Icariin promotes osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells in vitro

Abstract

To investigate the effects of icariin on the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs). rBMSCs were cultured by adherence screening method. Icariin was supplemented into the culture at 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1). The osteogenic differentiation markers including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, CFU-F(ALP) and mineralized bone modulus were compared between the icariin-supplemented group and the control group. Total RNA was isolated and the gene expression of bFGF, IGF-1, Osterix(OSX) and Runx-2 was investigated by RT Real-time PCR. Icariin significantly improved ALP activity, CFU-F(ALP) amounts and mineralized modulus. It also can enhance the mRNA level of bFGF, IGF-1, Osterix and Runx-2. Icariin enhances the osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs significantly, which suggested that icariin has the potentiality to be a new drug of anti-osteoporosis or fracture healing.