• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 2020

Runx2 is an essential transcription factor for skeletal development. It is expressed in multipotent mesenchymal cells, osteoblast-lineage cells, and chondrocytes. Runx2 plays a major role in chondrocyte maturation, and Runx3 is partly involved. Runx2 regulates chondrocyte proliferation by directly regulating Ihh expression. It also determines whether chondrocytes become those that form transient cartilage or permanent cartilage, and functions in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Runx2 is essential for osteoblast differentiation and is required for the proliferation of osteoprogenitors. Ihh is required for Runx2 expression in osteoprogenitors, and hedgehog signaling and Runx2 induce the differentiation of osteoprogenitors to preosteoblasts in endochondral bone. Runx2 induces Sp7 expression, and Runx2, Sp7, and canonical Wnt signaling are required for the differentiation of preosteoblasts to immature osteoblasts. It also induces the proliferation of osteoprogenitors by directly regulating the expression of Fgfr2 and Fgfr3. Furthermore, Runx2 induces the proliferation of mesenchymal cells and their commitment into osteoblast-lineage cells through the induction of hedgehog (Gli1, Ptch1, Ihh), Fgf (Fgfr2, Fgfr3), Wnt (Tcf7, Wnt10b), and Pthlh (Pth1r) signaling pathway gene expression in calvaria, and more than a half-dosage of Runx2 is required for their expression. This is a major cause of cleidocranial dysplasia, which is caused by heterozygous mutation of RUNX2. Cbfb, which is a co-transcription factor that forms a heterodimer with Runx2, enhances DNA binding of Runx2 and stabilizes Runx2 protein by inhibiting its ubiquitination. Thus, Runx2/Cbfb regulates the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes and osteoblast-lineage cells by activating multiple signaling pathways and via their reciprocal regulation.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2004

The osseointegration in implant therapy is achieved following general wound healing mechanism. Platelet play a major role in wound healing process. In addition to blood clot formation, they secrete many growth factors which regulate the attachment, proliferation and differentiation of nearly all cell types. The use of these growth factors is now known to be very effective methods to improve the cellular activity. Platelet-rich plasma which is made with the newly developed technique concentrating platelets 3-folds or more is also proven to be very effective method to stimulate and accelerate the healing of bone and soft tissue. Previous study proved that platelet-rich plasma enhanced the cellular attachment by inducing fibronectin, vitronectin from osteoblast. So, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of platelet-rich plasma on the cellular proliferation and differentiation in vitro. The effect on the proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. To evaluate autocrine and paracrine effect, conditioned medium was made and compared. By measuring alkaline phosphatase activity, the effect on the cellular differentiation was evaluated. The results were as following: The cellular proliferation of osteoblast cell line increased depending on the concentration of platelet-rich plasma and conditioned medium. The alkaline phosphatase activity increased depending on the concentration of platelet-rich plasma and conditioned medium. These findings imply that platelet-rich plasma enhance the cellular proliferation and differentiation and maximize the cellular activity by using the autocrine and paracrine effect.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.194-203
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• 2014

Yam (Dioscorea batatas) is widely consumed as functional food for health promotion mainly in East Asia countries. We assessed whether yam root (tuber) or bark (peel) extracts stimulated the activity of osteoblasts for osteogenesis. MC3T3-E1 cells (mouse osteoblasts) were treated with yam root extracts (water or methanol) (study I) or bark extracts (water or hexane) (study II) within $0{\sim}10{\mu}g/mL$ during the periods of osteoblast proliferation (5~10 day), matrix maturation (11~15 day) and mineralization (16~20 day) as appropriate. In study I, both yam root water and methanol extracts increased cell proliferation as concentration-dependent manner. Cellular collagen synthesis and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, both the indicators of bone matrix protein and inorganic phosphate production for calcification respectively, were also increased by yam root water and methanol extract. Osteoblast calcification as cell matrix Ca and P accumulation was also increased by the addition of yam root extracts. In study II, yam bark extracts (water and hexane) increased osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, as collagen synthesis and ALP activity and osteoblast matrix Ca and P deposition. The study results suggested that both yam root and bark extracts stimulate osteogenic function in osteoblasts by stimulating bone matrix maturation by increasing collagen synthesis, ALP activity, and matrix mineralization.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.158-167
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• 2007

Background & Objective : Uncaria rhynchophylla is traditional medicine herb used for enhancing body resistance against various diseases. The aim of this study was to identify if Uncaria rhynchophylla extracts induce osteogenic activity in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. Methods : The osteogenic activity of Uncaria rhynchophylla was evaluated on cell proliferation assay by WST-8, and osteoblast-specific genes, such as VEGF, type I collagen (Col I), osteocalcin (OCN), and osteopontin (OPN) by RT-PCR analysis and ELISA assay in osteoblasts-like SaOS-2 cells. Bone mineralization was stained with Alizalin red method. Results : Uncaria rhynchophylla had significantly increased cell proliferation at a dose dependent manner in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. Uncaria rhynchophylla markedly increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression at 7 days and dose dependently increased ALP activity and VEGF secretion in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. Also, Uncaria rhynchophylla time-dependently increased type I collagen (Col I), osteopontin (OPN), and osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA in SaOS-2 cells. Extracellular accumulation of proteins such as Col I and OCN was maximal increased by Uncaria rhynchophylla at 10 ${\mu}g/ml$. Also, Uncaria rhynchophylla significantly induced mineralization in the culture of SaOS-2 cells. Conclusion : This study showed that Uncaria rhynchophylla had enhanced proliferation, ALP activity, VEGF, bone matrix proteins such as OCN, OPN, and Col I, and mineralization in SaOS-2 cells. These results propose that Uncaria rhynchophylla can play an important role in osteoblastic bone formation, osteogenesis, and may possibly lead to the development of bone-forming drugs.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.13-22
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• 2007

Objectives : The differentiation of osteoblasts is controlled by various growth factors and matrix protein expressed in bone. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of many herbs medicine(KHBJs) for bone healing that induces osteogenic activity in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. Methods : The osteogenic effects of KHBJs were evaluated by using cell proliferation(WST-8) assay, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity assay, colorimetric analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) expression in human osteoblast like SaOS-2 cell. Also, osteogenic activity of KHBJ fractions(KHBJB and KHBJR) by activity guided fractionation were evaluated. Results : About 7 KHBJs had effect on the proliferation of osteoblast like SaOS-2 cells, and dose-dependently increased alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity. KHBJs markedly increased expression for VEGF. Fractionated KHBJs(KHBJB or KHBJR) not enhanced more than KHBJs on osteogenic activity in SaOS-2 cells. Conclusions: This study found that 7 KHBJs had effect on proliferation, ALP activity, and VEGF expression in osteoblast like SaOS-2 cells. These results propose that KHBJs can play an important role in osteoblastic bone formation, and may possibly lead to the development of bone-forming drugs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.142-147
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• 2008

This study was purpose to investigate that Gucheokbogol-tang(GBT), mainly used in osteoporosis, has possible regulatory effect on bone regeneration by operating in proliferation and calcification of osteoblast. So that, their cytotoxicity and proliferation was investigated with MTT by ELISA, and morphological change was observed by optical microscope and electron microscope. And activation of alkaline phosphates(ALP) which is secreted in early stage of bone formation was measured, and accumulation of $Ca^{2+}$ in the process of calcification was investigated by alizaline red S assay(ARS). The results were as follows: The MG-63 cell, originated from human cell was activated in $10^{-5}$ treated group, and the level of ALP was also increased in the treated group, highest on the third day. And from the outcome of ARS assay of calcification process in the Gucheokbogol-tang(GBT) treated group for 21days. These results suggested that Gucheokbogol-tang(GBT) is effective in proliferation and calcification of osteoblast.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.12-27
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Guibi-tang water extract (GB) on osteoporosis. Methods: We examined the effect of GB on osteoclast differentiation using murine pre-osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells treated with receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL). The effect of GB on osteoclast was measured by counting TRAP (+) multinucleated cells and measuring TRAP activity. The mRNA expressions of osteoclastogenesis-related genes (Cathepsin K, MMP-9, TRAP, NFATc1, MITF, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, COX-2) were measured by real-time PCR. We examined the effect of GB on osteoblast proliferation, ALP activity, bone matrix protein synthesis and collagen synthesis using murine calvarial cell. Results: GB decreased the number of TRAP (+) multinucleated cells and inhibited TRAP activity in RANKL-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell. GB decreased the expression of genes related osteoclastogenesis such as Cathepsin K, MMP-9, TRAP, NFATc1, MITF, COX-2 in RANKL-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell. But GB did not decrease the expression of iNOS and increased the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 in RANKL-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell. These genes (iNOS, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6) are thought to be related with the inflammatory bone destruction. GB increased cell proliferation of rat calvarial cell and also increased ALP activity in rat calvarial cell. GB did not increase bone matrix protein synthesis but increased collagen synthesis in rat calvarial cell. Conclusions: This study suggests that GB may be effective in treating osteoporosis by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and its related gene expression and by increasing osteoblast proliferation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.316-322
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• 2018

Purpose: The Glycyrrhiza uralensis species (Leguminosae) as a medicinal biocompound, and one of its root components, isoliquritigenin (ISL), which is a flavonoid, has been reported to have anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo. However, its function in bone formation has not been studied yet. In this study, we tested the effect of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (ErLR) and baked Glycyrrhiza uralensis (EdLR) extracts on osteoblast proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and bone-related gene expression in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in various levels of ErLR (0, 5, 10, 15, $20{\mu}g/mL$), EdLR (0, 5, 10, 15, $20{\mu}g/mL$), or ISL (0, 5, 10, 15, $20{\mu}M$) in time sequences (1, 5, and 20 days). Also, isoliquritigenin (ISL) was tested for comparison to those two biocompound extracts. Results: MTT assay results showed that all three compounds (ErLR, EdLR, and ISL) increased osteoblastic-cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner for one day. In addition, both ErLR and EdLR compounds elevated the osteoblast proliferation for 5 or 20 days. Extracellular ALP activity was also increased as ErLR, EdLR, and ISL concentration increased at 20 days, which implies the positive effect of Glycyrrhiza species on osteoblast mineralization. The bone-related marker mRNAs were upregulated in the ErLR-treated osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells for 20 days. Bone-specific transcription factor Runx2 gene expression was also elevated in the ErLR- and EdLR-treated osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells for 20 days. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts may be useful for preventing osteoporosis by increasing cell proliferation, ALP activity, and bone-marker gene expression in osteoblastic cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2020

Purpose: Zinc is known to be associated with osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Osterix as zinc-finger transcription factor is also related to osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether zinc modulates osterix gene and protein expression in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in zinc-dependent concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 5, or 15 µM Zn), along with osteogenic control (normal osteogenic medium) for 1 and 3 days. The gene and protein expression levels of osterix were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Results: Zinc increased osteoblast proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner at day 1 and 3. Similarly, zinc increased the activity of osteoblast marker enzyme alkaline phosphatase in cells and media in a zinc concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, our results showed that the pattern of osterix gene expression by zinc was down-regulated within the low levels of zinc treatments (0.5-1 µM) at day 1, but it was up-regulated after extended culture period at day 3. Osterix protein expression by zinc showed the similar pattern of gene expression, which down-regulated by low zinc levels at day 1 and up-regulated back at day 3 as the early stage of osteoblast differentiation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that zinc modulates osterix gene and protein expression in osteoblasts, particularly in low level of zinc at early stage of osteoblast differentiation period.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.21 no.1 s.33
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• pp.97-111
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• 1991

It is the aim of this study to investigate the effects of sodium fluoride and sodium orthovanadate upon the proliferation and activity of the osteoblast (MC3T3-E1 cells). MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in $\alpha-MEM$ containing $10\%$ FBS and various concentration of sodium fluoride and sodium orthovanadate was appended to serum free media. DNA synthesis was examined through the $[^3H]$ thymidine incorporation into DNA. Collagen synthesis was examined through the $[^3H]$ proline incorporation into collagenase digestible protein and noncollagen protein. The following results were drawn; 1. Sodium fluoride stimulated the DNA synthesis of osteoblast significantly in dose-dependent manner within the concentration from $2{\mu}M$ to $10{\mu}M$ (P < 0.005). 2. Sodium orthovanadate stimulated the DNA synthesis of osteoblast significantly in dose-dependent manner within the concentration from $2{\mu}M\;to\;8{\mu}M$, however showed diminution at $10{\mu}M$ (P < 0.001). 3. Sodium fluoride and sodium orthovanadate stimulated the percent collagen synthesis of osteoblast significantly in dose-dependent manner within the concentration from $5{\mu}M$ to $10{\mu}M$ (P < 0.001). 4. Sodium fluoride and sodium orthovanadate stimulated the noncollagen synthesis of osteoblast significantly in dose-dependent manner within the concentration from $5{\mu}M\;to\;10{\mu}M$ (P < 0.001). In conclusion, sodium fluoride and sodium orthovanadate stimulate the proliferation and activity of osteoblast by stimulation of DNA synthesis and collagen and noncollagen synthesis in osteoblast.