Study summary · research use only
Cathelicidin LL-37 improves bone metabolic balance in rats with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis via the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this study using an ovariectomy (OVX) rat model of osteoporosis, researchers examined effects of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 on bone metabolism. LL-37 was associated with reduced bone loss and pathological injury in OVX rats, and with increased activity of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, including increased expression of beta-catenin, Osterix (Osx), and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2). XAV-939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, was reported to block these effects of LL-37 on bone loss and bone metabolism. The authors state the findings suggest LL-37 has a role in regulating bone loss and metabolism in OVX rats via the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and impaired bone microarchitecture due to the abnormal activity of osteoclasts. Cathelicidins are antimicrobial peptides present in the lysosomes of macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. LL-37, a cathelicidin, induces various biological effects, including modulation of the immune system, angiogenesis, wound healing, cancer growth, as well as inflammation, and bone loss. A previous study reported direct involvement of LL-37 suppressing osteoclastogenesis in humans. Here, we examined the role of LL-37 in the treatment of osteoporosis using an ovariectomy (OVX) rat model. Our results showed that LL-37 significantly reduced bone loss and pathological injury in OVX rats with osteoporosis. Furthermore, we found that LL-37 significantly increased the activity of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in OVX rats with osteoporosis, including the increased expression of beta-catenin, Osterix (Osx), and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), whereas XAV-939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, significantly blocked the effects of LL-37 on bone loss and abnormal bone metabolism. Altogether, our findings suggested that LL-37 exerted a protective role in regulating bone loss and abnormal bone metabolism in rats with osteoporosis by activating the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.
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