• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.342-355
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Osteoblasts are derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and play important role in bone remodeling. While our previous studies have investigated the cell subtypes and heterogeneity in osteoblasts and BMMSCs separately, cell-to-cell communications between osteoblasts and BMMSCs in vivo in humans have not been characterized. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular communication between human primary osteoblasts and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Methods and Results: To investigate the cell-to-cell communications between osteoblasts and BMMSCs and identify new cell subtypes, we performed a systematic integration analysis with our single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) transcriptomes data from BMMSCs and osteoblasts. We successfully identified a novel preosteoblasts subtype which highly expressed ATF3, CCL2, CXCL2 and IRF1. Biological functional annotations of the transcriptomes suggested that the novel preosteoblasts subtype may inhibit osteoblasts differentiation, maintain cells to a less differentiated status and recruit osteoclasts. Ligand-receptor interaction analysis showed strong interaction between mature osteoblasts and BMMSCs. Meanwhile, we found FZD1 was highly expressed in BMMSCs of osteogenic differentiation direction. WIF1 and SFRP4, which were highly expressed in mature osteoblasts were reported to inhibit osteogenic differentiation. We speculated that WIF1 and sFRP4 expressed in mature osteoblasts inhibited the binding of FZD1 to Wnt ligand in BMMSCs, thereby further inhibiting osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs. Conclusions: Our study provided a more systematic and comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity of osteogenic cells. At the single cell level, this study provided insights into the cell-to-cell communications between BMMSCs and osteoblasts and mature osteoblasts may mediate negative feedback regulation of osteogenesis process.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.652-663
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• 1999

Craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of cranial sutures, presumably involves disturbance of the interactions between different tissues within the cranial sutures. Interestingly, point mutaions in the genes encoding for the fibroblast growth factor receptors(FGFRs), especially FGFR2, cause various types of human craniosynostosis syndromes. To elucidate the function of these genes in the early morphogenesis of mouse cranial sutures, we first analyzed by in situ hybridization the expression of FGFR2(BEK) and osteopontin, an early marker of osteogenic differentiation, in the sagittal suture of calvaria during embryonic(E15-E18) and postnatal stage(P1-P3). FGFR2(BEK) was intensely expressed in the osteogenic fronts, whose cells undergo differentiation into osteoprogenitor cells that ultimately lay down the bone matrix. Osteopontin was expressed throughout the parietal bones excluding the osteogenic fronts, the periphery of the parietal bones. To further examine the role of FGF-mediated FGFR signaling in cranial suture, we did in vitro experiments in E15.5 mouse calvarial explants. Interestingly, implantation of FGF2 soaked beads onto both the osteogenic fronts and mid-mesenchyme of sagittal suture after 36 hours organ culture resulted in the increase of the tissue thickness and cell number around FGF2 beads, moreover FGF4-soaked beads implanted onto the osteogenic fronts stimulated suture closure due to an accelerated bone growth, compared to FGF4 beads placed onto mid-mesenchyme of sagittal suture and BSA control beads. In addition FGF2 induced the ectopic expression of osteopontin and Msx1 genes. Taken together, these data indicate that FGF-mediated FGFR signaling has a important role in regulating the cranial bone growth and maintenance of cranial suture, and suggest that FGF-mediated FGFR signaling is involved in regulating the balance between the cell proliferation and differentiation through inducing the expression of osteopontin and Msx1 genes.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.527-536
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• 2017

Objectives : The present study, to confirm the osteoblast differentiation effects of Acer tegmentosum Maxim. (AT) extract. Methods : In this experiment, cell viability, Alizarin red S assay, and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity with AT extract (50, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Also, we studied the expression of differentiation regulator with AT extract in primary calvarial osteoblasts cells (pOB). Results : As a result of AT treatment, we determined that AT extract stimulates ALP activity and alizarin red activities in the pOB cells for mineralization for 18 days. Moreover, these factors increasing osteogenic markers such as Runt-related transcription factor2 ($Run{\times}2$), osteocalcin (OC), osteopontin, osterix, smad1, smad5, activating transcription factor4 (ATF4) and collagen type I alpha 1. Conclusions : These results indicate that AT extract have effect on bone through the promotion of osteoblastic differentiation, suggesting that it could be used for the treatment of bone diseases.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.159-165
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• 2013

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to the transforming growth factor (TGF-${\beta}$) superfamily and are involved in osteoblastic differentiation. The largest TGF-${\beta}$ superfamily subgroup shares genetic homology with human BMPs (hBMPs) and silkworm decapentaplegic (dpp). In addition, hBMPs are functionally interchangeable with Drosophila dpp. Bombyx mori dpp may induce bone formation in mammalian cells. To test this hypothesis, we synthesized the 1,285-base pairs cDNA of full-length B. mori dpp using total RNAs obtained from the fat body of 3-day-old of the $5^{th}$ instar larvae and cloned the cDNA into the pCEP4 mammalian expression vector. Next, B. mori dpp was expressed in C3H10T1/2 cells. The target cells transfected with the pCEP4-Bm dpp plasmid showed biological functions similar to those of osteogenic differentiation induction growth factors such as hBMPs. We determined the relative mRNA expression rates of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osterix, osteocalcin, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to validate the osteoblast-specific differentiation effects of B. mori dpp by performing quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Interestingly, mRNA expression levels of the 3 marker genes except RUNX2, in cells expressing B. mori dpp were much higher than those in control cells and C3H10T1/2 cells transfected with pCEP4. These results suggested that B. mori dpp signaling regulates osterix expression during osteogenic differentiation via RUNX2-independent mechanisms.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.186-196
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• 2010

Introduction: The first aim of this study was to isolate the dental tissue-derived stem cells from the dental follicle (DF), dental pulp (DP), and root apical papilla (RAP) of the extracted wisdom teeth. Second was to evaluate their characterization with the expressions of transcription factors and cell surface markers. Finally, their ability of the in vitro multi-lineage differentiations into osteogenic and adipogenic cells were compared, respectively. Materials and Methods: Dental tissues, including dental follicle, dental pulp, and root apical papilla, were separated in the extracted wisdom teeth. These three dental tissues were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) with supplements, respectively. After passage 3, the homogeneous shaped dental tissue-derived cells were analyzed the expression of transcription factors (Oct-4, Nanog and Sox-2) and cell surface markers (CD44, CD90 and CD105) with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. In order to evaluate in vitro multi-lineage differentiations, the culture media were changed to the osteogenic and adipogenic induction mediums when the dental tissue-derived cells reached to passage 3. The characteristics of these three dental tissue-derived cells were compared with immunohistochemistry. Results: During primary culture, heterogenous and colony formatted dental tissue-derived cells were observed in the culture plates. After passage 2 or 3, homogenous spindle-like cells were observed in all culture plates. Transcription factors and mesenchymal stem cell markers were positively observed in all three types of dental tissue-derived cells. However, the quantity of expressed transcription factors was most large in RAP-derived cells. In all three types of dental tissue-derived cells, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations were observed after treatment of specific induction media. In vitro adipogenic differentiation was similar among these three types of cells. In vitro osteogenic differentiation was most strongly and frequently observed in the RAP-derived cells, whereas rarely osteogenic differentiation was observed in the DP-derived cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that three types of human dental tissue-derived cells from extracted wisdom teeth were multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, have the properties of multi-lineage differentiations. Especially, stem cells from root apical papilla (SCAP) have much advantage in osteogenic differentiation, whereas dental follicle cells (DFCs) have a characteristic of easy adipogenic differentiation.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.273-280
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• 2012

Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet composed of carbon atoms only. It has a two-dimensional honeycomb structure with $sp^2$ orbital bonding, which presents some unique properties. Due to large Young's modulus, good electrical conductivity, ability to immobilize several kinds of small molecules and proteins, and biocompatibility of graphene, it has attracted interests inits ability to enhance cell growth and differentiation, followed by recent several studies. We reviewed about the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, and neurogenic differentiation of neuron stem cells, and the ectodermal and mesodermal differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells using graphene. Graphene has not only enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells, but also led to the faster differentiation even without any other exogenous signals. Nonetheless, graphene has some cytotoxicities in its amount-response manner, which is critical to regenerative medicine. The cytotoxicities of graphene were compared with those of grapheneoxide and carbon nanotubes.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.100-107
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) isolation by the magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) method in tendon tissue-derived cells compared to the colony picking method for isolation of MSCs by picking colony-forming cells. Materials and Methods: Human tendon-derived cells were isolated by enzyme digestion using normal tendon tissues from three donors. We used the magnetic kit and well-known MSC markers (CD90 or CD105) to isolate MSCs in tendon-derived cells using MACS. Cloning cylinders were used to isolate colony-forming cells having MSC characteristics in tendon-derived cells. Colony-forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) assay was used to evaluate the self-renewal capacity of cells isolated using the colony picking method or MACS. For comparison of differentiation potentials into osteogenic or adipogenic lineage between two groups, alizarin red S and oil red O staining were performed at 14 days after induction of differentiation in vitro. Results: Flow cytometry results showed that early passage tendon-derived cells expressed CD44 in 99.13%, CD90 in 56.51%, and CD105 in 86.19%. In the CFU-F assay, CD90+ or CD105+ cells isolated with MACS showed larger colony formation in size than cells isolated using the colony picking method. We also observed that CD90+ or CD105+ cells were constantly differentiated into both osteogenic and adipogenic lineages in cells from all donors, whereas cells isolated using the colony picking method were heterogeneous in differentiation potentials to the osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. Conclusion: CD90+ or CD105+ cells isolated using MACS showed superior MSC characteristics in the self-renewal and multi-differentiation capacities compared with cells isolated using the colony picking method.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.87-98
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• 2011

The present experiment was performed to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (ATMSCs) seeded in bioceramic-poly D,L-latic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffold. Osteogenic differentiation of ATMSCs were induced using the osteogenic induction (OI) medium. ATMSCs were cultured with OI medium during 28 days in well plate. The proliferation of ATMSCs in OI medium group was significantly increased for 14 days of plate culture but slowed after 21 days. On the other hand, proliferation in the control group showed constant increase for 28 days of culturing. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of ATMSCs in OI medium group increased during the 21 days of culture but decreased on 28 days. However, in control group ALP activity of ATMSCs was continuously decreased as time goes. Nodule was observed at 21 days of culture in OI medium group and confirmed accumulation of calcium in cell by alizarin red staining. ATMSCs were seeded in PLGA scaffold or in Bioceramic-PLGA scaffold, and cultured with OI medium. ALP activity of ATMSCs by osteoblast differentiation in each scaffold increased on 21 days of culture and decreased rapidly on 28 days. ALP activity of ATMSCs was increased highly in Bioceramic-PLGA scaffold compared to PLGA scaffold on 21 days of culturing. SEM-EDS analysis demonstrated that calcium and phosphate content and Ca/P ratio in Bioceramic-PLGA scaffold increased higher than in PLGA scaffold. Biodegradability of scaffold at 56 days after implantation showed that Bioceramic-PLGA scaffold was more biodegradable than PLGA scaffold. The results demonstrated that the differentiation of ATMSCs to osteoblast were more effective in scaffold culture than well plate culture. Bioceramic increased cell adhesion rate on scaffold and ALP activity by osteoblast differentiation. Also, bioceramic was considered to increase the calcium and phosphate in scaffold when ATMSCs was mineralized by osteogenic differentiation. Bioceramic-PLGA scaffold enhanced the osteogenesis of seeded ATMSCs compared to PLGA scaffold.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.173-178
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• 2011

Tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF{\alpha}$) is a multifunctional cytokine that is elevated in inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Recent evidence has suggested that ${\beta}2$ adrenergic receptor (${\beta}2AR$) activation in osteoblasts suppresses osteogenic activity. In the present study, we explored whether $TNF{\alpha}$ modulates ${\beta}AR$ expression in osteoblastic cells and whether this regulation is associated with the inhibition of osteoblast differentiation by $TNF{\alpha}$. In the experiments, we used C2C12 cells, MC3T3-E1 cells and primary cultured mouse bone marrow stromal cells. Among the three subtypes of ${\beta}AR$, ${\beta}2$ and ${\beta}3AR$ were found in our analysis to be upregulated by $TNF{\alpha}$. Moreover, isoproterenol-induced cAMP production was observed to be significantly enhanced in $TNF{\alpha}$-primed C2C12 cells, indicating that $TNF{\alpha}$ enhances ${\beta}2AR$ signaling in osteoblasts. $TNF{\alpha}$ was further found in C2C12 cells to suppress bone morphogenetic protein 2-induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the expression of osteogenic marker genes including Runx2, ALP and osteocalcin. Propranolol, a ${\beta}2AR$ antagonist, attenuated this $TNF{\alpha}$ suppression of osteogenic differentiation. $TNF{\alpha}$ increased the expression of receptor activator of NF-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL), an essential osteoclastogenic factor, in C2C12 cells which was again blocked by propranolol. In summary, our data show that $TNF{\alpha}$ increases ${\beta}2AR$ expression in osteoblasts and that a blockade of ${\beta}2AR$ attenuates the suppression of osteogenic differentiation and stimulation of RANKL expression by $TNF{\alpha}$. These findings imply that a crosstalk between $TNF{\alpha}$ and ${\beta}2AR$ signaling pathways might occur in osteoblasts to modulate their function.