Inhibition of Bone Resorption in Cultures of Mouse Calvariae by Apicularen A

Apicularens A and B were isolated from the myxobacterial genus Chondromyces apiculatus JW184. Apicularen A inhibited bafilomycin A1-sensitive ATP-dependent proton transport into micro-some vesicles more potently than apicularen B. Bone resorption in cultures of mouse calvariae induced by human parathyroid hormone (PTH) or interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was inhibited by apicularen A at 10 and 100 nM, while apicularen B had no effect. The bisphosphonate incadronate inhibited bone resorption at 100 nM, being less effective than apicularen A. Our findings indicate that apicularen A inhibits bone resorption induced by PTH or IL-1β more potently than apicularen B, probably due to inhibition of the V-ATPase.