Effect of polygonimitin C on bone formation and resorption in human osteoblast-like MG63 cells

Purpose: To investigate the effect of polygonimitin C (PC) on bone formation and resorption in human osteoblast-like MG63 cells.
Methods: MG63 cells were treated with PC at doses of 0, 20, 40 or 80 μg/mL for 48 h, with an untreated group as control. The effect of PC on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in MG63 cells was investigated by p-nitrophenyl phosphate disodium hexahydrate assay. Western blot assay was used to evaluate the effect of PC on the expressions of osterix (OSX), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX-2), osteocalcin (OC), fibronectin (FN), type I collagen (COL I), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) proteins in MG63 cells.
Results: ALP relative activity in MG63 cells treated with PC at 20, 40 or 80 μg/mL (123.58, 137.74 or 159.62 %, respectively) was significantly (p < 0.05 or 0.01) higher than that in control group (99.37 %). Expressions of OSX, BMP-2, RUNX-2, OC, FN, COL I and OPG proteins in MG63 cells treated with PC at 20, 40 or 80 μg/mL were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those in control group. However, there were no statistically significant differences in RANKL protein expression between PC-treated MG63 cells and control group.
Conclusion: These results show that PC exerts protective effects against osteoporosis by promoting bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption. Thus, PC may be useful in the development of new anti-osteoporosis drugs.

Keywords
Polygonimitin C; MG63 cells; Bone formation; Bone resorption; Osteoporosis