ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Bushen Huoxue Decoction(BSHXD)can promote osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)in vitro.Exploring the molecular mechanisms involved is of clinical benefits. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the changes in the expression of SP7/Osterix and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in BMSCs with Cbfal/RUNX2 gene silencing regulated by the water extracts from BSHXD. METHODS: BMSCs were isolated and cultured by the bone marrow adherent method, and BMSCs at passage 3 were used in the assay. BMSCs were transfected with nothing (blank control group), Cbfal/RUNX2 gene silencing lentivirus (silencing group), and negative viral vector (negative control group), respectively. Then, the cells were cultured in 100 mg/L BSHXD water extract, and 3 days later, the protein and mRNA expression of RUNX2 and Osterix was detected by western blot and qPCR, respectively. Activity of ALP in the BMSCs was also detected in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The transfection efficiency of Cbfal/RUNX2 gene silencing lentivirus was about 90%. The protein and mRNA expressions of RUNX2 and Osterix were significantly decreased in the BMSCs transfected with Cbfal/RUNX2 gene silencing lentivirus as compared with the other two groups, and so was the ALP activity (P < 0.01). After treated with the water extracts from BSHXD, the expression of RUNX2 and Osterix as well as the ALP activity in the BMSCs transfected with Cbfal/RUNX2 gene silencing lentivirus increased significantly (P < 0.01). To conclude, the water extract from the BXHXD can up-regulate the expression of RUNX2 and Osterix and the activity of ALP, thus promoting BMSCs osteogenic differentiation.