Effect of Dy^(3+) on osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mouse primary bone marrow stromal cells and adipocytic trans-differentiation of mouse primary osteoblasts

A series of experimental methods including 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bro-mide (MTT) test,alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity measurement,mineralized function,Oil Red O stain and measurement were employed to assess the effect of Dy3+ on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mouse primary bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and the adipogenic trans-differ-entiation of mouse primary osteoblasts (OBs). The results showed that Dy3+ had no effect on BMSC proliferation at concentrations of 1×10-8 and 1×10-5 mol/L,but inhibited BMSC proliferation at other concentrations. Dy3+ had no effect on OB proliferation at concentrations of 1×10-10 and 1×10-9 mol/L,but inhibited OB proliferation at other concentrations. Dy3+ had no effect on the osteogenic differentia-tion of BMSCs at concentrations of 1×10-9 and 1×10-7 mol/L,and promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs at other concentrations at the 7th day. The osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was inhibited by Dy3+ at concentration of 1×10-5 mol/L at the 14th day,but promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs at concentrations of 1×10-9,1×10-8,1×10-7 and 1×10-6 mol/L with the maximal effect at concen-tration of 10-6 mol/L. Dy3+ promoted mineralized function of BMSCs at any concentration. Dy3+ had no effect on adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs at concentration of 1×10-7 mol/L,but inhibited adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs at other concentrations. Dy3+ inhibited adipocytic trans-differentiation of OBs at any concentration,suggesting that Dy3+ had protective effect on bone and the protective effect on bone may be mediated by modulating differentiation of BMSCs away from the adipocyte and inhibiting adipocytic trans-differentiation of OBs which may promote differentiation and mineralization of OBs. These results may be valuable for better understanding the mechanism of the effect of Dy3+ on pathogenesis of osteoporosis.

The effects of gold nanoparticles on the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization function of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro

This study has investigated the effects of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of a murine preosteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1 in vitro. The results show that Au NPs with diameters of both 20 and 40 nm promoted the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner at the concentra-tions of 1.5×10-5, 3.0×10-5, and 1.5×10-4 μmol/L. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) indicates that the expressions of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin (OCN) genes increased after the 20 and 40 nm Au NP treatments, and the expression levels were higher than those of the NaF group. The above results suggest that Au NPs have the potential to promote the osteogenic differentiation and miner- alization of MC3T3-E1 cells and the particle size plays a significant role in the process. Runx2, BMP-2, ALP, and OCN genes may interact with each other, further stimulating the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of iodo-bridged binuclear platinum complex

Iodo-bridged binuclear platinum(II) com- plex[Pt( -NH2)I2]2(BPA) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity, differential thermal analysis, IR, UV and 1HNMR spectra techniques. The cytotoxicity of the complex was tested by MTT and SRB assays. The results show that complex BPA demonstrates better cyto-toxicity than that of the clinically established cisplatin against EJ, HCT-8, BGC-823, HL-60 and MCF-7 cell lines. The complex BPA at concentrations of 1.00 and 2.00 μmol/L induces G1 cell cycle arrest in HL-60 cells. The level of total platinum bound to DNA in HL-60 cells is significantly higher than that of cisplatin under the same experimental conditions. Acute tox-icity experimental results indiacte that LD50 of BPA is 815.3 mg/kg by intraperitoneal administration. BPA at dose of 12 mg/kg significantly inhibits the growth of nude mice implanted by human A2780 and HCT-116 carcinomas, and inhibition rate is similar to that of cisplatin at dose of 4 mg/kg by intraperitoneal admini-stration. BPA at dose of 20 mg/kg inhibits the growth of nude mice implanted by human A549 carcinomas, but there was no significant statistical difference.

Synergistic effect of trace elements and flavonoids from Epimedium koreanum Nakai on primary osteoblasts

Several trace elements,particularly,manganese(Mn)and zinc(Zn),are essential in bone metabolism as cofactors for specific enzymes.It has been reported that there exists the relationship between osteo-porosis and trace element-deficiency and the efficacy of Ca,Mn and Zn supplementation on spinal bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.Traditional Chinese medicines(TCM),such as Herba epimedii,were proved to be effective for prevention of osteoprosis in vivo;however,the efficacy of the main constituents and/or crude extract was not ideal in vitro,which suggested that they may work in another way.The purpose of the present study was to examine whether the combination of icariin and total flavonoids(TF)from Herba epimedii with mineral elements,which were abundant in Herba epimedii,would have a more beneficial effect on the viability and differentiation of primary osteoblasts than either agent alone,and to analyze the dada for a possible synergistic,additive or antagonistic effect.The combinations of 10 μmol/L Zn,Ca and Mn with icariin and total flavonoids greatly improved the cell viability and meanwhile dramatically enhanced the alkaline phosphatase activity as compared to each agent alone.On the other hand,an increased cell growth inhibition was also observed by combining 0.1 μmol/L,1 μmol/L Zn with 10 μmol/L icariin,and 10 μmol/L Mn with 0.06 μg/mL total fla-vonoids.Meanwhile a decreased alkaline phosphatase activity was also found in several icariin-Zn/Mn and total flavonoids-Zn/Ca/Mn combinations.These results suggested that mineral elements(Zn,Ca,Mn)greatly enhanced the efficacy of icariin and total flavonoids from Herba epimedii on the viability and differentiation of primary osteoblasts by certain combinations.