Molecular insights for an anti-osteoporotic properties of Litsea glutinosa on Saos-2 cells: An in-vitro approach

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that is identified by the deterioration of micro-architecture of bone tissue, leading to enhanced bone brittleness and a consequential increase in fracture threat. There are many treatments available for osteoporosis such as bisphosphonate therapy, hormonal replacement therapy, herbal therapy etc. For decades, there are several herbs that are attributed to have anti-osteoporotic effects however the candidate genes involved in it remained unknown. In line with this, the present study is focused to elucidate the anti-osteoporotic property of Litsea glutinosa (LG). To understand the proliferative effect and identify involved players, gene expression was studied on the Saos-2 osteocytes in-vitro . The expression profile of candidate genes involved in different signaling pathways such as Egr-2, RUNX2, MAPK3, NFATc1, CREB, ERβ, along with proliferation and apoptotic markers in osteoporosis were selected for the study. The gene expression profile demonstrated a significant up-regulation of Egr-2, RUNX2, MAPK3, CREB, EBβ in the range of 1.5–2.2 folds, whereas NFATc1 was found to be down-regulated up to 0.4 times compared to control when treated with 250 μg/mL of LG. Besides this, anti-apoptosis effect of LG was also supported by flow cytometry results which also proved that LG induces proliferation and inhibits apoptosis, suggesting the proliferative role of LG. In conclusion, the present study gathers the potency of LG extract for its proliferative and anti-apoptotic effect on Saos-2 osteocytes and opens a new avenue for detailing the mechanistic actions of it on mitigating the pathophysiology of osteoporosis.

Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Therapeutic Potentials of Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C. B. Robinson: A Literature-Based Review

“…A conceivable explanation for the observed cytotoxicity, according to in silico docking, is the stabilization of a topoisomerase II (β) DNA-enzyme complex [ 28 ]. In in vitro studies on Saos-2 cells, methanolic extract of L. glutinosa bark significantly downregulates the apoptotic and proliferative markers in Saos-2 osteocytes [ 48 ].…”

Prognostic analysis and validation of diagnostic marker genes in patients with osteoporosis

“…Previous studies have shown that EGR2 is a zinc finger transcription factor, and EGFR signaling activates the MAPK/ERK pathway to stimulate EGR2 expression ( 57 ). Further, mounting evidence indicates that IL-27 inhibits RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation ( 8 ) in an EGR2-dependent manner ( 10 ). A previous report suggests that BMP-2-induced Smad1 protein activation leads to JUNB synthesis, which is involved in the trans-differentiation of myoblasts to osteoblasts and contributes to bone repair after OP ( 58 ).…”

“…Elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures often require hospitalization, resulting in poor quality of life, long-term medical care, disability, and even death ( 7 ). This creates a substantial economic and social burden worldwide and is a global public health challenge ( 8 , 9 ). Due to its asymptomatic nature, patients with OP are often not diagnosed until the first osteoporotic fracture occurs.…”