Objective: To observe the regulation of Chinese herbal medicine, Modified Qing'e Pill(加味青娥丸, MQEP), on the expression of adiponectin, bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP2), osteoprotegerin(OPG) and other potentially relevant risk factors in patients with nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head(ONFH). Methods: A total of 96 patients with nontraumatic ONFH were unequal randomly divided into treatment group(60 cases) and control group(36 cases). The treatment group were treated with MQEP while the control group were treated with simulated pills. Both groups were given caltrate D. Six months were taken as a treatment course. Patients were followed up every 2 months. The levels of plasma adiponectin, BMP2, OPG, von Willebrand factor(vWF), von Willebrand factor cleaving protease(vWF-cp), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1(PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator(tPA), C-reactive protein(CRP), blood rheology, bone mineral density(BMD) of the femoral head and Harris Hip Score were measured before and after treatment. Results: After 6 months of treatment, compared with the control group, patients in the treatment group had significantly higher adiponectin and BMP2 levels(P<0.01 and P=0.013, respectively), lower vWF, PAI-1 and CRP levels(P=0.019, P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively), and lower blood rheology parameters. BMD of the femoral neck, triangle area and Harris Hip Score in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Moreover, plasma adiponectin showed a positive association with BMP2(r=0.231, P=0.003) and a negative association with PAI-1(r=–0.159, P<0.05). Conclusions: MQEP may play a protective role against nontraumatic ONFH by increasing the expression of adiponectin, regulating bone metabolism and improving the hypercoagulation state, which may provide an experimental base for its clinical effects.
LI Cheng-gangSHEN LinYANG Yan-PingXU Xiao-JuanSHUAI BoMA Chen
Wnt signaling plays an important role in the bone development and remodeling. The Wnt antagonist Dkk-1 is a potent inhibitor of bone formation. The aims of this study were firstly to compare the serum Dkk-1 levels in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients with age-matched healthy controls, and secondly, to assess the possible relationship between Dkk-1 and β-catenin, sclerostin, or bone turnover markers [CTX, PINP, N-MID-OT and 25(OH)D] in the setting of postmenopausal osteoporosis. A total of 350 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and 150 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled, and the serum levels of Dkk-1, β-catenin, sclerostin, OPG, and RANKL were detected by ELISA, and bone turnover markers [CTX, PINP, N-MID-OT and 25(OH)D] were measured by Roche electrochemiluminescence system in two groups. Serum Dkk-1 levels were significantly higher in postmenopausal osteoporosis group than in control group(P<0.001). Univariate analyses revealed that serum Dkk-1 levels were weakly negatively correlated to β-catenin(r=–0.161, P=0.003) and OPG(r=–0.106, P=0.047), while multiple regression analysis showed a negative correlation between serum Dkk-1 levels with β-catenin(β=–0.165, P=0.009) and BMD(β=–0.139, P=0.027), and a positive correlation between serum Dkk-1 levels and CTX(β=0.122, P=0.040) in postmenopausal osteoporosis group. No similar correlations ware observed in control group. The results provided evidence for the role of Dkk-1 in bone metabolism and demonstrated the link of Dkk-1 and Wnt/β-catenin in some ways.
Objective: To investigate the impact of Qing'e Pill(青娥丸,QEP) on the cancellous bone microstructure and its effect on the level of β-catenin in a mouse model of postmenopausal osteoporosis.Methods: Ninety-six 8-week-old speci?c pathogen free C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups(24/group): sham,ovariectomised osteoporosis model,oestradiol-treated,and QEP-treated groups.Three months after surgery,the third lumbar vertebra and left femur of the animals were dissected and scanned using micro-computed tomography(micro-CT) to acquire three-dimensional(3 D) parameters of their cancellous bone microstructure.The impact of ovariectomy,the effect of oestradiol and QEP intervention on cancellous bone microstructure,and the expression of β-catenin were evaluated.Results: The oestradioland the QEP-treated groups exhibited a signi?cant increase in the bone volume fraction,trabecular number,trabecular thickness,bone surface to bone volume ratio(BS/BV),and β-catenin expression compared with those of the model group(P<0.05).In contrast,the structure model index,trabecular separation,and BS/BV were signi?cantly decreased compared with those of the ovariectomised osteoporosis model group(P<0.05).No differences were observed in the above parameters between animals of the QEP-and oestradiol-treated groups.Conclusions: The increased β-catenin expression may be the mechanism underlying QEP's improvement of the cancellous bone microstructure in ovariectomised mice.Our ?ndings provide a scienti?c rationale for using QEP as a dietary supplement to prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women.
SHUAI BoZHU RuiYANG Yan-pingSHEN LinXU Xiao-juanMA ChenLU Lin
