Purmorphamine and oxysterols accelerate and promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to find inexpensive and non-toxic additives enhancing and accelerating the osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro, which can be used for tissue engineering of bone material.

Materials and methods: Osteogenic differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells was carried-out using classic differentiation medium containing or lacking purmorphamine, statins or oxysterols, respectively. Cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium sedimentation and expression of bone matrix protein genes were measured to monitor differentiation.

Results: Purmorphamine substantially suppressed proliferation, enhanced and accelerated alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium sedimentation and increased the expression of osteopontin and osteocalcin in rat mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. A similar osteogenesis-promoting effect was observed for oxysterols but not for the two statins.

Conclusion: Purmorphamine and oxysterols promote and accelerate osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro suggesting their potential application for tissue engineering of bone material.

Keywords: Osteogenic differentiation; in vitro; mesenchymal stem cells; oxysterols; purmorphamine; tissue engineering.