Compound Luolong Jiangu Capsule Protects Glucocorticoids Induced Osteoporosis Through the Nrf-2/HO-1/NF-κB Pathway

Abstract

Compound Luolong Jiangu Capsule (CLJC) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine prescription for patients with osteoporosis. This study explored the potential mechanisms of the protective effects of CLJC on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in rats. After oral administration of CLJC for 8 weeks, osteoporosis was induced in the rats by dexamethasone treatment for twice a week. The expression levels of HP, ALP, TRAP, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in bone samples as well as the concentrations of MDA and SOD in serum samples were determined using ELISA reagent kits. Besides, Western blotting was used to assess the expression levels of proteins involved in NF-κB/Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway. Our results showed that oral CLJC noticeably reduced the pathological damage of glucocorticoidinduced osteoporosis, decreased oxidative stress and suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines in bone and serum samples. It was also observed that oral administration of CLJC significantly suppressed the protein expression of Nrf-2, HO-1, p65/p-p65 and IkBa/p-IkBa. In conclusion, CLJC can play a protective role in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis by enhancing the antioxidant system and reducing inflammatory responses.