The Effects of Rosiglitazone on Osteoblastic Differentiation, Osteoclast Formation and Bone Resorption

Rosiglitazone has the potential to activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR gamma), which in turn can affect bone formation and resorption. However, the mechanisms by which rosiglitazone regulates osteoclastic or osteoblastic differentiation are not fully understood. This study examines how rosiglitazone affects osteoclast formation, bone resorption and osteoblast differentiation from mouse bone marrow. Rosiglitazone treatment not only inhibited the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells, but also prevented pit formation by bone marrow cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Rosiglitazone also suppressed the receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B ligand (RANKL) receptor (RANK) expression but increased PPAR gamma 2 expression in the cells. In addition, rosiglitazone diminished RANKL-induced activation of NF-kappa B-DNA binding by blocking I kappa B alpha phosphorylation. Furthermore, it reduced collagen and osteocalcin levels to nearly zero and prevented mRNA expression of osteoblast-specific proteins including runt-related transcription factor-2, osteocalcin, and type I collagen. However, mRNA levels of adipocyte-specific marker, aP2, were markedly increased in the cells co-incubated with rosiglitazone. These results suggest that PPAR gamma activation by rosiglitazone inhibits osteoblast differentiation with increased adipogenesis in bone marrow cells and also may prevent osteoclast formation and bone resorption in the cells.