Positive effect of compound amino acid chelated calcium from the shell and skirt of scallop in an ovariectomized rat model of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis has become an important public health issue with the increase of aging population, and afflicts millions of people worldwide, particularly elderly or postmenopausal women. In the present study, we prepared compound amino acid chelated calcium (CAA-Ca) from processing by-products of Chlamys farreri, and evaluated its effect on postmenopausal osteoporosis with an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. RESULTS: A 60-day treatment of OVX rats with CAA-Ca significantly enhanced the bone mineral density (BMD) and the bone calcium content. Meanwhile, some bone morphometric parameters, trabecular bone number (Tb.N), trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular bone thickness (Tb.Th) and cortical bone wall thickness (Ct.Th), were also increased by 8.20%, 118.18%, 32.99% and 19.10%, respectively. In addition, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in serum were significantly reduced after CAA-Ca treatment, while the blood calcium levels were increased. Mechanistically, CAA-Ca down-regulated the levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), and up-regulated osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels in osteoclasts, inhibiting bone resorption and bone loss. Meanwhile, CAA-Ca treatment raised ß-catenin levels and lowered Dickkopf1 (DKK1) levels in the Wnt signaling pathway of osteoblasts, which can promote calcium absorption and bone formation. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that CAA-Ca promoted bone formation, inhibited bone resorption and improved bone microstructure. Therefore, this study contributes to the potential application of CAA-Ca as a functional food resource in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Research Progress in OPG/RANK/RANKL Signal-regulated Mechanism of Steroid Induced Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head from Phlegm Theory / 中国中医药信息杂志

In recent years, due to the irregular and abused use of glucocorticoid in clinical treatment, the incidence of steroid induced avascular necrosis of femoral head (SANFH) is gradually increasing. TCM for the prevention and treatment of SANFH has received much attention from many scholars. However, due to the lack of the scientific explanation of molecular biology level for its pharmacodynamics mechanism, it is difficult to achieve the purpose of standardized treatment. The discovery of OPG/RANK/RANKL signaling pathway has opened up new shortcuts for the prevention and treatment of bone metabolic diseases. OPG/RANK/RANKL signaling pathway is associated with the pathogenesis of spleen deficiency and phlegm - blood stasis caused by phlegm-blood stasis due to paralysis of SANFH. The treatment efficacy based on the phlegm theory can eventually axial control of the system through the micro-information to express. This article discussed the relevance between the phlegm in the treatment of SANFH and molecular biology mechanism of OPG/RANK/RANKL signal regulation mechanism, and combined the system of bone metabolism regulation mechanism to discuss TCM differentiation of SANFH, with a purpose to provide references for clinical and further study.