Neuropeptide FF attenuates RANKL-induced differentiation of macrophage-like cells into osteoclast-like cells

•NPFF attenuated RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and bone-resorption capacity of RAW264.7 cells.•NPFF inhibited TRAP activity of osteoclasts.•NPFF down-regulated osteoclast genes expression during osteoclastogenesis.•NPFF reduced RANKL-provoked nitric oxide (NO) release during osteoclast differentiation.

ObjectiveNeuropeptide FF (NPFF) has been implicated in many physiological processes but not osteoclastogenesis. We previously demonstrated that NPFF modulates the viability and nitric oxide (NO) production of RAW264.7 macrophages. This study was designed to investigate the effect of NPFF on receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-mediated differentiation of RAW264.7 cells into osteoclast-like cells.DesignRAW264.7 cells were cultured in 96-stripwell plates or in Corning Osteo Assay Surface 96-well plates in the presence of various concentrations of NPFF with or without RANKL for 3 or 6 d. The differentiation of osteoclast-like cells was analyzed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) stain, TRAP activity and bone resorption capacity, respectively. The mRNA expression of NPFF2 receptor (NPFFR2) and osteoclast genes was evaluated by using real-time quantitative PCR which includes TRAP, RANK (receptor activator of NF-κB), Cathepsin K, MMP-9 (matrix metallopeptidase 9), Intβ3 (integrin β3) and NFATc1 (nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1). In addition, the influence of NPFF on the cell viability and NO release of RAW264.7 cells was measured by MTT assay and Griess method, respectively.ResultsNPFF dose-dependently inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast-like cells differentiation including TRAP-positive cell formation, TRAP activity and bone resorption capacity. Moreover, NO release and osteoclast gene expression of osteoclast-like cells were downregulated by NPFF. In addition, NPFFR2 gene expression in osteoclast-like cells was augmented in response to NPFF treatment.ConclusionOur findings showed that NPFF could attenuate osteoclast-like cells differentiation in an in vitro osteoclastogenesis model.