Affiliations: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Health
Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima,
Japan | Department of Nutritional Research, Nutrition Science
Institute, Meiji Milk Products Co., Kanagawa, Japan | Department of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Faculty
of Human Life Science, Hiroshima Jogakuin University, Hiroshima, Japan | Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Institute
of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima,
Japan
Note: [] Address for correspondence: H. Yamamoto, Department of Clinical
Nutrition, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima
Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan. Tel.: +81 88
633 9595; Fax: +81 88 633 7094; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: It has been reported that Cordyceps sinensis, a traditional
Chinese medicine, has various pharmacological effects. The aim of this study
was to clarify the effect of water extract of Cordyceps sinensis (WECS)
on osteoclast differentiation in vitro. In mouse bone marrow cells and
monocyte/macrophage cell line RAW264.7, WECS dose-dependently inhibited the
receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)
ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation by tartrate-resistant acid
phosphatase (TRAP) staining. In fact, cytotoxic effect was not observed in the
RAW264.7 cells treated with WECS. Moreover, the mRNA expression of osteoclast
related genes (calcitonin receptor, cathepsin K, matrix metalloprotease 9 and
nuclear factor of activated T cells c1) was also inhibited by WECS.
Investigation of inhibitory mechanism by using electrophoretic mobility shift
assay (EMSA) and Western blot analysis revealed that WECS inhibited the
activation of NF-κB through the prevention of
IκBα phosphorylation. In
conclusion, the present results demonstrate for the first time that WECS is a
potent inhibitor of the RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation through a
mechanism involving the NF-κB pathway.
Keywords: Water extract of Cordyceps sinensis (WECS), osteoclast, differentiation, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), inhibitor of the κB (IκB)
Journal: BioFactors, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 105-116, 2007
