Effect of bisphosphonate on osteoclast differentiation and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase

Dong Wei; Feng Xiao-jie; Liang Yong-qiang; Deng Jiu-peng; Wen Li-ming; Qi Meng-chun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.38.001

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase is a specific marker for osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, which is a sign of osteoclast maturity. <br> OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of alendronate on tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase related to osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. <br> METHODOsteoclasts were cultured by mouse monocyte-macrophage cellline-RAW264.7. The cells were divided into two groupcontrol group, treated with 100μg/L receptor activator of nuclear factorκB ligand factor;alendronate group, treated with 100μg/L receptor activator of nuclear factorκB ligand factor+10-7 mol/L alendronate. Osteoclastogenesis and resorption function of osteoclasts were examined at 7 days of culture. Gene expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase was detected by immunofluorescence method. Western blot assay was used to detect protein expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive multinuclear cells were observed and resorption lacunae formed in two groups. Control group showed the higher number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive multinuclear cells and larger size of resorption lacunae than the alendronate group (P<0.01). Immunofluorescence showed expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase was higher in the control group than the alendronate group (P<0.01);furthermore, the protein expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase was also lower in the alendronate group than the control group (P<0.01). These findings indicate that bisphosphonates could strongly inhibit osteoclastogenesis and its resorption function by inhibiting protein expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase.