In the present study, we investigated the effect of agelasine D (AD) on osteoclastogenesis. Treatment of bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) with receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) resulted in a differentiation of BMMs into osteoclasts as evidenced by generation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive, multinucleated cells and formation of pits in calcium phosphate-coated plates. However, RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis was significantly suppressed by AD treatment. We also confirmed the increased mRNA and protein expression of osteoclastic markers, such as TRAP, cathepsin K and matrix metalloproteinase-9, during RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and this was down-regulated by AD treatment. Moreover, AD treatment significantly suppressed RANKL-induced mRNA expression of DC-STAMP and OC-STAMP and cell fusion of TRAP-positive mononuclear osteoclast precursors. In addition, AD suppressed RANKL-induced expression of transcription factors, c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1), which are important transcription factors involved in differentiation of BMMs into osteoclasts. Furthermore, RANKL-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) and activation of NF-κB were also inhibited by AD treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that AD inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by down-regulation of multiple signaling pathways involving c-Fos, NFATc1, NF-κB and ERK. Our results also suggest that AD might be a potential therapeutic agent for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
