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Crocin protects against dexamethasone-induced osteoblast apoptosis by inhibiting the ROS/Ca(2+)-mediated mitochondrial pathway

Osteoblast apoptosis has been identified as an important event in the development of glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis and osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Crocin, a bioactive ingredient of saffron, has been demonstrated to induce antiapoptotic effects on numerous types of cell in vitro; ho...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Nie, Zhigang, Deng, Shuang, Zhang, Lei, Chen, Sen, Lu, Qiang, Peng, Hao
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: D.A. Spandidos 2019
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6580004/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31115574
http://dx.doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10267
Descripción
Sumario:Osteoblast apoptosis has been identified as an important event in the development of glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis and osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Crocin, a bioactive ingredient of saffron, has been demonstrated to induce antiapoptotic effects on numerous types of cell in vitro; however, the effects of crocin on the dexamethasone (Dex)-induced apoptosis of osteoblasts remain unclear. In the present study, the protective effects of crocin during Dex-induced apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, and the underlying mechanisms, were investigated. MTT and Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry assays were performed to evaluate the viability and apoptosis of cells, respectively. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular Ca(2+) levels and apoptosis-associated protein expression were assessed via flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and western blotting. It was demonstrated that crocin pretreatment inhibited Dex-induced apoptosis of osteoblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Crocin reversed Dex-induced decreases in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and increases in ROS and intracellular Ca(2+) levels. Furthermore, crocin upregulated the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and mitochondrial cytochrome c (Cyt C), and downregulated those of cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2-associated X protein and cytoplasmic Cyt C. N-acetylcysteine, a ROS inhibitor, and 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid, a calcium chelator, attenuated Dex-induced osteoblast apoptosis, whereas H(2)O(2) and ionomycin, a calcium ionophore that increases intracellular calcium levels, reversed the antiapoptotic effects of crocin on Dex-treated osteoblasts. These results indicated that crocin may protect osteoblasts from Dex-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the ROS/Ca(2+)-mediated mitochondrial pathway, thus suggesting that crocin has potential value as a treatment for GC-induced bone diseases.