Quercetin protects osteoblast development in the presence of oxidative stress in fetal rat calvaria cells

Abstract

Studies examining quercetin (QRC) effects on bone health are limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent that QRC impacts osteoblast cell development in the presence of oxidative stress, using osteoblast‐like cells isolated from fetal rat calvaria. At confluence, cells were pre‐treated for 12 hours with QRC aglycone (0 or 20 μM). Cells were then incubated for 4 days with QRC aglycone continued at the same dose as pre‐treatment (0, 20 μM) with or without hydrogen peroxide (H2O2; 0, 300 μM), a known inducer of oxidative stress. There were four groups: untreated Control, QRC alone, H2O2 alone, and QRC/H2O2. Expression of genes related to osteoblast phenotype development (runt‐related transcription factor 2, Runx2; alkaline phosphatase, ALP; type I collagen, COLL; bone sialoprotein, BSP; and osteocalcin, OCN) were analyzed using real‐time quantitative PCR. Additionally, alkaline phosphatase staining was used as an indicator of cells with osteoblastic potential. Results for Controls and QRC treated cells were similar. H2O2 alone suppressed ALP, BSP, and OCN gene expression (p < 0.05) and alkaline phosphatase staining. QRC, in the presence of H2O2, partially prevented the H2O2‐ induced suppression (p < 0.05). These results suggest that QRC is partially protective of osteoblast development in the presence of oxidative stress.Grant Funding Source: USDA Agricultural Research Services