Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits osteoclastogenesis by suppressing NF kappaB and downregulating NFATc1 and c-Fos

Int Immunopharmacol. 2009 Jun;9(6):774-80. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2009.03.001. Epub 2009 Mar 12.

Abstract

Osteoclasts are multinuclear cells of myeloid lineage responsible for bone resorption. The anti-inflammatory property of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of the propolis of honeybee hives, has been revealed. Since the regulatory mechanism of differentiation and activation of osteoclasts shares many well-known signaling pathways with that of inflammation, we investigated whether CAPE has any effect on osteoclastogenesis. CAPE potently suppressed osteoclastogenesis in cultures of bone marrow-derived precursor cells with the osteoclast differentiation factor, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL). While the RANKL-stimulated activation of the ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK signaling pathways was not affected, the DNA binding and transcription activity of NF kappaB were reduced by CAPE treatment. In addition, CAPE blocked the induction of NFATc1 and c-Fos following RANKL stimulation. Forced expression of c-Fos could reverse the inhibitory effect of CAPE on osteoclastogenesis. Finally, CAPE significantly inhibited the RANKL-induced osteoclast formation in mouse calvariae in vivo. We propose that CAPE might be useful as a therapeutic agent for treatment of bone destructive diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow / metabolism
  • Caffeic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / drug effects
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Osteoclasts / drug effects*
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • RANK Ligand / pharmacology

Substances

  • Caffeic Acids
  • NF-kappa B
  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • Nfatc1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • RANK Ligand
  • Tnfsf11 protein, mouse
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • caffeic acid phenethyl ester
  • Phenylethyl Alcohol