Beneficial effects of sulfonamide-based gallates on osteoblasts in vitro

Effective treatments for osteoporosis remain fairly elusive; however, studies have reported that antioxidants may aid in the maintenance of reactive oxygen species at a favorable level, in order to prevent osteoporosis. Gallic acid (GA) and its derivatives are potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory agents that affect several biochemical and pharmacological pathways; however, GA is slightly cytotoxic and suppresses cell proliferation. The present study modified GA by the introduction of sulfonamide, in order to obtain a novel compound known as JEZ-C, and investigated its effects on osteoblasts by measuring cell proliferation, viability, morphology, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and the expression of relevant osteoblast markers. Results indicated that JEZ-C may effectively promote osteoblast growth. JEZ-C increased ALP activity, upregulated the expression of osteogenic-related genes, including runt-related transcription factor 2, bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin and alpha-1 type I collagen, thus indicating that JEZ-C enhances bone matrix production and mineralization. The recommended range of JEZ-C concentration is between 6.25×10(−3) and 6.25×10(−1) µg/ml, within which cell growth was promoted compared with the control. Specifically, treatment with 6.25×10(−2) µg/ml JEZ-C is ideal. These findings may represent a novel approach to cell-based therapy for the treatment of osteoporosis.