CONDITIONED MEDIUM OF BONE MARROW MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS ALLEVIATE INHIBITING EFFECT OF DEXAMETHASONE ON OSTEOGENETIC CAPABILITY OF OSTEOBLAST

Abstract

To explore the paracrine effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on dexamethasone-induced inhibition of osteoblast function in vitro. The serum free conditioned medium of mouse BMSCs cultured for 24 hours was prepared for spare use. The 3rd passage of MC3T3-E1 cells were divided into 4 groups: the control group (group A), dexamethasone group (group B), dexamethasone+BMSCs conditioned medium (1:1) group (group C), and BMSCs conditioned medium group (group D). After 24 hours of culture, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) content was determined; the protein expressions of RUNX2 and Osteocalcin were detected by Western blot; and the gene expressions of collagen type I-α 1 (COL1A1), RUNX2, ALP, and Osteocalcin were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR); alizarin red staining was used to observe calcium nodules formation at 21 days. After cultured for 24 hours, ALP content was significantly lower in groups B, C, and D than group A, and in group B than groups C and D (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups C and D (P > 0.05). The relative protein expression of RUNX2 of group B was significantly lower than that of groups A, C, and D (P < 0.05), but difference was not significant between groups A, C, and D (P > 0.05). The relative protein expression of Osteocalcin was significantly lower in group B than groups A, C, and D, in groups A and C than group D (P < 0.05), but difference had no significance between groups A and C (P > 0.05). The relative gene expressions of RUNX2, Osteocalcin, COL1A1, and ALP of groups B, C, and D were significantly lower than those of group A (P < 0.05); the relative gene expressions of RUNX2, Osteocalcin, and ALP were significantly higher in group D than groups B and C, in group C than group B (P < 0.05). The gene expression of COL1A1 was significantly higher in group D than group B (P < 0.05), but difference was not significant between groups B and C, and between groups C and D (P > 0.05). The cells of group A all died at 6 days after culture; at 21 days, the calcium no dule staining was positive by alizarin red in groups B, C and D, and the degree of the staining gradually increased from groups B to D. BMSCs conditioned medium can alleviate the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on osteoblasts function.