Effects of disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs and antiinflammatory cytokines on human osteoclastogenesis through interaction with receptor activator of nuclear factor κB, osteoprotegerin, and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand

Abstract Objective To demonstrate the effects of disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs and antiinflammatory cytokines on human osteoclastogenesis through their effects on receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and RANK ligand (RANKL). Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) were cocultured in the presence of macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D 3 , and various concentrations of methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine (SSZ), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), anti–tumor necrosis factor α monoclonal antibody (infliximab), interleukin‐4 (IL‐4), and IL‐10. Osteoclast formation was assayed by counting cells after staining for tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase. RANKL expression in RA FLS and RANK expression in PBMCs were assayed by Western blotting, reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), and real‐time PCR. OPG expression was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, RT‐PCR, and real‐time PCR in cultures of RA FLS. Results MTX, SSZ, infliximab, and IL‐4, but not IL‐10 and HCQ, each inhibited osteoclast formation in a dose‐dependent manner. We observed no evidence of synergistic inhibition of osteoclast formation by IL‐4 and IL‐10. High doses of infliximab suppressed the expression of RANK in PBMCs. MTX, SSZ, infliximab, and IL‐4 each inhibited the expression of RANKL in RA FLS in a dose‐dependent manner, and also increased the secretion of OPG in RA FLS supernatants. Conclusion MTX, SSZ, infliximab, and IL‐4 inhibit human osteoclastogenesis by modulating the interaction of RANKL, RANK, and OPG. These results are indicative of the underlying mechanisms of the antiresorptive effects of these 4 agents.