The mouse BMSCs were successfully isolated and cultured. Flow cytometryanalysis showed that the mesenchymal stem cell surface biomarkers (CD73, CD90 and CD105) were positively expressed. The comparison of cell proliferation at three time points (24, 48 and 72 h) in each concentration group was statistically significant ( F = 65.36, 160.04 and 365.32, P < 0.001), and the comparison of early apoptosis (24 h) in each concentration group was statistically significant ( F = 214.04, P < 0.001); compared with the 0.0 mg/L group, the cell proliferation in 15.0, 20.0 and 40.0 mg/L groups decreased, and the early apoptosis rate in 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0 mg/L groups increased ( P < 0.05). When cells were treated with 15.0 mg/L fluoride for 0 - 24 h, the p-JNK/JNK ratio was higher at 2, 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 h compared with that at 0 min ( P < 0.05); compared with the fluoride group (15.0 mg/L), the early apoptosis rate of cells after SP600125 block decreased ( P < 0.05), and the protein expression levels of PARP and p-JNK decreased ( P < 0.05). After osteogenic induction, compared with the 0.0 mg/L group, in 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L groups ALP staining was enhanced and the number of calcified nodules increased, and the protein expression levels of Runx2 and ALP in the 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L groups were higher ( P < 0.05). After osteogenic induction, compared with the 0.0 mg/L group, the p-GSK3β/GSK3β ratio and β-catenin protein level were significantly higher in the 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L groups ( P < 0.05); and compared with the fluoride group (1.0 mg/L), addition of DKK-1 significantly decreased the protein expression levels of p-GSK3β and β-catenin and reduced the nuclear entry of β-catenin, and ALP staining decreased and the number of calcified nodules decreased.
Conclusions:
High concentration of fluoride (> 10.0 mg/L) inhibits the proliferation and promotes apoptosis of BMSCs, while low concentration of fluoride (0.1, 1.0 mg/L) promotes osteogenic differentiation. The MAPK/JNK pathway and the classical Wnt pathway are involved in the above cellular processes, respectively.