Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China.
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, Jilin, China.
J Orthop Surg Res. 2022 Sep 14;17(1):419. doi: 10.1186/s13018-022-03308-w.
It is recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia that deer antlers can be used to tonify the kidney and strengthen bone. Although numerous studies have demonstrated that deer antler has protective effects on the kidney and bone, its molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism underlying its effects on the bone and kidney.
Water extract of pilose antler was prepared and then filtered through a 0.45 μm Hollow Fiber Cartridge (GE Healthcare, USA). The filtrate was freeze-dried by a Heto PowerDry LL3000 Freeze Dryer (Thermo, USA) and stored at - 80 °C. Rats were treated with deer antler extract (DAE) prepared in advance, and gene regulatory network in the kidney and bone was detected by RNA-Seq technique. Micro-CT was used to detect bone trabecular formation, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV).
The results demonstrate that DAE could jointly heighten renal function by maintaining renal homeostasis, combating renal fibrosis, and reducing renal inflammation by regulating ion transport. Furthermore, DAE can strengthen the bone system by stimulating osteoblast differentiation and regulating bone regeneration and the bone marrow microenvironment. Micro-CT results confirmed that DAE can promote bone trabecular formation and increase BMD and BV/TV. We also identified many genes that can regulate both the kidney and bone simultaneously, which explained the theory of "kidney governing bone" at the molecular level and provided possible strategies for further application of this theory to treat diseases.
DAE enhances renal function, maintains renal homeostasis, positively regulates skeletal system development, and increases bone mineral density. The underlying mechanism involves improving the expression levels of functional genes involved in renal function and regulation and repair, as well as genes that positively regulate skeletal system development.
《中国药典》记载鹿角具有补肾强骨的功效。虽然大量研究表明鹿角对肾脏和骨骼具有保护作用，但其中的分子机制仍有待阐明。本研究旨在探讨其对肾脏和骨骼作用的分子机制。
制备鹿茸水提物，然后用 0.45μm 中空纤维过滤器（GE Healthcare，美国）过滤。滤液用 Heto PowerDry LL3000 冷冻干燥机（Thermo，美国）冻干，储存在-80°C。用预先制备的鹿茸提取物（DAE）处理大鼠，采用 RNA-Seq 技术检测肾脏和骨骼中的基因调控网络。使用 Micro-CT 检测骨小梁形成、骨矿物质密度（BMD）和骨体积分数（BV/TV）。
结果表明，DAE 通过维持肾脏内环境稳态、对抗肾纤维化和减少肾脏炎症，共同增强肾功能。此外，DAE 通过刺激成骨细胞分化和调节骨再生和骨髓微环境来增强骨骼系统。Micro-CT 结果证实 DAE 可促进骨小梁形成，增加 BMD 和 BV/TV。我们还鉴定了许多可以同时调节肾脏和骨骼的基因，这从分子水平解释了“肾主骨”的理论，并为进一步应用该理论治疗疾病提供了可能的策略。
DAE 增强肾功能，维持肾脏内环境稳态，正向调节骨骼系统发育，增加骨矿物质密度。其作用机制涉及改善与肾功能和调节修复相关的功能基因以及正向调节骨骼系统发育的基因的表达水平。
