Barium Stimulates the Expression of Osteogenic Genes in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Osteoblasts in vitro / 대한폐경학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of barium on gene expression in differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts in vitro. METHODS: Human bone marrow stem cells were cultured for 0~14 days in osteogenic differentiation medium with strontium chloride (SrCl2) and barium chloride (BaCl2). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity staining was the method selected for measuring osteoblast differentiation. Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted after 1, 3, 7, and 14 days, and analysis of runt-related transcription factor 2/core-binding factor alpha 1 (Runx2/Cbfa1), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and bone sialoprotein (BSP) gene expression was performed by real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Barium and strontium had a superior enhancing effect on cell proliferation when compared to cells cultured in media without strontium or barium. BaCl2 produced a 2-fold increase in the expression of Runx2/Cbfa1 at 14 days. SrCl2 (0.1~0.3 mM) produced a 2-fold increase in the expression of Runx2/Cbfa1 at 14 days. Barium produced a 1.5-fold increase in the expression of BMP-2 on days 1 or 3. Expression of BSP was increased 1.5~1.7- and 2-fold on days 1 and 14 by barium and strontium, respectively. CONCLUSION: Barium-like strontium is considered one of the important factors in inducing mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts with further enhancement on bone formation.