β‑ecdysterone promotes autophagy and inhibits apoptosis in osteoporotic rats
Open accessAbstract
Osteoporosis is an aging process of skeletal tissues with characteristics of reductions in bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of glucocorticoid‑induced osteoporosis on osteoblasts and to examine the roles of β‑ecdysterone (β‑Ecd) involved. In the present study, an in vivo model of osteoporosis was established through the subcutaneous implantation of prednisolone (PRED) into Sprague‑Dawley rats, with or without a subcutaneous injection of β‑Ecd (5 or 10 mg/kg body weight). Expression of Beclin‑1 and microtubule‑associated protein 1A/1B‑light chain 3I/II and apoptosis in lumbar vertebrae tissues was measured by immunofluorescence and TUNEL assays, respectively. Serum concentration of calcium and phosphorus, and the activity of tartrate‑resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured by biochemical assay. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting was used for detect the expression of related genes and proteins. PRED treatment inhibited bone formation by decreasing bone mineral density, and suppressing the expression of Runt‑related transcription factor 2 and bone morphogenetic protein 2, while enhancing the activity of alkaline phosphatase, upregulating the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, and increasing the serum content of calcium, phosphorus and tartrate‑resistant acid phosphatase in rats. Additionally, PRED was revealed to inhibit autophagy through the downregulation of Beclin‑1, autophagy protein 5 and microtubule‑associated protein 1A/1B‑light chain 3I/II expression, whereas it induced the apoptosis, through the activation of caspase‑3 and the suppression of apoptosis regulator BCL2 expression. Notably, the PRED‑induced alterations in bone formation, autophagy and apoptosis were revealed to be attenuated by β‑Ecd administration. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that β‑Ecd may be a promising candidate for the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of osteoporosis, through the induction of autophagy and the inhibition of apoptosis in vivo.
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Ecdysterone attenuated the glucocorticoid effect with inhibition of apoptosis and stimulating autophagy.
“This effect was attenuated by ecdysterone with the inhibition of apoptosis and stimulating autophagy, strengthening 20E as a promising candidate for treatment of osteoporosis.”
From Molecular Targets of 20-Hydroxyecdysone in Mammals, Mechanism of Action: Is It a Calorie Restriction Mimetic and Anti-Aging Compound? (2025) · cites this paper as [38]
Glucocorticoid inhibited bone formation in rats by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting autophagy in lumbar vertebral tissue.
“Similar to mice, GC inhibited bone formation in rats by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting autophagy in lumbar vertebral tissue [38].”
From Molecular Targets of 20-Hydroxyecdysone in Mammals, Mechanism of Action: Is It a Calorie Restriction Mimetic and Anti-Aging Compound? (2025) · cites this paper as [38]
20E appears protective against osteoporosis, therefore acting against aging.
“20E appears protective against osteoporosis [27,38], therefore acting against aging.”
From Molecular Targets of 20-Hydroxyecdysone in Mammals, Mechanism of Action: Is It a Calorie Restriction Mimetic and Anti-Aging Compound? (2025) · cites this paper as [38]
Tang et al. reported that ecdysterone promotes autophagy in osteoporotic rats.
“Tang and colleagues (Tang et al., 2018) has reported that ecdysterone promotes autophagy in osteoporotic rats.”
From An Arthropod Hormone, Ecdysterone, Inhibits the Growth of Breast Cancer Cells via Different Mechanisms (2020) · cites this paper as Tang et al., 2018
Ecdy can promote autophagy upon onset of osteoporosis in rats.
“Ecdy can promote autophagy upon the onset of osteoporosis in rats (Tang et al., 2018).”
From An Arthropod Hormone, Ecdysterone, Inhibits the Growth of Breast Cancer Cells via Different Mechanisms (2020) · cites this paper as Tang et al., 2018
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- Authors
- Tang, Y., Yue, Z., Xin, D., Zeng, L., Xiong, Z., Hu, Z., & Xu, C.
- Affiliations
- Department of Orthopedics, Xiaoshan TCM Hospital, Xiaoshan, Hangzhou 311201, P.R. China
- Venue
- Molecular Medicine Reports
- Publisher
- Spandidos Publications
- Published
- 2017-11-14
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1591-1598
- ISSN
- 1791-2997 (ISSN-L)
- 1791-3004
- PMC
- PMC5780099
- OpenAlex
- W2770427050
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 0.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- Locations
- Molecular Medicine Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bone Metabolism and Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Medicinal Plant Pharmacodynamics Research
- Keywords
- glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, prednisolone, autophagy, apoptosis, osteoblasts, Beclin-1, LC3, RANKL, Runx2, BMP-2, caspase-3, Bcl-2, bone formation, bone mineral density, alkaline phosphatase, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Autophagy, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Ecdysterone, Male, Osteoblasts, Osteoporosis, Gene Expression, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Apoptosis, Bone Density Conservation Agents, Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
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