Why the study?
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a debilitating condition caused by vascular insufficiency often triggered by corticosteroid use, and early intervention is crucial to prevent femoral head collapse.
Does Apelin-13 prevent steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in a rat model?
Does Apelin-13 prevent steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in a rat model?
Apelin-13 demonstrates protective effects against steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats by reducing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and improving vascularization.
This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.
Background Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a debilitating condition characterized by bone tissue necrosis due to vascular insufficiency, often triggered by corticosteroid use. Steroids are commonly employed in the management of autoimmune diseases, organ transplantation, and COVID-19. Early detection is crucial, as ONFH primarily affects young and middle-aged individuals and often progresses to femoral head collapse if untreated.Objective To evaluate the protective effects of Apelin-13 (Ap-13) on steroid-induced ONFH (SONFH) in a rat model.Methods Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups: Control, Ap-13 only, ONFH, and ONFH + Ap-13. SONFH was induced using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and methylprednisolone (MPS). The treatment group received daily intraperitoneal Ap-13 injections. At the fourth week, radiological, histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical analyses were conducted on femoral heads.Results Micro-CT showed no significant differences in bone mineral density or trabecular parameters. Histopathology revealed increased osteonecrosis, empty lacunae, and vascular thrombosis in the ONFH group, which were significantly reduced in the ONFH + Ap-13 group (p < 0.05). Ap-13 decreased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p = 0.0002), reduced caspase-3 expression (p < 0.05), and elevated VEGF expression (p = 0.046), indicating reduced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and enhanced vascularization. Additionally, LDL and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the Ap-13 treated group (p < 0.05).Conclusion Apelin-13 demonstrates protective effects against SONFH by reducing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and improving vascularization. It may represent a promising noninvasive therapeutic strategy for early-stage ONFH.
Apelin-13 may protect against steroid-induced ONFH in rats; leaves open translation to human therapy.
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Biçer et al. (2025) studied steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Apelin-13 was evaluated.
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