Simvastatin inhibits osteoclast differentiation by scavenging reactive oxygen species

Exp Mol Med. 2011 Nov 30;43(11):605-12. doi: 10.3858/emm.2011.43.11.067.

Abstract

Osteoclasts, together with osteoblasts, control the amount of bone tissue and regulate bone remodeling. Osteoclast differentiation is an important factor related to the pathogenesis of bone-loss related diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) acts as a signal mediator in osteoclast differentiation. Simvastatin, which inhibits 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A, is a hypolipidemic drug which is known to affect bone metabolism and suppresses osteoclastogenesis induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). In this study, we analyzed whether simvastatin can inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis through suppression of the subsequently formed ROS and investigated whether simvastatin can inhibit H2O2-induced signaling pathways in osteoclast differentiation. We found that simvastatin decreased expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), a genetic marker of osteoclast differentiation, and inhibited intracellular ROS generation in RAW 264.7 cell lines. ROS generation activated NF-κB, protein kinases B (AKT), mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways such as c-JUN N-terminal kinases, p38 MAP kinases as well as extracellular signal- regulated kinase. Simvastatin was found to suppress these H2O2-induced signaling pathways in osteoclastogenesis. Together, these results indicate that simvastatin acts as an osteoclastogenesis inhibitor through suppression of ROS-mediated signaling pathways. This indicates that simvastatin has potential usefulness for osteoporosis and pathological bone resorption.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acid Phosphatase / genetics
  • Acid Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Osteoclasts / cytology*
  • Osteoclasts / drug effects*
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism
  • RANK Ligand / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Simvastatin / pharmacology*
  • Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Isoenzymes
  • NF-kappa B
  • RANK Ligand
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Simvastatin
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Acid Phosphatase
  • Acp5 protein, mouse
  • Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase