Objective: To observe the effect of
simvastatin on osteoblastic
cell differentiation of
bone marrow stromal cells in vitro , and to elucidate the mechanisms of
anabolic effect of
simvastatin on
bone formation .
Methods: Bone marrow stromal cells from
femur and
tibia of
adult female BALB C mice were cultured
in vitro , after being treated with different concentrations of
simvastatin for 72 h, changes of
mRNA level of
osteocalcin (OCN) were detected by RT
PCR , change of OCN, and
osteopontin (OPN) expression were examined by
Western blot , and the changes of cellular
alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) were examined by histochemistry and enzymologic measurement.
Results: After
bone marrow stromal cells were treated with different concentration of
simvastatin for 72 h, level of OCN
mRNA increased, and expression of OCN and OPN also increased in a concentration dependent manner, and cellular ALP activity significantly increased in a concentration dependent manner.
Conclusion: Simvastatin can stimulate osteoblastic differentiation,and improve cellular ALPase activity with high expression of
osteocalcin and
osteopontin in vitro . These may be parts of the mechanism of
anabolic effect of
simvastatin on
bone formation .