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. 2016 Dec 28;13(2):651–656. doi: 10.3892/etm.2016.4008

Salvianolic acid B prevents steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head via PPARγ expression in rats

Shuangqing Li 1,✉, Juan Wang 2
PMCID: PMC5348693  PMID: 28352346

Abstract

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is a water-soluble phenolic compound derived from Salvia Miltiorrhiza. Recent studies show Sal B has a clear function of anti-cerebral ischemia injury, which is closely related to antioxidation, free radical scavenging, neuroprotection and the blood brain barrier. The aim of the present study was to verify whether Sal B prevents steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head and to investigate its underlying pharmacological mechanisms. Steroid-induced osteonecrosis rat models were established to evaluate the effects of Sal B on osteonecrotic changes and repair processes. The use of Sal B improved steroid-induced histopathological scores and inhibited osteoclast differentiation in rats. Notably, Sal B induced bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into osteogenesis. Moreover, Sal B treatment suppressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ and AP2 protein expression levels and increased runt-related transcription factor 2 and Collagen I protein expression levels in steroid-induced rats. osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase content in steroid-induced rats was enhanced by treatment with Sal B. These results suggest that Sal B prevents steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head via PPARγ expression in rats. The present pilot study provides a brief insight into the effect of Sal B on steroid-induced osteonecrosis.

Keywords: salvianolic acid B, steroid-induced osteonecrosis, femoral head, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ

Introduction

Avascular necrosis is one of the most common clinical refractory diseases. According to reports, there are 50–75,000 new cases of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) in China (1). Steroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH) is the most common cause of non-traumatic femoral head necrosis (2). With the application of hormone therapies for immune system diseases, spinal cord injury and other diseases, there is an increasing trend in the incidence of SANFH (3). SANFH is most common in young adults, is often bilateral with high morbidity, and if left untreated 70% of the femoral head will collapse, which may result in serious mental stress and financial burden to individuals and society (4).

In SANFH, the bone cycle is interrupted, the active ingredient of bone is dead and a series of complex pathological processes can be observed, such as bone repair (5). The specific pathogenesis remains unclear, and possible mechanisms include endothelial injury, abnormal coagulation and fibrinolysis, lipid metabolism, bone metabolism and hemodynamic changes, which ultimately cause blood clots in the femoral head, the accumulation of fat cells, increased pressure in the bone, bone microcirculation disorders and osteonecrosis (6).

Osteonecrosis treatment includes non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment. The former includes weight reduction, medication, pulsed electromagnetic fields, high pressure oxygen and extracorporeal shock wave treatment; whereas the latter includes core decompression, bone graft without/with vascular intervention, osteotomy surgery, reconstruction of femoral head with support frame and hip arthroplasty (7). The selection of treatment method predominantly depends on the stage of osteonecrosis and the pathological range.

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is a water-soluble phenolic compound isolated from Salvia Miltiorrhiza, of which the active ingredient in water-soluble phenolic compound is >50% (8). It has previously been shown that Sal B may significantly improve neuronal injury induced by acute cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, and improve the behavioral disorders caused by cerebral ischemia (9). It has also been demonstrated that Sal B has antioxidation, anti-amyloid aggregation, and anti-amyloid cytotoxic effects (10–12). In addition, Sal B is able to significantly promote the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, playing the role of mitogen (13). The present study aimed to verify whether Sal B prevents SANFH via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ expression in rats.

Materials and methods

Animals

A total of 50 male Wistar rats (age, 12 weeks; weight, 300–320 g) were obtained from the Experimental Animal Centre of Cangzhou Central Hospital of Hebei province, and maintained in a room equipped with an air-filtering system, the cages and water were sterilized, and 23–24°C. The present study was conducted at the Experimental Animals Research Laboratory of the Cangzhou Central Hospital of Hebei province (Cangzhou, China) according to The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Approval was granted by the ethical commitee of this institution.

Groups and treatment

All rats were weighed and randomly divided into three groups after one week of feeding adaptation: Control group (n=10); model group (n=20); and Sal B group (40 mg/kg/d Sal B; n=20). A total of 21 mg/kg methylprednisolone acetate (Sigma-Aldrich; Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) was subcutaneously injected for six weeks. After one hour, 0 and 40 mg/kg/d Sal B (Fig. 1) was injected into the model and Sal B groups, respectively, for three weeks.

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

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Chemical structure of salvianolic acid B.

Tissue sample preparation and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining

Rats were anesthetized with trichloroacetaldehyde hydrate (0.3 ml/kg; Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd, China) and subsequently sacrificed by exsanguination via an aortectomy. Left side tissue samples of bilateral femora were fixed for 3 days in 4% paraformaldehyde. Tissue samples were washed and dehydrated using gradient alcohol, and were subsequently embedded using paraffin wax. Tissue samples were cut into 4-µm sections. These sections were stained using HE, and the slices were examined using a fluorescence microscope (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany).

Evaluation of steroid-induced ONFH

Changes in the excised femoral head sample and bone trabeculae were detected using micro-CT (µCT; GE Healthcare Biosciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA). Bone volume (BV), trabecular bone pattern factor (Tb.Pf), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), and bone mineral density (BMD) were calculated (14).

Osteocalcin (OC) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) content

Left side tissue samples of bilateral femora were acquired and homogenized using 100 µl ice-cold lysis buffer (10 mM EGTA, 20 mM Tris-HCl, 0.4% NaF, and protease inhibitors, 2 mM EDTA, pH 7.5) for 15 min. Subsequently, homogenates were centrifuged at 12,300 × g for 10 min at 4°C and a bicinchoninic acid protein assay kits (Beyotime Institute of Biotechnology, Nanjing, China) was used to determine the protein concentration. Equal protein (10 µg) was used to measure OC and ALP using H152 and A059-2 kits (Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, Nanjing, China).

Cells and culture system

Bone marrow cells were obtained from the long bones of male C57 mice (age, 4–6 weeks old) obtained from the Experiment Center of Hebei Medical University. The cells were cultured in the presence of M-CSF (HyClone; GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Logan, UT, USA) for three days to separate the bone marrow-derived macrophages. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were cultivated with 40 µM Sal B for four days. The presence of osteogenesis of the bone marrow-derived macrophages was determined by Oil Red O staining, and positive cells were observed under a fluorescence microscope (Carl Zeiss).

Western blot analysis

Left side tissue samples of bilateral femora were acquired and homogenized using 100 µl ice-cold lysis buffer (10 mM EGTA, 20 mM Tris-HCl, 0.4% NaF, and protease inhibitors, 2 mM EDTA, pH 7.5) for 15 min. Subsequently, homogenates were centrifuged at 12,300 × g for 10 min at 4°C and a Bicinchoninic Acid protein assay (Beyotime Institute of Biotechnology, Nanjing, China) was used to determine the protein concentration. Next, 30–80 µg protein was separated using 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels and transferred onto polyvinylidene fluoride membranes. Blocking was performed with 5% skim milk powder in TBST for 1 h at 37°C. The following rabbit antibodies were used: PPARγ (1:300; sc-7273), AP2 (1:200; sc-12635), runt-related transcription factor (Runx)2 (1:400; sc-101145), Collagen (Col) I (1:400; sc-59772) and GAPDH (1:2,000; all Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., Dallas, TX, USA) overnight at 4°C. The membrane was extensively washed using TBST for 1 h and probed with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody (1:5,000; sc-2005 or sc-2768; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.) for 2 h. Relative band intensity was determined by a gel image analysis system (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Hercules, CA, USA).

Statistical analysis

SPSS version 13.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Numerical data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. Comparisons between two groups were performed using independent-sample t-test. P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.

Results

Sal B prevents histopathological changes in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis

The effect of Sal B on histopathological changes was examined in rats by steroid-induced osteonecrosis. As shown in Fig. 2, histopathological changes of control rats were notably reduced, as compared with the steroid-induced osteonecrosis model group. Histopathological changes of rats induced by steroid-induced osteonecrosis treatment with Sal B were markedly inhibited as compared with model group.

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

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Sal B prevents histopathological changes in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis (magnification, ×100). Sham, control group; Model, steroid-induced osteonecrosis model group; Sal B, salvianolic acid B-treated group.

Sal B prevents osteoclast differentiation in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis

Whether Sal B prevents osteoclast differentiation of bone marrow derived macrophages was investigated. As shown in Fig. 3, BV, Tb.Pf, Tb.Th, Tb.N and BMD values of the steroid model group were lower than that of the control group. Tb.Sp values of the steroid model group were higher than that the control group. However, treatment with Sal B significantly reversed the steroid-induced changes in BV, Tb.Pf, Tb.Th, Tb.N, Tb.Sp and BMD in rats (P<0.01).

Figure 3.

Figure 3.

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Sal B prevents osteoclast differentiation in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis. ##P<0.01 vs. the sham control group; **P<0.01 vs. the sham control group. Sham, control group; Model, steroid-induced osteonecrosis model group; Sal B, salvianolic acid B-treated group; BV/TV, bone volume/total volume; Tb.Pf, trabecular bone pattern factor; Tb.Th, trabecular thickness; Tb.N, trabecular number; Tb.Sp, trabecular separation; BMD, bone mineral density.

Sal B accelerates osteogenesis of bone marrow-derived macrophages

Following investigation of the effects of Sal B on the osteoclast differentiation of bone marrow-derived macrophages, Sal B was found to promote osteoclast differentiation of bone marrow-derived macrophages, as shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 4.

Figure 4.

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Sal B accelerates osteogenesis in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis (magnification, ×100). Sal B, salvianolic acid B-treated group.

Sal B prevents PPARγ signaling in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis

To determine the underlying mechanism associated with the effects of Sal B on steroid-induced osteonecrosis, the expression level of PPARγ protein was assessed by western blot analysis. As shown in Fig. 5, the expression levels of PPARγ protein were significantly increased by steroid treatment, as compared with the control group (P<0.01). Notably, pretreatment with Sal B significantly suppressed steroid-induced increases in the expression levels of PPARγ protein (P<0.01).

Figure 5.

Figure 5.

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Salvianolic acid B prevents PPARγ signaling in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis. The effect of salvianolic acid B on PPARγ protein expression was investigated (A) using western blotting and (B) statistical analysis of PPARγ protein expression in rats by steroid-induced osteonecrosis. ##P<0.01 vs. the sham control group; **P<0.01 vs. the sham control group. Sham, control group; Model, steroid-induced osteonecrosis model group; Sal B, salvianolic acid B-treated group; PPAR, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor.

Sal B prevents AP2 signaling in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis

The endothelial protective effects of Sal B on AP2 signaling pathway were examined in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis using western blotting. As shown in Fig. 6, the AP2 protein expression levels in the control group were significantly lower than that of the steroid-induced osteonecrosis model group (P<0.01). In contrast, treatment with Sal B was demonstrated to significantly reduce steroid-induced AP2 signaling in rats via steroid-induced osteonecrosis (P<0.01).

Figure 6.

Figure 6.

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Sal B prevents AP2 signaling in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis. The effect of salvianolic acid B on AP2 protein expression was investigated (A) using western blotting and (B) statistical analysis of AP2 protein expression in rats by steroid-induced osteonecrosis. ##P<0.01 vs. the sham control group; **P<0.01 vs. the sham control group. Sham, control group; Model, steroid-induced osteonecrosis model group; Sal B, salvianolic acid B-treated group.

Sal B increases Runx2 signaling in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis

The endothelial protective effects of Sal B on Runx2 protein expression in rats were quantified by steroid-induced osteonecrosis. As shown in Fig. 7, there was an significantly decrease in Runx2 protein expression of steroid-induced osteonecrosis, as compared with the control group (P<0.01). Pretreatment with Sal B significantly increased Runx2 protein expression levels of steroid-induced osteonecrosis rats (P<0.01).

Figure 7.

Figure 7.

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Sal B increases Runx2 signaling in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis. The effect of salvianolic acid B on Runx2 protein expression was investigated (A) using western blotting and (B) statistical analysis of Runx2 protein expression in rats by steroid-induced osteonecrosis. ##P<0.01 vs. the sham control group; **P<0.01 vs. the sham control group. Sham, control group; Model, steroid-induced osteonecrosis model group; Sal B, salvianolic acid B-treated group; Runx2, runt-related transcription factor (Runx)2.

Sal B accelerates Col I signaling in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis

In order to determine whether the effect of Sal B accelerates Col I signaling pathway in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis, Col I protein expression was measured using western blot analysis. As shown in Fig. 8, significant steroid-induced inhibition of Col I signaling was observed in the model group, as compared with control group (P<0.01). However, following treatment with Sal B, steroid-induced Col I signaling was significantly increased in rat with steroid-induced osteonecrosis (P<0.01).

Figure 8.

Figure 8.

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Sal B increases Col I signaling in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis. The effect of salvianolic acid B on Col I protein expression was investigated (A) using western blotting and (B) statistical analysis of Col I protein expression in rats by steroid-induced osteonecrosis. ##P<0.01 vs. the sham control group; **P<0.01 vs. the sham control group. Sham, control group; Model, steroid-induced osteonecrosis model group; Sal B, salvianolic acid B-treated group; Col, collagen.

Sal B increases OC and ALP content in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis

To assess the effect of Sal B on osteonecrosis, OC and ALP content in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis were evaluated. As shown in Fig. 9, OC and ALP contents were significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.05). However, Sal B significantly increased steroid-induced the inhibition of OC and ALP contents in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis (P<0.01).

Figure 9.

Figure 9.

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Sal B increases (A) OC and (B) ALP content in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis. ##P<0.01 vs. the sham control group; **P<0.01 vs. the sham control group. Sham, control group; Model, steroid-induced osteonecrosis model group; Sal B, salvianolic acid B-treated group; OC, osteocalcin; ALP, alkaline phosphatase.

Discussion

In recent years, hormone imbalance has become the most prevalent reason for non-traumatic osteonecrosis, with the widespread clinical application of hormonal drugs (2). There are various treatments for the disease; however, the effects are not optimal. The main aim of treatment is to reduce the progressive destruction of joint cartilage and subchondral bone and to prevent the collapse of the femoral head (3). As for the collapsed femoral head, surgical methods are predominantly used for treatment, including total hip joint replacement; although these surgical techniques may have a therapeutic effect, surgical complications and economic burden to the patients should not be disregarded (7). Therefore, it is critical that a safe, efficient, economical and non-invasive prevention method is found. The results of the present study demonstrated that Sal B prevents histopathological changes and osteoclast differentiation in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis, and accelerates the osteogenesis of bone marrow derived macrophages. These findings indicate that Sal B may protect against steroid-induced osteonecrosis. Cui et al (15) reported that Sal B prevents bone loss through the stimulation of osteogenesis and bone marrow angiogenesis by PPARγ mRNA expression and Runx2 mRNA expression in prednisone-treated rats. Xu et al (16) confirmed that Sal B promotes the osteogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells via osteopontin, Runx2 and osterix expression.

Hormones are able to activate enhancer binding protein (C/EBPS), thereby activating the expression of PPAR-γ, and inducing the differentiation of bone marrow stromal stem cells into adipocytes (17). It has been proposed that large doses of corticosteroids may induce bone marrow stromal stem cells to upregulate the expression of PPAR-γ mRNA in cell culture and genetic studies (18). Since bone marrow stromal stem cells can be differentiated into both bone cells and fat cells, adipocyte differentiation is increased, whereas osteoblast differentiation is reduced accordingly (19). In vitro experimentation has demonstrated that hormones can induce the MSCs cultured in vitro to elevate the expression of PPAR-γ by as much as 2-fold, so that the core binding factor a1 (Cbfa1/Runx2) reduces by 50–60%, inducing differentiation into adipocytes and reducing osteoblast differentiation (20). Studies have shown that, under the optimal conditions, adipocytes and osteoblasts may be converted into each other, since the femoral head in osteoblasts and adipocytes share a common pool of bone marrow stromal cells (21,22). Thus the generation of a large number of fat cells induced by hormones is an important mechanism of femoral head necrosis disease (23). In the present study, pretreatment with Sal B significantly suppressed steroid-induced expression levels of PPARγ and AP2 protein.

Runx2 and Osterix are considered to be the most important transcription factors that regulate the stereotype and differentiation of osteoblasts, which are the key site for a variety of hormones that regulate the osteoblast differentiation and bone formation of local and external regulatory factors (24). Scholars have confirmed that high-concentration hormones are able to inhibit the expression and activity of osteoblast phenotype markers Runx2 and Osterix by investigating in-vitro cell culture and the molecular and genetic level (25). In present study, pretreatment with Sal B significantly increased Runx2 and Col I protein expression levels in steroid-induced osteonecrosis rats. This indicates the potential role of PPARγ/AP2/Runx2/Col I in the Sal B-induced effects on steroid-induced osteonecrosis. Wang et al (26) suggested that Sal B inhibited PPARγ expression in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity. Cui et al (15) reported that Sal B prevents bone loss through the stimulation of osteogenesis and bone marrow angiogenesis via PPARγ and Runx2 mRNA expression in prednisone-treated rats.

Mesenchymal stem cells are directionally induced into osteoblasts in osteogenic medium. The contents of ALP and BGP are determined after PPAR-γ cells are lysed (27). ALP is capable of hydrolyzing organophosphate, so that the local concentration of the phosphate is increased, which may damage calcification inhibitor to initiate calcification (7). Therefore, improving the ALP content is an important indicator for the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts, and the level of ALP content in the cells may be used to measure the presence and differentiation degree of osteoblasts (28). In the present study, Sal B significantly increased the steroid-induced inhibition of OC and ALP content in rats with steroid-induced osteonecrosis.

In conclusion, the present study showed that Sal B prevents SANFH via PPARγ expression in rats. In characterizing the mechanism of action, we discovered that the PPARγ/AP2/Runx2/Col I and OC/ALP pathways are required for both Sal B-mediated protective effects against steroid-induced osteonecrosis. Therefore, Sal B should be considered a potential osteonecrosis drug for the treatment of steroid-induced osteonecrosis.

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