RNA Sequencing Analysis of Osteoclast Precursor Cells under Dexamethasone Stimulation

Glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GIONFH) is a refractory joint disease caused by prolonged and excessive use of glucocorticoids (GCs). Excessive osteoclast activation has been implicated in the pathological bone erosion of GIONFH. Our previous study found that dexamethasone (10-8M) stimulation significantly enhances osteoclast formation in vitro. To identify therapeutic targets for GIONFH by characterizing glucocorticoid-driven transcriptional alterations in osteoclastogenesis, we performed RNA sequencing on osteoclast precursor cells (OPCs) under RANKL (25ng/ml) and Dex condition (treated with RANKL (25ng/ml) and Dex(10-8M) ) for 24 hours. In this study, OPCs derived from bone marrow of six-month-old male C57BL/6J mice were treated under RANKL and Dex conditions for 24 hours, with 6 biological replicates per group.