Friedelin suppresses osteoclastogenesis via sequential dual-targeting of p105 processing and STAT3-mediated metabolic...

Pathological osteolysis, driven by excessive osteoclast activity, is a hallmark of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and osteoporosis. Current therapies target inflammation but fail to prevent bone erosion, highlighting the demand for dual-action agents. Although Tripterygium wilfordii has shown therapeutic efficacy in RA, its clinical application is restricted by toxicity. Consequently, identifying novel bioactive monomers with favorable safety and deciphering their targets remains a critical need.

Through network pharmacology, we identified Friedelin as a core bioactive monomer of Tripterygium wilfordii. Its anti-osteoclastogenic efficacy was evaluated in vitro and validated in vivo using collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and ovariectomized (OVX) mouse models. To elucidate direct targets and molecular mechanisms, we integrated RNA-seq, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and molecular docking.

Friedelin potently suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation throughout the full course of induction in vitro. Mechanistically, Friedelin directly targets both p105(NF-κB1) and STAT3 exerting sequential pharmacological effects. During the early phase of differentiation, its binding to p105 inhibits ubiquitination-dependent processing, thereby aborting NF-κB signaling initiation. Subsequently, in the late phase, its interaction with STAT3 disrupts the STAT3/NFATc1 transcriptional and STAT3/LDHB metabolic axes, leading to impaired osteoclastogenesis. In vivo, Friedelin exhibited superior efficacy to Methotrexate (MTX) in alleviating bone erosion in CIA mice and effectively prevented bone loss in OVX mice.

Friedelin acts as a potent dual-phase inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis by sequentially blocking p105 dependent signaling initiation and STAT3 mediated transcriptional regulation. This study highlights Friedelin as a promising therapeutic candidate for inflammatory and metabolic bone diseases.