 %-93.6 % of ABTS radicals after 4 h, effectively reducing ROS levels in mouse bone mesenchymal stem cells. The cytotoxicity and osteogenic differentiation results showed that the materials had cytocompatibility and could promote alkaline phosphatase secretion and mineralized nodule formation. In conclusion, PCDM materials might broaden the application of poly(amino acids) composites in bone defect repair by regulating the ROS microenvironment and promoting the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells.

Dietary methionine supplementation improves cognitive dysfunction associated with transsulfuration pathway upregulation in subacute aging mice

To explore the effects of methionine (Met) supplementation on cognitive dysfunction and the associated mechanisms in aging mice. The mice were administrated 0.15 g/kg/day D-galactose subcutaneously and fed a normal (0.86% Met) or a Met-supplemented diet (1.72% Met) for 11 weeks. Behavioral experiments were conducted, and we measured the plasma metabolite levels, hippocampal and plasma redox and inflammatory states, and hippocampal transsulfuration pathway-related parameters. Met supplementation prevented aging-induced anxiety and cognitive deficiencies, and normalized the plasma levels of multiple systemic metabolites (e.g., betaine, taurine, and choline). Furthermore, dietary Met supplementation abolished oxidative stress and inflammation, selectively modulated the expression of multiple cognition-related genes and proteins, and increased flux via the transsulfuration pathway in the hippocampi of aging mice, with significant increase in H2S and glutathione production. Our findings suggest that dietary Met supplementation prevented cognitive deficiencies in aging mice, probably because of increased flux via the transsulfuration pathway.

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei JM053 alleviates osteoporosis in rats by increasing the content of soy isoflavone aglycones in fermented soymilk

Lacticaseibacillus paracasei JM053 has a significant ability to convert soy isoflavones and can be used as a fermentation strain to ferment soymilk, thereby increasing the content of free aglycones in soymilk and thus providing an effective method to alleviate osteoporosis symptoms. This study aims to establish a rat model of osteoporosis induced by dexamethasone (DEX) and clarify the alleviating effect of soymilk fermented with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei JM053 on osteoporosis. Research has shown that fermented soymilk with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei JM053 can inhibit weight loss in rats caused by DEX, regulate the expression of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) towards normal levels, and increase levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCN) to promote bone synthesis. By observing the microstructure of bone tissue through microCT and Goldner staining, it was found that, compared with the model group, fermented soymilk with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei JM053 can alleviate the damage to bone tissue structure caused by DEX by increasing the number of bone trabeculae and reducing fracture. Fermented soymilk with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei JM053 can alleviate bone metabolism disorders by regulating gut microbiota and metabolite content. This study provides theoretical and data-based support for developing functional products that can alleviate osteoporosis.

Proteomic profile of tissue-derived extracellular vesicles from benign odontogenic lesions

BACKGROUND

Benign odontogenic lesions (BOLs) can cause severe jaw bone defects and compromise the quality of life of patients. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are well-established and versatile players in mediating pathophysiological events. EVs in the interstitial space (tissue-derived EVs or Ti-EVs) possess higher specificity and sensitivity in disease-related biomarker discovery. However, the role of Ti-EV-loaded proteins in mediating the development of BOLs has remained untapped. Herein, we aim to explore the contribution of Ti-EV-loaded proteins to the development of BOLs.

METHODS

Samples were obtained from 3 with dental follicle, 3 with dentigerous cyst (DC), 7 with odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), and 3 patients with ameloblastoma (AM). Tissue-derived EVs were then extracted, purified, and validated using ultracentrifugation, transmission electron microscopy, and western blotting. Proteins from Ti-EVs were analyzed using LC-ESI tandem mass spectroscopy and differentially expressed proteins were screened, which was then validated by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assays.

RESULTS

The protein profile of Ti-EVs in each group was mapped by LC-MS analysis. The top 10 abundant proteins in BOL-derived Ti-EVs were COL6A3, COL6A1, ALB, HIST1H4A, HBB, ACTB, HIST1H2BD, ANXA2, COL6A2 and FBN1. Additionally, unique proteins in the Ti-EVs from various lesions were identified. Moreover, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) showed higher expressions in Ti-EVs derived from OKC and AM, which were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining.

CONCLUSIONS

Ti-EVs containing FAK and MyD88 might be related to the development of OKC and AM, which can be potential therapeutic targets.

High methionine intake alters gut microbiota and lipid profile and leads to liver steatosis in mice

Methionine is an important sulfur-containing amino acid. Health effects of both methionine restriction (MR) and methionine supplementation (MS) have been studied. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a high-methionine diet (HMD) (1.64% methionine) on both the gut and liver functions in mice through multi-omic analyses. Hepatic steatosis and compromised gut barrier function were observed in mice fed the HMD. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of liver gene expression patterns revealed the upregulation of lipid synthesis and degradation pathways, cholesterol metabolism and inflammation-related nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway. Metagenomic sequencing of cecal content demonstrated a shift in gut microbial composition with an increased abundance of opportunistic pathogens and gut microbial functions with up-regulated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis in mice fed HMD. Metabolomic study of cecal content showed an altered gut lipid profile and the level of bioactive lipids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), linoleoyl ethanolamide (LEA) and arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA), that carry anti-inflammatory effects significantly reduced in the gut of mice fed the HMD. Correlation analysis demonstrated that gut microbiota was highly associated with liver and gut functions and gut bioactive lipid content. In conclusion, this study suggested that the HMD exerted negative impacts on both the gut and liver, and an adequate amount of methionine intake should be carefully determined to ensure normal physiological function without causing adverse effects.

Association between amino acids and recent osteoporotic fracture: a matched incident case-control study

Context

Osteoporotic fracture is a major public health issue globally. Human research on the association between amino acids (AAs) and fracture is still lacking.

Objective

To examine the association between AAs and recent osteoporotic fractures.

Methods

This age and sex matched incident case-control study identified 44 recent x-ray confirmed fracture cases in the Second Hospital of Jilin University and 88 community-based healthy controls aged 50+ years. Plasma AAs were measured by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. After adjusting for covariates (i.e., body mass index, milk intake >1 time/week, falls and physical activity), we conducted conditional logistical regression models to test the association between AAs and fracture.

Results

Among cases there were 23 (52.3%) hip fractures and 21 (47.7%) non-hip fractures. Total, essential, and non-essential AAs were significantly lower in cases than in controls. In the multivariable conditional logistic regression models, after adjusting for covariates, each standard deviation increase in the total (odds ratio [OR]: 0.304; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.117-0.794), essential (OR: 0.408; 95% CI: 0.181-0.923) and non-essential AAs (OR: 0.290; 95%CI: 0.107-0.782) was negatively associated with recent fracture. These inverse associations were mainly found for hip fracture, rather than non-hip fractures. Among these AAs, lysine, alanine, arginine, glutamine, histidine and piperamide showed the significantly negative associations with fracture.

Conclusion

There was a negative relationship between AAs and recent osteoporotic fracture; such relationship appeared to be more obvious for hip fracture.

The critical role of toll-like receptor 4 in bone remodeling of osteoporosis: from inflammation recognition to immunity

Osteoporosis is a common chronic metabolic bone disorder. Recently, increasing numbers of studies have demonstrated that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4, a receptor located on the surface of osteoclasts and osteoblasts) plays a pivotal role in the development of osteoporosis. Herein, we performed a comprehensive review to summarize the findings from the relevant studies within this topic. Clinical data showed that TLR4 polymorphisms and aberrant TLR4 expression have been associated with the clinical significance of osteoporosis. Mechanistically, dysregulation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts induced by abnormal expression of TLR4 is the main molecular mechanism underlying the pathological processes of osteoporosis, which may be associated with the interactions between TLR4 and NF-κB pathway, proinflammatory effects, ncRNAs, and RUNX2. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate that many promising substances or agents (i.e., methionine, dioscin, miR-1906 mimic, artesunate, AEG-1 deletion, patchouli alcohol, and Bacteroides vulgatus) have been able to improve bone metabolism (i.e., inhibits bone resorption and promotes bone formation), which may partially attribute to the inhibition of TLR4 expression. The present review highlights the important role of TLR4 in the clinical significance and the pathogenesis of osteoporosis from the aspects of inflammation and immunity. Future therapeutic strategies targeting TLR4 may provide a new insight for osteoporosis treatment.

Targeting the gut microbiota-related metabolites for osteoporosis: The inextricable connection of gut-bone axis

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone mass, destruction of bone microstructure, raised bone fragility, and enhanced risk of fractures. The correlation between gut microbiota and bone metabolism has gradually become a widespread research hotspot in recent years, and successive studies have revealed that the alterations of gut microbiota and its-related metabolites are related to the occurrence and progression of osteoporosis. Moreover, several emerging studies on the relationship between gut microbiota-related metabolites and bone metabolism are also underway, and extensive research evidence has indicated an inseparable connection between them. Combined with latest literatures and based on inextricable connection of gut-bone axis, this review is aimed to summarize the relation, potential mechanisms, application strategies, clinical application prospects, and existing challenges of gut microbiota and its-related metabolites on osteoporosis, thus updating the knowledge in this research field and providing certain reference for future researches.

Association between total and animal proteins with risk of fracture: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies

Previous cohort studies have indicated that consumption of total and animal proteins are related to fracture risk; however, results were inconclusive. This dose-dependent review sought to summarize the earlier evidence regarding the relation between total and animal proteins and fracture risk. We searched Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science until July 2023 for original research articles examining the association of certain types of proteins and the incidence of all fractures in general adults. Summary relative risks (RRs) were calculated using random effects analysis to examine the relation between each certain amount (g/day) increment of total and animal protein and fracture risk. Twenty cohort studies with serious to moderate risk of bias involving 780,322 individuals were included. There was a non-statistically significant relation between intake of animal proteins and dairy products and all fracture risk. However, 43% and 5% decreased incidence of fracture was obtained with total protein (RR, 0.57; 95%CI, 0.36 to 0.93; per 100 g/day) and fish (RR, 0.95; 95%CI, 0.91 to 0.99; per 15 g/day) intake. Every 100 g/day total and animal protein consumption and every 15 g/day fish consumption were linked to 48%, 50%, and 5% lower hip fracture risk. Greater dietary animal protein intake might reduce risk of hip but not fracture at any site. We obtained a lower risk of any or hip fracture with greater total protein (per 100 g/day) and fish (per 15 g/day) intake. No evidence was obtained that higher intake of dairy could decrease risk of fracture.

Genome-Wide Association Study for Somatic Skeletal Traits in Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) Pigs

The pig bone weight trait holds significant economic importance in southern China. To expedite the selection of the pig bone weight trait in pig breeding, we conducted molecular genetic research on these specific traits. These traits encompass the bone weight of the scapula (SW), front leg bone weight (including humerus and ulna) (FLBW), hind leg bone weight (including femur and tibia) (HLBW), and spine bone weight (SBW). Up until now, the genetic structure related to these traits has not been thoroughly explored, primarily due to challenges associated with obtaining the phenotype data. In this study, we utilized genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to discern single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes associated with four bone weight traits within a population comprising 571 Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) hybrid pigs (DLY). In the analyses, we employed a mixed linear model, and for the correction of multiple tests, both the false discovery rate and Bonferroni methods were utilized. Following functional annotation, candidate genes were identified based on their proximity to the candidate sites and their association with the bone weight traits. This study represents the inaugural application of GWAS for the identification of SNPs associated with individual bone weight in DLY pigs. Our analysis unveiled 26 SNPs and identified 12 promising candidate genes (OPRM1, SLC44A5, WASHC4, NOPCHAP1, RHOT1, GLP1R, TGFB3, PLCB1, TLR4, KCNJ2, ABCA6, and ABCA9) associated with the four bone weight traits. Furthermore, our findings on the genetic mechanisms influencing pig bone weight offer valuable insights as a reference for the genetic enhancement of pig bone traits.

The Functional Roles of Methionine and Arginine in Intestinal and Bone Health of Poultry: Review

This review explores the roles of methionine and arginine in promoting the well-being of poultry, with a specific focus on their impacts on intestinal and bone health. The metabolic pathways of methionine and arginine are elucidated, highlighting their distinct routes within the avian system. Beyond their fundamental importance in protein synthesis, methionine and arginine also exert their functional roles through their antioxidant capacities, immunomodulating effects, and involvement in the synthesis of metabolically important molecules such as S-adenosylmethionine, nitric oxide, and polyamines. These multifaceted actions enable methionine and arginine to influence various aspects of intestinal health such as maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier, regulating immune responses, and even influencing the composition of the gut microbiota. Additionally, they could play a pivotal role in promoting bone development and regulating bone remodeling, ultimately fostering optimal bone health. In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of the potential roles of methionine and arginine in intestinal and bone health in poultry, thereby contributing to advancing the nutrition, overall health, and productivity of poultry in a sustainable manner.

The transcriptional state and chromatin landscape of cichlid jaw shape variation across species and environments

Adaptive phenotypes are shaped by a combination of genetic and environmental forces, but how they interact remains poorly understood. Here, we utilize the cichlid oral jaw apparatus to better understand these gene-by-environment effects. First, we employed RNA-seq in bony and ligamentous tissues important for jaw opening to identify differentially expressed genes between species and across foraging environments. We used two Lake Malawi species adapted to different foraging habitats along the pelagic-benthic ecomorphological axis. Our foraging treatments were designed to force animals to employ either suction or biting/scraping, which broadly mimic pelagic or benthic modes of feeding. We found a large number of differentially expressed genes between species, and while we identified relatively few differences between environments, species differences were far more pronounced when they were challenged with a pelagic versus benthic foraging mode. Expression data carried the signature of genetic assimilation, and implicated cell cycle regulation in shaping the jaw across species and environments. Next, we repeated the foraging experiment and performed ATAC-seq procedures on nuclei harvested from the same tissues. Cross-referencing results from both analyses revealed subsets of genes that were both differentially expressed and differentially accessible. This reduced dataset implicated notable candidate genes including the Hedgehog effector, KIAA0586 and the ETS transcription factor, etv4, which connects environmental stress and craniofacial morphogenesis. Taken together, these data provide novel insights into the epigenetic, genetic and cellular bases of species- and environment-specific bone shapes.

Meta-Analysis Reveals Compositional and Functional Microbial Changes Associated with Osteoporosis

Over the past decade, the role of the gut microbiota in many disease states has gained a great deal of attention. Mounting evidence from case-control and observational studies has linked changes in the gut microbiota to the pathophysiology of osteoporosis (OP). Nonetheless, the results of these studies contain discrepancies, leaving the literature without a consensus on osteoporosis-associated microbial signatures. Here, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis combining and reexamining five publicly available 16S rRNA partial sequence data sets to identify gut bacteria consistently associated with osteoporosis across different cohorts. After adjusting for the batch effect associated with technical variation and heterogeneity of studies, we observed a significant shift in the microbiota composition in the osteoporosis group. An increase in the relative abundance of opportunistic pathogens Clostridium sensu stricto, Bacteroides, and Intestinibacter was observed in the OP group. Moreover, short-chain-fatty-acid (SCFA) producers, including members of the genera Collinsella, Megasphaera, Agathobaculum, Mediterraneibacter, Clostridium XIV, and Dorea, were depleted in the OP group relative to the healthy control (HC) group. Lactic acid-producing bacteria, including Limosilactobacillus, were significantly increased in the OP group. The random forest algorithm further confirmed that these bacteria differentiate the two groups. Furthermore, functional prediction revealed depletion of the SCFA biosynthesis pathway (glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid [TCA] cycle, and Wood-Ljungdahl pathway) and amino acid biosynthesis pathway (methionine, histidine, and arginine) in the OP group relative to the HC group. This study uncovered OP-associated compositional and functional microbial alterations, providing robust insight into OP pathogenesis and aiding the possible development of a therapeutic intervention to manage the disease. IMPORTANCE Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease associated with aging. Mounting evidence has linked changes in the gut microbiota to the pathophysiology of osteoporosis. However, which microbes are associated with dysbiosis and their impact on bone density and inflammation remain largely unknown due to inconsistent results in the literature. Here, we present a meta-analysis with a standard workflow, robust statistical approaches, and machine learning algorithms to identify notable microbial compositional changes influencing osteoporosis.

Increased Dietary Intakes of Total Protein, Animal Protein and White Meat Protein Were Associated with Reduced Bone Loss—A Prospective Analysis Based on Guangzhou Health and Nutrition Cohort, South China

In this study, we aimed to prospectively investigate the relationships between different types of dietary protein and changes in bone mass in Chinese middle-aged and elderly people. Dietary intakes were evaluated by means of a validated food frequency questionnaire. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using a dual-energy bone densitometer at multiple bone sites. Multivariable regression models were applied to investigate the associations of the participants’ dietary intakes of total protein, intakes of protein from various sources, and amino acid intakes with the annualized changes in BMD during a 3-year follow-up. A total of 1987 participants aged 60.3 ± 4.9 years were included in the analyses. Multivariable linear regression results showed that dietary intakes of total protein, animal protein, and protein from white meat were positively correlated with BMD changes, with standardized coefficients (β) of 0.104, 0.073, and 0.074 at the femur neck (p < 0.01) and 0.118, 0.067, and 0.067 at the trochanter (p < 0.01), respectively. With each increase of 0.1g·kg−1·d−1 in animal protein and white meat protein intakes, the BMD losses were reduced by 5.40 and 9.24 mg/cm2 at the femur neck (p < 0.05) and 1.11 and 1.84 mg/cm2 at the trochanter (p < 0.01), respectively. Our prospective data, obtained from Chinese adults, showed that dietary total and animal protein, especially protein from white meat, could significantly reduce bone loss at the femur neck and trochanter.

Precision engineering designed phospholipid-tagged pamidronate complex functionalized SNEDDS for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Disodium pamidronate, a second-generation bisphosphonate is a potent drug for the treatment of osteoporosis, which has been very well established by previous literature. It has very low oral permeability, leading to its low oral bioavailability, which restrict this drug to being administered orally. Therefore, the present research work includes the development of an orally effective nanoformulation of pamidronate. In this work, disodium pamidronate was complexed with phospholipon 90G for the enhancement of permeability and to investigate the phospholipon 90G-tagged pamidronate complex-loaded SNEDDS for oral delivery with promises of enhanced bioavailability and anti-osteoporotic activity. The rational design and optimization was employed using Central Composite Design (Design Expert^® 12, software) to optimize nanoformulation parameters. In this work, a commercially potential self nano-emulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) has been developed and evaluated for improved oral bioavailability and better clinical acceptance. The hot micro-emulsification and ultracentrifugation method with vortex mixing was utilized for effective tagging of phospholipon 90G with pamidronate and then loading into the SNEDDS nanocarrier. The optimized Pam-PLc SNEDDS formulation was characterized for particle size, PDI, and zeta potential and found to be 56.38 ± 1.37 nm, 0.218 ± 0.113, and 22.41 ± 1.14 respectively. Also, a 37.9% improved bioavailability of pamidronate compared to marketed tablet was observed. Similarly, in vivo pharmacokinetic studies suggest a 31.77% increased bone density and significant enhanced bone biomarkers compared to marketed tablets. The developed formulation is safe and effectively overcomes anti-osteoporosis promises with improved therapeutic potential. This work provides very significant achievements in postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment and may lead to possible use of nanotherapeutic-driven emerging biodegradable carriers-based drug delivery.

Dysregulation of circRNA-0076906 and circRNA-0134944 is Correlated with Susceptibility to Osteoporosis and Osteoporotic Fracture in Postmenopausal Females from the Chinese Han Population

Introduction

Many circRNAs, such as circRNA-0076906 and circRNA-0134944, have been reported to participate in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis via sponging miRNAs in postmenopausal female patients. In this study, we aimed to study potential signaling pathways underlying the role of certain circRNAs, miRNAs and their target genes in the pathogenesis of osteoporotic fracture in postmenopausal females.

Methods

Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to analyze the expression of circRNAs, miRNAs and their targets genes. Luciferase assays were carried out to explore the regulatory relationship between circ_0076906/miR-548i/OGN and circ_0134944/miR-630/TLR4.

Results

Osteoporosis and fracture were positively correlated to the expression of circ_0134944, miR-548i and TLR4, but negatively correlated to the expression of circ_0076906, miR-630 and OGN in the peripheral blood and bone tissue samples of postmenopausal women. Luciferase activities of wild-type circ_0076906 and OGN were inhibited by miR-548i, and the luciferase activities of wild-type circ_0134944 and TLR4 were suppressed by miR-630 in MG-63 and U-2 OS cells. Inhibition of circ_0076906 expression in MG-63 and U-2 OS cells activated the expression of miR-548i and inhibited the expression of OGN. Moreover, the overexpression of circ_0134944 in MG-63 and U-2 OS cells suppressed the expression of miR-630 and enhanced the expression of TLR4.

Conclusion

This study implied that the dysregulation of circRNA-0076906 and circRNA-0134944 modulated their specific signaling and thus contributed to the severity of osteoporosis, increasing the risk of osteoporotic fracture.

Network pharmacology combined with molecular docking to explore the anti-osteoporosis mechanisms of β-ecdysone derived from medicinal plants

β-Ecdysone is a phytosteroid derived from multifarious medicinal plants, such as Achyranthes root (Achyranthes bidentata) and Tinospora cordifolia, possessing the potential anti-osteoporosis effect. However, the underlying mechanisms for β-ecdysone treating osteoporosis remain unclear. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanisms of β-ecdysone against osteoporosis by network pharmacology and molecular docking. First, the potential targets of β-ecdysone and osteoporosis were predicted by public databases. Protein interaction and functional enrichment analyses of potential targets were performed using the STRING and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway databases. Finally, hub targets were identified from network pharmacology, and their interaction with β-ecdysone was validated by molecular docking. Results showed that 47 potential targets were related to the mechanisms of β-ecdysone treating osteoporosis. Enrichment analyses revealed that the potential targets were mainly associated with steroid biosynthetic and metabolic processes, as well as HIF-1 and estrogen signaling pathways. By protein–protein interaction network analysis, top 10 hub targets were screened, including TNF, ALB, SRC, STAT3, MAPK3, ESR1, PPARG, CASP3, TLR4, and NR3C1. Molecular docking showed that β-ecdysone had good affinity with TLR4, TNF, and ESR1. Therefore, β-ecdysone might exert therapeutic effect on osteoporosis development via targeting TLR4, TNF, and ESR1 and regulating HIF-1 and estrogen pathways.

Systems biology approach delineates critical pathways associated with disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease leading to inflammation, cartilage cell death, synoviocyte proliferation, and increased and impaired differentiation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts leading to joint erosions and deformities. Transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics datasets were analyzed to identify the critical pathways that drive the RA pathophysiology. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with RA were analyzed for the functional implications, clinical outcomes, and blood parameters later validated by literature. SNPs associated with RA were grouped into pathways that drive the immune response and cytokine production. Further gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed on gene expression omnibus (GEO) data sets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), synovial macrophages, and synovial biopsies from RA patients showed enrichment of Th1, Th2, Th17 differentiation, viral and bacterial infections, metabolic signalling and immunological pathways with potential implications for RA. The proteomics data analysis presented pathways with genes involved in immunological signaling and metabolic pathways, including vitamin B12 and folate metabolism. Metabolomics datasets analysis showed significant pathways like amino-acyl tRNA biosynthesis, metabolism of amino acids (arginine, alanine aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan), and nucleotide metabolism. Furthermore, our commonality analysis of multi-omics datasets identified common pathways with potential implications for joint remodeling in RA. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics treatments were found to modulate many of the pathways that were deregulated in RA. Overall, our analysis identified molecular signatures associated with the observed symptoms, joint erosions, potential biomarkers, and therapeutic targets in RA. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

IL-6 and Leptin Are Potential Biomarkers for Osteoporotic Fracture Risk Assessment and Prediction of Postmenopausal Women with Low Bone Mass: A Follow-Up Study Using a Regional Sample Cohort

Osteoporotic fracture, a major complication which is known as the outcome postmenopausal osteoporosis, seriously threatens the health of postmenopausal women. At present, the traditional osteoporotic fracture prediction methods are characterized by inconvenient application and time-consuming statistical results, while predictive serum biomarkers can make up for this shortcoming. Accurate and advanced risk prediction of osteoporotic fracture is meaningful to early prevention and intervention, effectively avoiding the risk of this disease and the secondary fracture in the surgical treatment. In this study, based on the BEYOND cohort, a 2-year follow-up study was conducted after subjects participated to survey if OF occurred. Independent sample t-test and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to analyze the differences of bone metabolism biomarkers between the OF and non-OF group. Cox proportional hazard model was used to screen the potential biomarkers might be used to predict OF risk. ROC curves and AUCs were used to analyze the predictive accuracy, and the Delong's test was used to compare the differences between the AUCs. 15 postmenopausal women with low bone mass and OF were found, and other 60 subjects without OF were matched with 1 : 4, age, and BMI classification as control group. The serum IL-6 (OR = 1.139, 95%CI = 1.058 − 1.226) and leptin (OR = 0.921, 95%CI = 0.848 − 1.000) were found as OF risk predictive biomarkers for postmenopausal women with low bone mass with high accuracy (IL − 6 = 0.871) (leptin = 0.813) and accuracy enhanced when they were combined (AUC = 0.898). The results of Delong's test showed that the difference of AUC between leptin and IL-6&Leptin was meaningful (P = 0.024) but meaningless between IL-6 and leptin (P = 0.436), IL-6 and IL-6&Leptin (P = 0.606). To sum up, IL-6 and leptin are the predictive biomarkers of OF for postmenopausal women with low bone mass. The IL-6 can improve the prediction accuracy of leptin (P = 0.024), but not vice versa (P = 0.606). Trial Information. Registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry already. (Registration Number: ChiCTR-SOC-17013090).

Effects of (R)-ketamine on reduced bone mineral density in ovariectomized mice: A role of gut microbiota

Depression is a high risk for osteoporosis, suggesting an association between depression and low bone mineral density (BMD). We reported that the novel antidepressant (R)-ketamine could ameliorate the reduced BMD in the ovariectomized (OVX) mice which is an animal model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Given the role of gut microbiota in depression and bone homeostasis, we examined whether gut microbiota plays a role in the beneficial effects of (R)-ketamine in the reduced BMD of OVX mice. OVX or sham was operated for female mice. Subsequently, saline (10 ml/kg/day, twice weekly) or (R)-ketamine (10 mg/kg/day, twice weekly) was administered intraperitoneally into OVX or sham mice for the six weeks. The reduction of cortical BMD and total BMD in the OVX mice was significantly ameliorated after subsequent repeated intermittent administration of (R)-ketamine. Furthermore, there were significant changes in the α- and β-diversity between OVX + saline group and OVX + (R)-ketamine group. There were correlations between several OTUs and cortical (or total) BMD. There were also positive correlations between the genera Turicibacter and cortical (or total) BMD. Moreover, there were correlations between several metabolites in blood and cortical (or total) BMD. These data suggest that (R)-ketamine may ameliorate the reduced cortical BMD and total BMD in OVX mice through anti-inflammatory actions via gut microbiota. Therefore, it is likely that (R)-ketamine would be a therapeutic drug for depressed patients with low BMD or patients with osteoporosis.

High-mobility group box chromosomal protein-1 deletion alleviates osteoporosis in OVX rat model via suppressing the osteoclastogenesis and inflammation

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is a skeletal metabolic disease that constitutes a great threaten to human health. However, there is currently no gold standard for its treatment. High-mobility group box chromosomal protein-1 (HMGB-1) has been reported to play an important role in various orthopedic diseases. Till now, its role in osteoporosis remains elusive.

METHODS

Rats underwent ovariectomy (OVX) were used to construct a postmenopausal model of osteoporosis. Then, rats were divided into sham groups without OVX surgery, OVX model group, HMGB-1 knockdown (HMGB-1 KD) OVX model groups. The expression of HMGB1 was evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Subsequently, the changes of trabeculae were evaluated by micro-computed tomography (CT) assay. Skeletal necrosis and metabolism were further analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Alcian blue staining and Masson's trichrome staining. The contents of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin were detected by ELISA assay. Expression of osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) were determined to investigate the effects of HMGB-1 loss on osteoclastogenesis.

RESULTS

Single HMGB-1 deletion exerted no significant effect on rat trabeculae, serum ALP and osteocalcin. Noticeably, HMGB1 knockdown dramatically ameliorated OVX-induced changes in above indexes. Trabeculae structures of OVX rats were sparse with disorder arrangement, which were greatly recovered after HMGB-1 deletion. Enhanced osteoclastogenesis was observed in OVX rats by increasing number of TRAP + cells and expression of TRAP and OSCAR, and loss of HMGB1 ameliorated osteoclastogenesis in OVA rats. Moreover, HMGB-1 deletion antagonized OVX-evoked downregulation of osteoblast activity markers osterix (OSX), collagen type I alpha 1(COL1A1) and distal-less homeobox 2 (DLX2) protein. Furthermore, loss of HMGB-1 attenuated fluctuation of inflammatory factors in OVX rats. Additionally, HMGB-1 deficiency inhibited OVX-evoked activation of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, reactivating the TLR4 signaling further aggravated OVX-induced osteoporosis, which was reversed by HMGB1 knockdown.

CONCLUSION

HMGB-1 deletion alleviated OVX-triggered osteoporosis by suppressing osteoclastogenesis and inflammatory disorder via the inhibition of the TLR4 signaling. Therefore, HMGB-1 may be a promising therapeutic target for osteoporosis.

Downregulation of miR-760 Causes Human Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Targeting the MyD88/Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Signaling Pathway

Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays a critical role in the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). In this study, we present evidence from in vitro and in vivo research to elucidate the mechanism underlying the role of miR-760 in IDD. miRNA microarray and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to determine the miRNA profiles in patients with IDD. Functional analysis was performed to evaluate the role of miR-760 in the pathogenesis of IDD. Luciferase reporter and western blotting assays were used to confirm the miRNA targets. The expression of miR-760 was significantly decreased in degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and negatively correlated with disc degeneration grade. Functional assays demonstrated that miR-760 delivery significantly increased NP cell proliferation and promoted the expression of collagen II and aggrecan. Moreover, MyD88 was identified as a target gene of miR-760. miR-760 effectively suppressed MyD88 expression by interacting with the 3'-untranslated region, which was abolished by miR-760 binding site mutations. An in vivo experiment using an IDD mouse model showed that the upregulation of miR-760 could effectively suspend IDD. Therefore, miR-760 was found to play an important role in IDD and can be used as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with IDD.

Integration of the Human Gut Microbiome and Serum Metabolome Reveals Novel Biological Factors Involved in the Regulation of Bone Mineral Density

While the gut microbiome has been reported to play a role in bone metabolism, the individual species and underlying functional mechanisms have not yet been characterized. We conducted a systematic multi-omics analysis using paired metagenomic and untargeted serum metabolomic profiles from a large sample of 499 peri- and early post-menopausal women to identify the potential crosstalk between these biological factors which may be involved in the regulation of bone mineral density (BMD). Single omics association analyses identified 22 bacteria species and 17 serum metabolites for putative association with BMD. Among the identified bacteria, Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria were negatively associated, while Firmicutes were positively associated. Several of the identified serum metabolites including 3-phenylpropanoic acid, mainly derived from dietary polyphenols, and glycolithocholic acid, a secondary bile acid, are metabolic byproducts of the microbiota. We further conducted a supervised integrative feature selection with respect to BMD and constructed the inter-omics partial correlation network. Although still requiring replication and validation in future studies, the findings from this exploratory analysis provide novel insights into the interrelationships between the gut microbiome and serum metabolome that may potentially play a role in skeletal remodeling processes.

TLR4 inhibition ameliorated glucolipotoxicity-induced differentiation suppression in osteoblasts via RIAM regulation of NF-κB nuclear translocation

TLR4 is a key innate immune signal that mediates glucolipid toxicity through yet unclear mechanisms. Here, TLR4 truncation ameliorated bone metabolism disorders in diabetic rats, and the underlying mechanisms were explored by proteomics. Our study showed that TLR4 truncation inhibited bone loss induced by diabetes in rats. In addition, a proteomic analysis screen exposed the differential proteins associated with immune reactivity and T cell activation (RIAM and Class II histocompatibility antigen, M β1 chain). Further cellular experiments showed that TLR4 mediated the inhibition of osteoblast differentiation induced by glucolipotoxicity and promoted an increase in the nuclear level of RIAM-NF-κB. Mechanistic studies showed that TLR4 mediated glucolipotoxicity induced damage in bone metabolism primarily by regulating RIAM-NF-κB interactions, which promoted RIAM-NF-κB nuclear translocation. In conclusion, we confirmed that TLR4 inhibition could delay bone metabolism disorders induced by glycolipid toxicity via RIAM regulation of NF-κB nuclear translocation.

Increased Ingestion of Hydroxy-Methionine by Both Sows and Piglets Improves the Ability of the Progeny to Counteract LPS-Induced Hepatic and Splenic Injury with Potential Regulation of TLR4 and NOD Signaling

Methionine, as an essential amino acid, play roles in antioxidant defense and the regulation of immune responses. This study was designed to determine the effects and mechanisms of increased consumption of methionine by sows and piglets on the capacity of the progeny to counteract lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge-induced injury in the liver and spleen of piglets. Primiparous sows (n = 10/diet) and their progeny were fed a diet that was adequate in sulfur amino acids (CON) or CON + 25% total sulfur amino acids as methionine from gestation day 85 to postnatal day 35. A total of ten male piglets were selected from each treatment and divided into 2 groups (n = 5/treatment) for a 2 × 2 factorial design [diets (CON, Methionine) and challenge (saline or LPS)] at 35 d old. After 24 h challenge, the piglets were euthanized to collect the liver and spleen for the histopathology, redox status, and gene expression analysis. The histopathological results showed that LPS challenge induced liver and spleen injury, while dietary methionine supplementation alleviated these damages that were induced by the LPS challenge. Furthermore, the LPS challenge also decreased the activities of GPX, SOD, and CAT and upregulated the mRNA and(or) protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF6, NOD1, NOD2, NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-8, p53, BCL2, and COX2 in the liver and (or) spleen. The alterations of GPX and SOD activities and the former nine genes were prevented or alleviated by the methionine supplementation. In conclusion, the maternal and neonatal dietary supplementation of methionine improved the ability of piglets to resist LPS challenge-induced liver and spleen injury, potentially through the increased antioxidant capacity and inhibition of TLR4 and NOD signaling pathway.

L-Methionine prevents β-cell damage by modulating the expression of Arx, MafA and regulation of FOXO1 in type 1 diabetic rats

L-Methionine (L-Met) is an essential sulphur-containing amino acid having a vital role in various key cellular processes. Here we investigated the effect of L-Met on streptozotocin-induced β-cell damage model of diabetes mellitus in Sprague Dawley rats. At the end of study biochemical parameters, immunoblotting, qRT-PCR and ChIP-qPCR are performed. L-Met was administered orally (250 and 500 mg/kg/day) to diabetic animals for 8 weeks improved plasma glucose and insulin levels. Pancreas immunohistochemistry showed significant increase in insulin expression, decrease in glucagon and Bax expression. Interestingly, L-Met inhibited the expression of Arx; upregulated MafA and FOXO1 which play a critical role in the maintenance of β-cell identity. Our data also showed a decrease in H3K27me3 and an increase in H3K4me3 ("bivalent domain" alteration) in diabetic rats and these recovered by L-Met. Furthermore, the chromatin-immunoprecipitation assay showed a decreased enrichment of H3K27me3 on the promoter of the FOXO1 gene in diabetic rats and L-Met prevents this decrease. Our results showed the first evidence of the involvement of H3K27me3 in regulating the expression of the FOXO1 gene and the prevention of β-cell injury by L-Met treatment. In conclusion, we report the involvement of L-Met in the modulation of α-cell identity marker (Arx), β-cell identity marker (MafA) and regulation of FOXO1 by histone methylation marks for the first time. We are of the opinion that this employed as a novel therapeutic approach for mitigating diabetes-induced β-cell death.

Methionine as a double-edged sword in health and disease: Current perspective and future challenges

Methionine is one of the essential amino acids and plays a vital role in various cellular processes. Reports advocate that methionine restriction and supplementation provide promising outcomes, and its regulation is critical for maintaining a healthy life. Dietary methionine restriction in houseflies and rodents has been proven to extend lifespan. Contrary to these findings, long-term dietary restriction of methionine leads to adverse events such as bone-related disorders, stunted growth, and hyperhomocysteinemia. Conversely, dietary supplementation of methionine improves hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, inflammation, fibrosis, and bone health. However, a high level of methionine intake shows adverse effects such as hyperhomocysteinemia, reduced body weight, and increased cholesterol levels. Therefore, dietary methionine in a safe dose could have medicinal values. Hence, this review is aimed to provide a snapshot of the dietary role and regulation of methionine in the modulation of health and age-related diseases.

Aucubin slows the development of osteoporosis by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation via the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-mediated antioxidation pathway

CONTEXT

Osteoporosis (OP) is a metabolic disease. We have previously demonstrated that aucubin (AU) has anti-OP effects that are due to its promotion of the formation of osteoblasts.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the mechanisms of anti-OP effects of AU.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, 30 mg/kg Dex-induced OP group (OP model group, 15 μg/kg oestradiol-treated positive control group, 5 or 45 mg/kg AU-treated group), and 45 mg/kg AU-alone-treated group. The administration lasted for 7 weeks. Subsequently, 1, 2.5 and 5 µM AU were incubated with 50 ng/mL RANKL-induced RAW264.7 cells for 7 days to observe osteoclast differentiation. The effect of AU was evaluated by analysing tissue lesions, biochemical factor and protein expression.

RESULTS

The LD₅₀ of AU was greater than 45 mg/kg. AU increased the number of trabeculae and reduced the loss of chondrocytes in OP mice. Compared to OP mice, AU-treated mice exhibited decreased serum concentrations of TRAP5b (19.6% to 28.4%), IL-1 (12.2% to 12.6%), IL-6 (12.1%) and ROS (5.9% to 10.7%) and increased serum concentrations of SOD (14.6% to 19.4%) and CAT (17.2% to 27.4%). AU treatment of RANKL-exposed RAW264.7 cells decreased the numbers of multi-nuclear TRAP-positive cells, reversed the over-expression of TRAP5, NFATc1 and CTSK. Furthermore, AU increased the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream proteins in RANKL-exposed RAW264.7 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

AU slows the development of OP via Nrf2-mediated antioxidant pathways, indicating the potential use of AU in OP therapy and other types of OP research.

Metabolome and microbiome of chronic periapical periodontitis in permanent anterior teeth: a pilot study

Background

Periapical periodontitis is a common oral inflammatory disease that affects periapical tissues and is caused by bacteria in the root canal system. The relationship among the local metabolome, the inflammatory grade, and the type and abundance of microorganisms associated with periapical periodontitis is discussed in this study.

Methods

The inflammatory grades of periapical samples from 47 patients with chronic periapical periodontitis in permanent anterior teeth were determined based on the immune cell densities in tissues subjected to haematoxylin and eosin staining. The metabolome was evaluated using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, followed by principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. The microbiome was accessed using 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The differences in the metabolomes and microbiomes of the periapical periodontitis samples were assessed using Spearman’s correlation analysis.

Result

N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, L-tryptophan, L-phenylalanine, and 15 other metabolites were identified by the comparison between samples with severe inflammation and mild or moderate inflammation. Four amino acid metabolism pathways and one sugar metabolism pathway were associated with the inflammatory grade of periapical periodontitis. The abundance of Actinomycetes was negatively correlated with the abundance of glucosamine (GlcN), while the abundance of Tannerella was positively correlated with the abundance of L-methionine.

Conclusions

The local metabolome of periapical periodontitis is correlated with the inflammatory grade. The abundance of the local metabolites GlcN and L-methionine is correlated with the abundance of the major microorganisms Actinomycetes and Tannerella, respectively.

A 1:1 matched case-control study on dietary protein intakes and hip fracture risk in Chinese elderly men and women

The role of protein intake in bone has been controversial. Our case-control study among Chinese elderly concluded that a higher consumption of protein, even substituted for fat, is associated with lowered hip fracture risk. Differences in protein sources, amino acids composition, gender, and calcium sufficiency may explain the inconsistency.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to investigate the association of dietary protein intakes with hip fracture risk among Chinese elderly.

METHODS

This was a 1:1 age and sex matched cross-sectional study of case-control design among 1070 pairs of elderly Chinese people aged 55 to 80 years. Patients who were newly diagnosed (within 2-week) hip fracture by X-ray were recruited from four hospitals in Guangdong Province of China. Dietary intakes were evaluated by a validated food frequency questionnaire for total protein, protein from different sources, amino acids profiles, and estimated renal acid load in diet.

RESULTS

Daily average intakes of total protein were 58.1±27.0 (women) and 65.7±31.8 (men) g/d for cases, and 66.8±21.5 (women) and 72.1±24.4 (men) for controls (p<0.001). Multivariable regression indicated that, compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of consumption of energy adjusted total protein [OR: 0.360 (0.206~0.630) for women and 0.381 (0.153~0.949) for men] and animal protein [0.326 (0.183, 0.560) for women and 0.335 (0.136~0.828) for men] was significantly associated with the lowered risk of hip fracture in a dose-response manner (all p for trend <0.05). A significant hip fracture risk reduction was observed in women with higher intakes of sulfur amino acids [OR: 0.464 (0.286~0.753)] and aromatic amino acids [0.537 (0.326~0.884)] but not in men. Subgroup analysis suggested that these associations were more evident in elderly with lower body mass index and dietary calcium intake less than 400 mg/d.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher level of protein intake, even substituted for fat, is associated with lowered hip fracture risk.

Deciphering osteoarthritis genetics across 826,690 individuals from 9 populations

Osteoarthritis affects over 300 million people worldwide. Here, we conduct a genome-wide association study meta-analysis across 826,690 individuals (177,517 with osteoarthritis) and identify 100 independently associated risk variants across 11 osteoarthritis phenotypes, 52 of which have not been associated with the disease before. We report thumb and spine osteoarthritis risk variants and identify differences in genetic effects between weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing joints. We identify sex-specific and early age-at-onset osteoarthritis risk loci. We integrate functional genomics data from primary patient tissues (including articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and osteophytic cartilage) and identify high-confidence effector genes. We provide evidence for genetic correlation with phenotypes related to pain, the main disease symptom, and identify likely causal genes linked to neuronal processes. Our results provide insights into key molecular players in disease processes and highlight attractive drug targets to accelerate translation.

Mechanisms of altered bone remodeling in children with type 1 diabetes

Bone loss associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) begins at the onset of the disease, already in childhood, determining a lower bone mass peak and hence a greater risk of osteoporosis and fractures later in life. The mechanisms underlying diabetic bone fragility are not yet completely understood. Hyperglycemia and insulin deficiency can affect the bone cells functions, as well as the bone marrow fat, thus impairing the bone strength, geometry, and microarchitecture. Several factors, like insulin and growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1, can control bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell commitment, and the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand/osteoprotegerin and Wnt-b catenin pathways can impair bone turnover. Some myokines may have a key role in regulating metabolic control and improving bone mass in T1DM subjects. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current knowledge of the mechanisms underlying altered bone remodeling in children affected by T1DM.

TLR4 knockout ameliorates streptozotocin-induced osteoporosis in a mouse model of diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia manifesting as insufficient insulin. Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) has been implicated in diabetic osteoporosis. We established streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse model and examined the relevant osteoporosis factors in different experimental groups, the WT-CON group, WT-STZ group, KO-CON group and KO-STZ group, respectively. No obvious protection of TLR4 deletion was shown in mice with diabetes. There was no obvious difference in the body weight or blood glucose concentration between WT-STZ group and KO-STZ group. However, TLR4 deletion reduced the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Furthermore, TLR4 knockout attenuated STZ-induced diabetic osteoporosis via inhibiting osteoblasts and pre-inflammation factors mediated by the NF-κB pathway. TLR4 deletion ameliorated STZ-induced diabetic osteoporosis in mice, and TLR4 may be used as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetic osteoporosis.

Gender-specific SBNO2 and VPS13B as a potential driver of osteoporosis development in male ankylosing spondylitis

To identify the critical genes and pathways that related to OP development in male AS patients, bioinformatic gene analysis and qRT-PCR validation were performed. SBNO2 and VPS13B were identified as the potential target for OP development, which may be valuable for the prevention of OP in male AS patients.

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis (OP) is common in men with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The specific pathogenesis of OP in AS, however, is still unclear. The present study attempted to identify potential genes associated with the development of OP in males with AS.

METHODS

Gene expression profiles were downloaded from the GSE73754 and GSE35959 datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Data from OsteoporosAtlas were downloaded as a supplement. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined with the limma package. The overlapping DEGs between male AS-related genes and OP-related genes were determined. The DEGs were validated by qRT-PCR in the blood samples of males with AS. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to establish a co-expression network to identify the hub genes.

RESULTS

A total of 17 overlapping DEGs were identified; 6 genes in 17 overlapping DEGs were verified as the essential genes in the pathogenesis of OP in male AS by qRT-PCR analysis. After WGCNA, the modules of MEblue (> 0.6) and MEred (> 0.8) were screened out by the correlation analysis and were determined to function mainly in MAPK signaling pathway and osteoclast differentiation. Analysis of the two modules revealed VPS13B and SBNO2 as key genes due to the high degree of correlation. Both genes play an important role in bone metabolism regulation in male AS. Two hub genes MYD88 in MEblue and NCK1 in MEred with high degree of connectivity were selected.

CONCLUSIONS

Gender-specific SBNO2 and VPS13B may be key genes involved in OP in male AS.

AEG-1 deletion promotes cartilage repair and modulates bone remodeling-related cytokines via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB inhibition in ovariectomized rats with osteoporosis

Background

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder that can impact a variety of bones throughout the body. Astrocyte-elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is involved in multiple pro-tumorigenic functions and participates in various inflammatory reactions. However, whether it has an impact on osteoporosis-related cartilage repair and bone remodeling remains unknown.

Methods

We utilized an ovariectomy mouse model with AEG-1 deletion to investigate the role of AEG-1 in osteoporosis. The mRNA level of AEG-1 was detected by RT-PCR, bone markers, bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), trabecular bone surface/bone volume (BSA/BV) and trabecular bone thickness (Tb. Th) were detected by micro computed tomography (µCT), bone injury was observed by HE and alcian blue staining. The contents of IL-6, IL-17, iNOS and IL-10 in peripheral blood of the three groups were detected by ELISA. The expression of OSX, coi1a1, OC, TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB were detected by Western Blot.

Results

µCT revealed increased bone volume in the AEG-1 knockout (KO) ovariectomy (OVX) group compared to the wildtype (WT) OVX group 4 weeks after surgery, indicating restored bone formation after AEG-1 deletion. Flow sorting revealed that AEG-1 deletion inhibited the production of inflammatory factors. Western blot demonstrated activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway after LPS exposure, which was reduced by AEG-1 deletion. AEG-1 deletion also improved lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced adverse reactions.

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings indicate that AEG-1 deletion improves cartilage repair and bone remodeling during osteoporosis, which may partly occur through the inhibition of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

The immunoreaction and antioxidant capacity of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) involves the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 and NF-κB signal pathways in response to dietary methionine levels

A 75-day rearing trail was designed to evaluate the immunoreaction and antioxidant capacity of juvenile blunt snout bream in response to dietary methionine levels. Three practical diets were extruded to feed juveniles with graded methionine levels (0.40%, 0.84% and 1.28% dry matter). The data indicated that the plasma concentrations of immunoglobulin M (IgM), complement component 3 (C3) and glutathione (GSH) in the 0.84% methionine diet were markedly upper than those in the 0.40% group (P < 0.05). The activities of plasma antioxidant parameters involving catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly increased by the 0.84% diet compared with the 0.40% diet, whereas plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly induced by 0.40% methionine (P < 0.05). Compared with the 0.40% group, 0.84% dietary methionine dramatically upregulated the mRNA expression levels of protein kinase B (Akt), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway related genes including CAT, manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) in the kidney and liver, and downregulated Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) mRNA levels (P < 0.05). Compared with the 0.40% group, the 0.84% dietary methionine strikingly suppressed the mRNA levels of renal and hepatic nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6)), however, improved the mRNA expression levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines involved renal and hepatic transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and hepatic interleukin 10 (IL-10) (P < 0.05). Renal IL-10 and interleukin 8 (IL-8) mRNA expression levels were not markedly influenced by experimental diets (P > 0.05). Dietary methionine (0.84%) significantly upregulated renal and hepatic heat stress protein 70 (Hsp70), renal B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) gene expression levels compared with the 0.40% diet (P < 0.05). In a word, the data represented that 0.84% dietary methionine could enhance the immune and antioxidant capacity of this fish species by inducing PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting NF-κB pathway.

Involvement of Noncoding RNAs in the Differentiation of Osteoclasts

As the most important bone-resorbing cells, osteoclasts play fundamental roles in bone remodeling and skeletal health. Much effort has been focused on identifying the regulators of osteoclast metabolism. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) reportedly regulate osteoclast formation, differentiation, survival, and bone-resorbing activity to participate in bone physiology and pathology. The present review intends to provide a general framework for how ncRNAs and their targets regulate osteoclast differentiation and the important events of osteoclastogenesis they are involved in, including osteoclast precursor generation, early differentiation, mononuclear osteoclast fusion, and multinucleated osteoclast function and survival. This framework is beneficial for understanding bone biology and for identifying the potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets of bone diseases. The review also summarizes the results of in vivo experiments and classic experiment methods for osteoclast-related researches.

Pterostilbene reduces endothelial cell apoptosis by regulation of the Nrf2-mediated TLR-4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in a rat model of atherosclerosis

Endothelial cell injury in vascular arterial walls plays a crucial role in the pathological process of atherosclerosis. Pterostilbene, a stilbenoid chemically related to resveratrol, has anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis and antioxidant properties. However, the underlying mechanisms mediated by pterostilbene in regards to endothelial cell injury in vascular arterial walls are not fully understood. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the benefits of pterostilbene in a rat model of atherosclerosis. The possible mechanism of pterostilbene was also analyzed in regards to endothelial cell injury in vascular arterial walls in vitro. A rat model of atherosclerosis was established using endothelial injury of the iliac arteries. CCK-8 assay, TUNEL, immunofluorescence, western blot analysis and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were used to analyze the role of pterostilbene in the pathological processes of atherosclerosis. In vivo results showed that pterostilbene decreased cholesterol (CHO), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in plasma and attenuated interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6 and oxidative stress injury in serum in the experimental animals. Pterostilbene treatment reduced atherogenesis, aortic plaques, macrophage infiltration and apoptosis of vascular arterial walls in the atherosclerosis rat model. In vitro assay demonstrated that pterostilbene administration increased viability of the endothelial cells, attenuated oxidative stress injury and apoptosis of endothelial cells. The results found that pterostilbene regulated endothelial cell apoptosis via the Nrf2-mediated TLR-4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, data from the present study revealed that pterostilbene protects rats against atherosclerosis by regulation of the Nrf2-mediated TLR-4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

Are Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Mediators of Bone Loss Due to Estrogen Deficiency? A Review of Current Evidence

Osteoporosis is one of the major health issues associated with menopause-related estrogen deficiency. Various reports suggest that the hormonal changes related to menopausal transition may lead to the derangement of redox homeostasis and ultimately oxidative stress. Estrogen deficiency and oxidative stress may enhance the expression of genes involved in inflammation. All these factors may contribute, in synergy, to the development of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Previous studies suggest that estrogen may act as an antioxidant to protect the bone against oxidative stress, and as an antiinflammatory agent in suppressing pro-inflammatory and pro-osteoclastic cytokines. Thus, the focus of the current review is to examine the relationship between estrogen deficiency, oxidative stress and inflammation, and the impacts of these phenomena on skeletal health in postmenopausal women.

Proteome Alterations in Equine Osteochondrotic Chondrocytes

Osteochondrosis is a failure of the endochondral ossification that affects developing joints in humans and several animal species. It is a localized idiopathic joint disorder characterized by focal chondronecrosis and growing cartilage retention, which can lead to the formation of fissures, subchondral bone cysts, or intra-articular fragments. Osteochondrosis is a complex multifactorial disease associated with extracellular matrix alterations and failure in chondrocyte differentiation, mainly due to genetic, biochemical, and nutritional factors, as well as traumas. This study describes the main proteomic alterations occurring in chondrocytes isolated from osteochondrotic cartilage fragments. A comparative analysis performed on equine osteochondrotic and healthy chondrocytes showed 26 protein species as differentially represented. In particular, quantitative changes in the extracellular matrix, cytoskeletal and chaperone proteins, and in cell adhesion and signaling molecules were observed in osteochondrotic cells, compared to healthy controls. Functional group analysis annotated most of these proteins in “growth plate and cartilage development”, while others were included in “glycolysis and gluconeogenesis”, “positive regulation of protein import”, “cell–cell adhesion mediator activity”, and “mitochondrion nucleoid”. These results may help to clarify some chondrocyte functional alterations that may play a significant role in determining the onset and progression of equine osteochondrosis and, being related, of human juvenile osteochondrosis.

Dietary Supplementation of Methyl Donor l-Methionine Alters Epigenetic Modification in Type 2 Diabetes

SCOPE

The aim of the current study is to evaluate whether l-methionine supplementation (l-Met-S) improves type 2 diabetes-induced alterations in glucose and lipid metabolism by modulating one-carbon metabolism and methylation status.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Diabetes is induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats using high-fat diet and low dose streptozotocin. At the end of study, various biochemical parameters, immunoblotting, qRT-PCR and ChIP-qPCR are performed. The first evidence that l-Met-S activates p-AMPK and SIRT1, very similar to "metformin," is provided. l-Met-S improves the altered key one-carbon metabolites in diabetic rats by modulating methionine adenosyl transferase 1A and cystathione β synthase expression. qRT-PCR shows that l-Met-S alleviates diabetes-induced increase in Forkhead transcription factor 1 expression and thereby regulating genes involved in glucose (G6pc, Pdk4, Pklr) and lipid metabolism (Fasn). Interestingly, l-Met-S inhibits the increased expression of DNMT1 and also prevents methylation of histone H3K36me2 under diabetic condition. ChIP assay shows that persistent increase in abundance of histone H3K36me2 on the promoter region of FOXO1 in diabetic rats and it is recovered by l-Met-S.

CONCLUSION

The first evidence that dietary supplementation of l-Met prevents diabetes-induced epigenetic alterations and regulating methionine levels can be therapeutically exploited for the treatment of metabolic diseases is provided.

Up-regulated CST5 inhibits bone resorption and activation of osteoclasts in rat models of osteoporosis via suppression of the NF-κB pathway

Here, we aim at exploring the effect of CST5 on bone resorption and activation of osteoclasts in osteoporosis (OP) rats through the NF‐κB pathway. Microarray analysis was used to screen the OP‐related differentially expressed genes. Osteoporosis was induced in rats by intragastric retinoic acid administration. The serum levels of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and osteocalcin (OC) and the expression of CD61 on the surface of osteoclasts were examined. The number of osteoclasts and the number and area of resorption pits were detected. Besides, the pathological changes and bone mineral density in bone tissues of rats were assessed. Also, the relationship between CST5 and the NF‐κB pathway was identified through determining the expression of CST5, RANKL, RANK, OPG, p65 and IKB. Poorly expressed CST5 was indicated to affect the OP. CST5 elevation and inhibition of the NF‐κB pathway decreased serum levels of TRAP, BALP and OC and expression of CD61 in vivo and in vitro. In OP rats, CST5 overexpression increased trabecular bones and bone mineral density of bone tissues, but decreased trabecular separation, fat within the bone marrow cavities and the number of osteoclasts through inhibiting the NF‐κB pathway. In vivo experiments showed that CST5 elevation inhibited growth in number and area of osteoclastic resorption pits and restrained osteoclastic bone absorption by inhibiting the NF‐κB pathway. In summary, overexpression of CST5 suppresses the activation and bone resorption of osteoclasts by inhibiting the activation of the NF‐κB pathway.

The protective role of microRNA-140-5p in synovial injury of rats with knee osteoarthritis via inactivating the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway

Objective: Recently, many studies have revealed the effect of microRNAs (miRNAs) in knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study aims to explore the role of miR-140-5p in protective effects and mechanisms of synovial injury of rats with KOA via regulating the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Methods: The models of KOA Wistar rats were established by operation of anterior cruciate ligament transection. Rats were injected with agomir NC or miR-140-5p agomir. MiR-140-5p expression in KOA synovial tissues and synoviocytes was evaluated by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The synoviocytes were transfected with mimics NC sequence and miR-140-5p mimics sequence. The expression of TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins was measured by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. The proliferation and apoptosis of synoviocytes in rats with KOA were evaluated by a string of experiments. The expression levels of inflammatory factors in KOA synovial tissues and synoviocytes were detected.

Results: MiR-140-5p was down-regulated in KOA synovial tissues and synoviocytes. Upregulation of miR-140-5p could inhibit the inflammation reaction and the apoptosis of synoviocytes as well as promote proliferation of synoviocytes of rats with KOA. Furthermore, upregulated miR-140-5p could inactivate the TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway in rats with KOA.

Conclusion: This study suggests that upregulated miR-140-5p could protect synovial injury by restraining inflammation reaction and apoptosis of synoviocytes in KOA rats via TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway inactivation.

Heme oxygenase-1 attenuates the inhibitory effect of bortezomib against the APRIL-NF-κB-CCL3 signaling pathways in multiple myeloma cells: Corelated with bortezomib tolerance in multiple myeloma

Osteoclasts (OCs) play an essential role in bone destruction in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Bortezomib can ameliorate bone destruction in patients with MM, but advanced MM often resists bortezomib. We studied the molecular mechanisms of bortezomib tolerance in MM. The expression of the MM-related genes in newly diagnosed patients with MM and normal donors were studied. C-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) is a cytokine involved in the differentiation of OCs, and its expression is closely related to APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand). We found that bortezomib treatment inhibited APRIL and CCL3. But the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activator hemin attenuated the inhibitory effects of bortezomib on APRIL and CCL3. We induced mononuclear cells to differentiate into OCs, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the more OCs differentiated, the higher the levels CCL3 secretions detected. Animal experiments showed that hemin promoted MM cell infiltration in mice. The weight and survival rate of tumor mice were associated with HO-1 expression. Immunohistochemical staining showed that HO-1, APRIL, and CCL3 staining were positively stained in the tumor infiltrating sites. Then, MM cells were transfected with L-HO-1/si-HO-1 expression vectors and cultured with an nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B (κB) pathway inhibitor, QNZ. The results showed that HO-1 was the upstream gene of APRIL, NF-κB, and CCL3. We showed that HO-1 could attenuate the inhibitory effect of bortezomib against the APRIL-NF-κB-CCL3 signaling pathways in MM cells, and the tolerance of MM cells to bortezomib and the promotion of bone destruction are related to HO-1.

Lentiviral‑mediated inducible silencing of TLR4 attenuates neuropathic pain in a rat model of chronic constriction injury

An increasing body of evidence has indicated that spinal microglial Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) may serve a significant role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain (NP). In the present study, experiments were conducted to evaluate the contribution of a tetracycline inducible lentiviral-mediated delivery system for the expression of TLR4 small interfering (si)RNA to NP in rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI). Behavioral tests, including paw withdrawal latency and paw withdrawal threshold, and biochemical analysis of the spinal cord, including western blotting, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and ELISA, were conducted following CCI to the sciatic nerve. Intrathecal administration of LvOn-si-TLR4 with doxycycline (Dox) attenuated allodynia and hyperalgesia. Biochemical analysis revealed that the mRNA and proteins levels of TLR4 were unregulated following CCI to the sciatic nerve, which was then blocked by intrathecal administration of LvOn-siTLR4 with Dox. The LvOn-siTLR4 was also demonstrated to have no effect on TLR4 or the pain response without Dox, which indicated that the expression of siRNA was Dox-inducible in the lentivirus delivery system. In conclusion, TLR4 may serve a significant role in neuropathy and the results of the present study provide an inducible lentivirus-mediated siRNA against TLR4 that may serve as a potential novel strategy to be applied in gene therapy for NP in the future.

Andrographolide mitigates IL‑1β‑induced human nucleus pulposus cells degeneration through the TLR4/MyD88/NF‑κB signaling pathway

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a multifactorial disease with few efficacious clinical drugs, which has been demonstrated to be associated with nucleus pulposus (NP) cells apoptosis and degeneration of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Interleukin (IL)-1β, a common proinflammatory cytokine, is considered to be one of key regulators in IDD development. Andrographolide (AG), extracted from Andrographis paniculata, has been suggested to possess marked anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effects of AG on IDD has not been well explored. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and the mechanisms of AG on IDD in human NP cells. NP cells were treated with IL-1β in the absence or presence of AG to investigate the effects on cell viability, cellular apoptosis, production of ECM and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-9 and MMP-13, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)-4 and ADAMTS-5. It was identified that IL-1β-induced NP cellular apoptosis was significantly inhibited by AG treatment. Furthermore, AG mitigated the IL-1β-induced degeneration of the ECM, which was paralleled by a decrease in MMPs and ADAMTS levels. In addition, AG exhibited marked inhibitory properties against the activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and the nuclear translocation of Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). Taken together, these results demonstrated that AG treatment mitigated IL-1β-induced NP cells degeneration through the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, and suggested that AG may be a potential agent for IDD prevention and therapy.