Briarane-type diterpenoids suppress osteoclastogenisis by regulation of Nrf2 and MAPK/NF-kB signaling pathway.

Excess osteoclastic activity leads to an imbalance in bone remodeling and causes most adult skeletal diseases. Natural products are a promising source to attenuate the osteoporosis and relevant diseases of bone loss. Herein, a bioassay-guided detection of gorgonian corals resulted in junceellolide D (JD), a briarane-type diterpenoid from gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea, showing significant inhibition against the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) in vitro. To extend the investigation for structure-activity relationship (SAR), a total of 39 briarane-type analogues were isolated including 28 new compounds, and their structures were determined by extensive analyses of spectroscopic data. The SAR data indicated that JD is the most active to inhibit osteoclast development due to the decreased number of multinucleated tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase positive cells, suppression of the actin ring formation, blockage of bone resorption, and downregulation of osteoclast-specific marker genes. Mechanistically, JD increased the protein stability of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation followed by activation its downstream antioxidant enzymes, which strongly abolished RANKL-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, JD inhibits the RANKL-stimulated activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Hence, JD is considered as a promising lead compound for anti-osteoclastogenesis via activating Nrf2 and suppressing NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways to prevent osteoclast-mediated bone destructive diseases.