Qianggu-Kangshu formula inhibits rheumatoid arthritis bone destruc-tion by regulating osteoclast differentiation via RANKL/RANK/OPG sig-naling pathway
10.3969/j.issn.1000-4718.2024.00.027
- VernacularTitle:强骨康疏方通过RANKL/RANK/OPG信号通路调控破骨细胞分化而抑制类风湿关节炎骨破坏
- Author:
Lu JIANG
1
;
Zongxing ZHANG
;
Weiyi LI
;
Daozhong LIU
;
Zhuoma BAO
;
Qingyun NIE
;
Lin YUAN
Author Information
1. 湖北民族大学风湿性疾病发生与干预湖北省重点实验室,湖北 恩施 445000;湖北民族大学医学部,湖北 恩施 445000;石柱土家族自治县中医院,重庆 409199
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Qianggu-Kangshu formula;
rheumatoid arthritis;
osteoclasts;
RANKL/RANK/OPG signaling pathway
- From:
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology
2025;41(1):123-135
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
AIM:To investigate the mechanism of Qianggu-Kangshu formula(QGKSF)in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)bone destruction based on network pharmacology,molecular docking,and cell experiments.METHODS:The main active ingredients and potential targets of QGKSF were obtained through TCMSP database and litera-ture search.OMIM database and GeneCards database were used to search the targets related to RA bone destruction,and Venny 2.1.0 was employed to screen the intersected targets of QGKSF and RA bone destruction.The protein-protein inter-action network of potential intersected targets was constructed by STRING database,and topological analysis was carried out by Cytoscape software to screen core targets.The screened targets of QGKSF related to RA bone destruction were evalu-ated through the Metascape system.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)and Gene Ontology were applied to complete enrichment analysis.AutoDock and PyMOL software was used to carry out molecular docking between the core components and the core proteins.Mouse RAW264.7 macrophages were cultured in vitro,and the cell viability was de-tected by CCK-8 assay.The number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP)positive multinucleated cells in each group was calculated by TRAP staining.The enzyme activity of the cells was evaluated by determination of TRAP activity.F-actin ring formation was detected by phalloidin staining.Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the protein levels of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1(NFATc1),TRAP,cathepsin K(CTSK),c-Fos,matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),osteoprotegerin(OPG),receptor activator of nuclear factor κB(RANK),RANK ligand(RANKL)and phos-phorylated protein kinase B(p-AKT).RESULTS:A total of 136 active ingredients and 126 targets were selected corre-lated with QGKSF,whil 207 intersected targets of QGKSF and RA bone destruction were screened,175 of which were core targets.There were 199 pathways obtained by GO enrichment,and 20 pathways related to osteoclasts were screened out,including phosphatidylinoinosiol 3-kinase/AKT signaling pathway and osteoclast differentiation,etc.The results of TRAP staining,TRAP enzyme activity determination and phalloidin staining showed less positive cell formation,de-creased enzyme activity and decreased F-actin ring formation in QGKSF and methotrexate(MTX)groups compared with model group.Western blot results showed that compared with model group,the protein levels of NFATc1,TRAP,CTSK,c-Fos,MMP9,p-AKT,RANK and RANKL were decreased(P<0.05),while the expression of OPG protein was in-creased(P<0.05)in QGKSF and MTX groups.CONCLUSION:Treatment with QGKSF inhibits RANKL-induced dif-ferentiation of RAW264.7 cells into osteoclasts possibly by inhibiting the over-differentiation of osteoclasts via regulating RANKL/RANK/OPG signaling pathway.