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Mol Cell Biochem (2011) 358:3744 DOI 10.1007/s11010-011-0918-y
Maohuoside A promotes osteogenesis of rat mesenchymal stem cells via BMP and MAPK signaling pathways
Lei Yang Nai-Li Wang Guo-Ping Cai
Received: 17 December 2010 / Accepted: 7 June 2011 / Published online: 23 June 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. 2011
Abstract Osteoporosis is becoming a more prevalent health problem with the aging of the population around the world. Epimedium koreanum Nakai is one of the most used herbs in East Asia for curing osteoporosis, with its major ingredient, icariin, mostly explored by researchers. In this article, maohuoside A (MHA), a single isolated compound from the herb, was identied to be more potent than icariin in promoting osteogenesis of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) (increasing by 16.6, 33.3, and 15.8% on D3, D7, and D11, respectively). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay and calcium content measurement were assigned to quantify the promoted osteogenesis and alizarin red S (ARS) staining was conducted to visualize it. Quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) was assayed to evaluate the mRNA expression of marker genes in osteogenesis and master regulators in BMP pathway. Moreover, PD98059 (PD) and SB203580 (SB), inhibitor of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK pathway, were administered to assess the involvement of MAPK pathway in the promotion process. In conclusion, MHA pronouncedly enhanced the
osteogenesis of rMSC, plausibly via the BMP and MAPK signaling pathways.
Keywords MHA Osteogenesis rMSCs BMP MAPK
Introduction
Bone is a rigid yet dynamic organ that undergoes remodeling throughout life. Its homeostasis is ensured by the balance between osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Control of recruitment, proliferation and differentiation of these cells is essential for maintenance of the balance, disturbance of which will result in various diseases, most prominently osteoporosis. To date, osteoporosis has become the most common bone problem in the aging society especially in postmenopausal women, putting them at the risk of fracture, disability, and mortality. Medicines like bisphosphonates have been developed to inhibit osteoclast-mediated resorption [1]. However, this intervention is insufcient when bone mass has decreased to below a certain level [2]. Estrogen replacement proposes another popular treatment to stimulate osteoblast-mediated bone formation. Nevertheless, prolonged administration of estrogen increases the risk of breast cancer [3]. Recently, plant-derived estrogen analogs, named phytoestrogens, which present estrogenic effects...