The flavonol glycoside icariin promotes bone formation in growing rats by activating the cAMP signaling pathway in primary cilia of osteoblasts.

ABSTRACT: Icariin, a prenylated flavonol glycoside isolated from the herb Epimedium, has been considered as a potential alternative therapy for osteoporosis. Previous research has shown that, unlike other flavonoids, icariin is unlikely to act via the estrogen receptor, but its exact mechanism of action is unknown. In this study, using rat calvarial osteoblast culture and rat bone growth models, we demonstrated that icariin promotes bone formation by activating the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) pathway requiring functional primary cilia of osteoblasts. We found that icariin increases the peak bone mass attained by young rats and promotes the maturation and mineralization of rat calvarial osteoblasts. Icariin activated cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling of the o

SUBMITTER: Shi W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5743065 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature