ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and quercetin (QCT) on gene expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OC) during the differentiation in irradiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: When MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells had reached 70-80% confluence, cultures were transferred to a differentiating medium supplemented with 5 mM 2-DG or 10 micrometer QCT, and then irradiated with 2, 4, 6, and 8 Gy. At various times after irradiation, the cells were analyzed for the synthesis of type I collagen, and expression of BSP and OC. RESULTS: The synthesis of type I collagen in cells exposed to 2 Gy of radiation in the presence of 2-DG or QCT showed no significant difference compared with the control group within 15 days post-irradiation. When the cells were irradiated with 8 Gy, 2-DG facilitated the irradiation mediated decrease of type I collagen synthesis, whereas such decrease was inhibited by treating with QCT. During MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cell differentiation, the mRNA expression of BSP and OC showed the peak value at 14 days and 21 days, respectively. 2-DG or QCT treatment alone decreased the level of BSP mRNA, but increased the OC mRNA level only at early time of differentiation (day 7). In the cells irradiated with 2, 4, 8 Gy, the mRNA expression of BSP and OC decreased at 7 days after the irradiation. The cells were treated with various dose of radiation in the presence of 2-DG or QCT, the mRNA level of both BSP and OC increased although this increase was observed at low dose of radiation (2 Gy) and at the early stage of differentiation. However, when the cells were exposed to 4, 6, or 8 Gy, the increase of BSP and OC mRNAs was detected only in cells co-incubated with QCT. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that 2-DG and QCT affect differently the expression of bone formation related factors, type I collagen, BSP, and OC in the irradiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblasic cells, according to the dose of radiation and the times of differentiation. Overall, the present findings suggest that 2-DG and QCT could have the regulatory roles as radiation-sensitizer and -protector, respectively.