Trelagliptin stimulates osteoblastic differentiation by increasing runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2): a therapeutic implication in osteoporosis

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis, an aging-associated bone metabolic disease, is affecting millions of people worldwide. The deregulated process of osteoblastic differentiation has been linked with the progression of osteoporosis. Trelagliptin is a long-acting inhibitor of DPP-4 used for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it is unknown whether Trelagliptin possesses a beneficial effect in osteoblastic differentiation. Interestingly, we found that treatment with Trelagliptin enhanced differentiation and promoted the mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. Firstly, Trelagliptin increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and promoted osteoblastic calcium deposition. Additionally, treatment with Trelagliptin upregulated ALP, osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Notably, Trelagliptin increased RUNX2, a major regulator of osteoblastic differentiation. Mechanistically, Trelagliptin upregulated the levels of p-AMPKα. Blockage of AMPK with compound C abolished the effects of Trelagliptin in RUNX2 and osteoblastic differentiation, suggesting the involvement of AMPK. Our findings suggest that Trelagliptin might possess a potential for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Osteoporosis
• Trelagliptin
• osteoblastic differentiation
• RUNX2
• AMPK
• MC3T3-E1

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by Zhejiang Provincial Basic Public Welfare Research Program (No. LGF20H280011), Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Program of Traditional Medicine (No. 2020ZQ003) and Medical Health Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission (2020RC043).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Basic Public Welfare Research Program [No. LGF20H280011]; Medical Health Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission [2020RC043]; Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Program of Traditional Medicine [No. 2020ZQ003].