1. Academic Validation
  2. Cryptotanshinone inhibits osteoclast differentiation by targeting LCP1 to suppress diabetic osteoporosis

Cryptotanshinone inhibits osteoclast differentiation by targeting LCP1 to suppress diabetic osteoporosis

  • Int Immunopharmacol. 2026 Feb 1:170:116115. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2025.116115.
Mingming Li 1 Yixin Zhang 2 Ya Fang 3 Siyu Chen 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Suzhou 215000, China.
  • 2 Department of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671000, China.
  • 3 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Suzhou 215000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 4 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Suzhou 215000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract

As a frequent complication of diabetes, diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) represents a growing clinical and public health challenge. The increased osteoclastogenesis in diabetic pathological states results in bone resorption and bone loss and the exacerbation of osteoporosis. Cryptotanshinone, a fat-soluble diterpenoid anthraquinone compound extracted from Salvia. miltiorrhiza Bge, has been demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of a variety of diseases. In this study, we present evidence that cryptotanshinone inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. Furthermore, cryptotanshinone suppresses diabetic osteoporosis by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis in vivo. Mechanistically, cryptotanshinone binds to lymphocyte cytosolic protein 1 (LCP1) so that suppressing osteoclast fusion to reduce bone resorption. Collectively, these findings suggest that cryptotanshinone suppresses osteoclast differentiation and bone loss of DOP by targeting LCP1. Consequently, cryptotanshinone may represent a promising therapeutic agent for diabetic osteoporosis.

Keywords

Cryptotanshinone; Diabetic osteoporosis; LCP1; Osteoclast differentiation.

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