Calcitonin gene-related peptide, a sensory neurotransmitter, promotes proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from ovariectomized rats

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2017.13.003

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Calcitonin gene-related peptide can promote the biological activity of osteoblasts. Here, we attempt to further study the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of exogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from ovariectomized rats.METHODS:An ovariectomized osteoporosis model in female Sprague-Dawley rats was employed, which was testified by micro-CT. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were obtained from the femur of rats undergoing sham operation and ovariectomy, and then cultured and induced in the culture medium and osteogenic medium containing different concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide, respectively. The cell proliferation was detected using MTT method.After 7 days of osteogenic induction, real-time RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect Runx2 and Osterix expression at mRNA and protein levels. After 21 days of osteogenic induction, the osteogenic differentiation potentials of the cells were detected using alizarin red staining.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The osteoporosis model was successfully established by bilateral ovariectomy in the female rats. The proliferative and osteogenic differentiation potentials of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were dose-dependently enhanced by the different concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide. To conclude, the calcitonin gene-related peptide can increase bone formation by promoting the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells directly.