500 Section - Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound regulates bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells differentiation and inhibits bone loss by activating the IL-11-Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

YH

Yijing Han, MD

doctor
Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu, China；Rehabilitation Medicine Center and Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Chengdu, Sichuan, China (People's Republic)

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

HG

Hui Gao, MD

doctor
Sichuan University West China Hospital Rehabilitation Medical Center
Chengdu, Sichuan, China (People's Republic)

Corresponding Author/Autor a quien dirigir la corr(s)

CH

Chengqi He, MD

professor
Sichuan University West China Hospital Rehabilitation Medical Center
Chengdu, Sichuan, China (People's Republic)
YY

Yonghong Yang, PhD

professor
Sichuan University West China Hospital Rehabilitation Medical Center
Chengdu, Sichuan, China (People's Republic)

Objectives : Osteoporosis (OP) is a common metabolic bone disease. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) can effectively promote bone formation. The Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway is a crucial pathway regulating bone homeostasis and bone diseases. Interleukin-11 (IL-11), which can be regulated by mechanical stress, serves as a key factor in modulating bone remodeling. The objectives of this study are to explore the optimal time parameters of LIPUS, relationship between IL-11, Wnt/β-Catenin signalling pathway and LIPUS, the effects of LIPUS on bone loss and its underlying mechanisms.

Design: BMSCs were treated with LIPUS at time parameters. CCK8 assays were used to assess BMSCs proliferation and viability. IL-11 knockdown and overexpression plasmids were transfected into BMSCs, respectively. We used ARS/Oil Red O staining, ELISA, Western blot, RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence to visualize osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation and IL-11/β-Catenin expression.
A mouse osteoporosis model was established, and LIPUS intervention was administered to the treatment group. Micro-CT, H&E/Masson and immunohistochemical staining were conducted for tissue evaluation and osteogenic-related factors/IL-11/β-Catenin detection in bone tissues.

Results: LIPUS intervention group significantly promoted BMSCs proliferation and upregulated IL-11 and β-Catenin expression both gene and protein levels (p < 0.05). Additionally, LIPUS markedly enhanced osteogenic differentiation while suppressing adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs (p< 0.01), with the 20-minute group demonstrating the best effects (p < 0.05). Following LIPUS intervention, osteogenic differentiation increased with higher IL-11 expression, while adipogenic differentiation decreased accordingly. LIPUS intervention synergized with IL-11 to further inhibit lipid formation (p< 0.05). In the animal experiments, after LIPUS intervention, the bone loss in the intervention group was significantly reduced compared with the modeling group (p < 0.05). The bone morphological parameters were significantly optimized, and the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins, IL-11, and β-Catenin was also significantly increased (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound can regulate BMSCs differentiation and inhibit bone loss by activating the IL-11/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.