[Effect of icariin on the expression of receptor activator nuclear factor-κB ligand and osteoprotegerin of human periodontal ligament cells].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of icariin on the expression of receptor activator nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLC) inhibited by sonicated extracts of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg).

METHODS

hPDLC were extracted from 14 premolars extracted from 11 to 18-year-old patients for orthodontic purpose and cultured. The 7th passages of hPDLC were divided into six groups, each group was stimulated with 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 mg/L icariin and 50 mg/L sonicated extracts for 48 h. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of RANKL and OPG.

RESULTS

Pg extracts group expressed more RANKL than the control group (3.60 ± 0.11 vs 1.08 ± 0.19), OPG expression decreased (0.32 ± 0.08 vs 1.01 ± 0.08), and RANKL/OPG ratio significantly increased (11.20 ± 0.13 vs 1.00 ± 0.10). Compared with control group, RANKL and OPG expression changed in groups stimulated with 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 mg/L icariin. OPG expression was higher in 0.1 mg/L group than in the control (36.84 ± 0.05 vs 1.01 ± 0.08), RANKL/OPG ratio was significantly lower than the control group (0.04 ± 0.03 vs 1.00 ± 0.10) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The concentration of 0.1 mg/L icariin can inhibit hPDLC expression of RANKL in sonicated extracts of Pg and promote OPG expression.