Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from C57BL/6 mice on estrogen deficiency induced osteoporosis.
Methods: Mouse models of estrogen deficiency induced osteoporosis were set up through ovariectomy (OVX) operation and sham operation group was set up as controls. BMSCs were injected via caudal veins. Micro-CT scanning of the femurs was conducted to detect the therapeutic effects of BMSCs. ELISA was used to test the expression level of TNF-α in serum before and after the injection of BMSCs. In the meantime, T cell apoptosis was also tested by flow cytometry combined with FITC-annexin V/7-amino actimycin D staining.
Results: Compared with the sham operation group, the trabecular volume (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular number (Tb.N/mm) of osteoporosis mice set up by OVX were reduced significantly, and serum TNF-α was up-regulated a little. After the injection of BMSCs, the BV/TV, Tb.Th, Tb.N and T cell apoptosis in the osteoporosis mice increased, and the level of TNF-α decreased.
Conclusion: With the ability of immunoregulation, BMSCs might play a critical role in treating estrogen deficiency induced osteoporosis.