Introduction: Osteoclasts are giant polynuclear cells; their main function is bone resorption. An increased number of osteoclasts and enhanced bone resorption exert significant effects on osteoclast-related bone-lytic diseases, including osteoporosis. Given the limitations of current therapies for osteolytic diseases, it is urgently required to develop safer and more effective alternatives. Sarsasapogenin, a major sapogenin from Anemarrhena asphodeloides  Bunge, possesses potent antitumor effects and inhibits NF-κB and MAPK signaling. However, the manner in which it affects osteoclasts is unclear.
Methods: We investigated the effects of anti-osteoclastogenic and anti-resorptive of sarsasapogenin on bone marrow-derived osteoclasts.
Results: Sarsasapogenin inhibited multiple RANKL-induced signaling cascades, thereby inhibiting the induction of key osteoclast transcription factor NFATc1. The in vivo and in vitro results were consistent: sarsasapogenin treatment protected against bone loss in a mouse osteolysis model induced by lipopolysaccharide.
Conclusion: Our research confirms that sarsasapogenin can be used as a new treatment for osteoclast-related osteolytic diseases.
Keywords: sarsasapogenin, osteoclast, osteoclastogenesis, NF-κB, MAPK, NFATc1, therapeutics