Curcumin ameliorates alveolar bone destruction of experimental periodontitis by modulating osteoclast differentiation, activation and function

This study evaluated as to whether curcumin (CCM) could ameliorate alveolar bone destruction in vivo and dissect its mechanism in vitro. The tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, TRAP staining, quantitative RT-PCR, gelatin zymography, actin-ring formation, and pits formation assay were used to analyse the effect of CCM on receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation, activation, and function. Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS- and ligature-induced experimental periodontitis were established to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of CCM in vivo. The results demonstrated that CCM dose dependently diminishes RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, and osteoclastic specific genes expression accompanied by a significant attenuation of actin-ring and resorptive pits formation in vitro. Moreover, CCM reduces alveolar bone destruction, decreases TRAP-positive and polymorphonuclear cells infiltration, and suppresses myeloperoxidase activity in vivo. Thus, CCM reduces inflammatory bone loss in vivo by modulating RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation, activation, and function.