Rhizoma Drynariae promotes the Osteogenic differentiation of Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Background: Rhizoma Drynariae (RD), a traditional Chinese medicine with pleiotropic biological activities, exerts a protective effect against age-related osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a serious clinical problem and characterized by the deterioration in bone volume and strength, mainly due to the dysfunction of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). However, it remains unclear whether RD-containing serum regulates the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Methods: The effects of RD-containing serum on the osteogenesis of BMSCs were detected via quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blotting, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay and alizarin red staining. Using Dickkopf-related protein-1 (DKK1), an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, we examined whether RD-containing serum regulates osteoblast differentiation of BMSCs via the Wnt/b-catenin signalling pathway. Results: The results showed that RD-containing serum promoted the BMSC proliferation and ALP activities, as well as up-regulated the expression of osteogenic markers and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related genes, i.e., runt-related transcription factor 2, Sp7, osteocalcin, β-catenin and Wnt3a, in BMSCs. Moreover, we found that RD-containing serum activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Adding DKK1 to the RD-containing serum could decrease the promotion of osteogenic differentiation of RD-containing serum on BMSCs. Conclusions: Collectively, RD-containing serum could promote the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, and the potential mechanism may involve regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.