EFFECT OF PUERARIN ON THE PROLIFERATION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF OSTEOBLASTS AND THE EXPRESSION OF TYPE I COLLAGEN mRNA IN A HIGH-GLUCOSE ENVIRONMENT.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of puerarin (Pue) on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and the expression of type I collagen(Coll I) mRNA in a high-glucose (HG) environment, and to provide evidence for the clinical treatment of diabetic osteoporosis(DOP). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The proliferation of osteoblasts from three groups - the control group, the HS group, and the HG+Pue (10-8-10-6 M) group - was cultivated for 72 h and evaluated using the methyl thiazolyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. RESULTS: The MTT values and the ALP activities in all experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the MTT values and the ALP activities in the HG+Pue group were significantly higher than those in the HS group. Coll I mRNA expression in all experimental groups was significantly lower than that in the control group, while that in the HG+Pue group was significantly higher than that in the HG group. CONCLUSIONS: The proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and the expression of Coll I mRNA were inhibited by high glucose, but Pue can increase the proliferation and differentiation as well as the expression of Coll I mRNA in the osteoblasts, indicating that Pue could be therapeutically beneficial against DOP.