An Experimental Study on the Inhibition of Wear Particle-Induced Osteolysis by Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide In Vivo

Objective. To investigate the effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) in a mouse calvarial osteolysis model and to explore the potential mechanisms involved. Methods. Eighty C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to four groups: Sham control (PBS treatment), Vehicle (titanium/PBS treatment), Low-LBP (titanium/50 mg kg(-1) day(-1) LBP), and High-LBP (titanium/100 mg kg(-1) day(-1) LBP). After 2 weeks, mouse calvariae were collected for microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and histomorphometry analysis. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. LBP significantly reduced titanium-particle-induced osteolysis compared with the Vehicle group as confirmed by micro-CT and histomorphometry data. Additionally, high osteoprotegerin (OPG) and low receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Beta ligand (RANKL), TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 were noted in LBP treatment groups. Conclusion. LBP inhibited wear particle-induced osteolysis in mice and suppressed the expression of inflammation-related factors; this inhibitory effect of LBP may be achieved with the regulation of OPG/RANKL pathway and inhibition of inflammatory factor production.