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Cardamonin attenuates iron overload-induced osteoblast oxidative stress through the HIF-1α/ROS pathway
Chuyi Chen1, Bohao Chen1, Yuewei Lin2
1State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; 1st School of Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, PR China; The Laboratory of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, PR China.
Background:
Osteoporosis(OP) is a bone disease under research. Iron overload is a significant risk factor. Iron balance is crucial for bone metabolism and biochemical processes. When there is an excess of iron in the body, it tends to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can cause oxidative damage to cells. The flavonoid compound, Cardamonin (CAR), possesses potent anti-inflammatory and anti-iron overload properties that can be beneficial in mitigating the risk of OP.
Purpose:
This study investigates the potential therapeutic interventions and underlying mechanisms of CAR for treating OP in individuals with iron overload.
Methods:
The model of iron-overloaded mice was established by intraperitoneally injecting iron dextran(ID) into the mice. OP severity was evaluated with micro-CT and Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining in vivo. In vitro, the iron-overloaded osteoblast model was induced by ferric ammonium citrate. Cell counting kit 8 assay to evaluate cell viability, Annexin V-FITC/PI assay to detect cell apoptosis. A range of cellular markers were detected, including the variation in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), ROS, and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO).
Results:
CAR can reverse bone loss in iron overload-induced OP mouse models in vivo. CAR attenuates the impairment of iron overload on the activity and apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells as well as the accumulation of ROS and LPO activation via HIF-1α/ROS pathways.
Conclusion:
CAR downregulating HIF-1α pathways prevents inhibition of iron overload-induced osteoblasts dysfunctional by attenuating ROS accumulation, reducing oxidative stress, promotes bone formation, and alleviates OP.

