Si-Zhi Wan regulates osteoclast autophagy in osteoporosis through the AMPK signaling pathway to attenuate osteoclastogenesis

Abstract

Objectives: The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Si-Zhi Wan (SZW), a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat osteoporosis (OP), remain unknown. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of SZW on mice that underwent ovariectomy (OVX) and underlying mechanisms thereof.

Methods: We established an in vivo model of OP by performing OVX in mice. Microcomputed tomography (Micro-CT) was used to assess changes in bone characteristics of mice following SZW administration for 4 weeks. H&E staining revealed alterations in bone tissues of mice. Osteoclastogenesis in mouse bone tissue was observed using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and western blotting. Furthermore, we examined the impact of SZW on osteoclastogenesis in vitro using receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL). Finally, we explored the regulatory effects of SZW on osteoclast autophagy and the AMPK pathway.

Key findings: The results demonstrated that high-dose SZW reversed changes in bone density parameters caused by OVX, including bone volume (BV), BV/total volume, trabecular number, and trabecular spacing (P = 0.0007, 0.0035, 0.0114, and 0.0182, respectively), and stimulated the formation of bone trabeculae in mice (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, SZW suppressed osteoclast formation in mice with OVX and inhibited osteoclast formation induced by RANKL. Mechanistically, SZW inhibited osteoclast precursor cell autophagy through the AMPK pathway.

Conclusions: SZW effectively inhibited the autophagy of osteoclast precursors by regulating the AMPK pathway, thereby exerting anti-osteoclastogenic effects and serving as an alternative therapy for OP.

Keywords: AMPK signaling pathway; Si-Zhi Wan; autophagy; osteoclast; osteoporosis.