• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2007

Trace mineral studies involving metal ion chelators have been conducted in investigating the response of gene and protein expressions of certain cell lines but a few had really focused on how these metal ion chelators could affect the availability of important trace minerals such as Zn, Mn, Fe and Cu. The aim of the present study was to investigate the availability of Zn for the treatment of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells and the availability of some trace minerals in the cell culture media components after using chelexing resin in the FBS and the addition of N,N,N',N'-tetrakis-(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN, membrane-permeable chelator) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA, membrane-impermeable chelator) in the treatment medium. Components for the preparation of cell culture medium and Zn-treated medium have been tested for Zn, Mn, Fe and Cu contents by atomic absorption spectrophotometer or inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometer. Also, the expression of bone-related genes (ALP, Runx2, PTH-R, ProCOL I, OPN and OC) was measured on the cellular Zn depletion such as chelexing or TPEN treatment. Results have shown that using the chelexing resin in FBS would significantly decrease the available Zn (p<0.05) $(39.4{\pm}1.5{\mu}M\;vs\;0.61{\pm}10.15{\mu}M)$ and Mn (p<0.05) $(0.74{\pm}0.01{\mu}M\;vs\;0.12{\pm}0.04{\mu}M)$. However, levels of Fe and Cu in FBS were not changed by chelexing FBS. The use of TPEN and DTPA as Zn-chelators did not show significant difference on the final concentration of Zn in the treatment medium (0, 3, 6, 9, $12{\mu}M$) except for in the addition of higher $15{\mu}M\;ZnCl_2$ which showed a significant increase of Zn level in DTPA-chelated treatment medium. Results have shown that both chelators gave the same pattern for the expression of the five bone-related genes between Zn and Zn+, and TPEN-treated experiments, compared to chelex-treated experiment, showed lower bone-related gene expression, which may imply that TPEN would be a stronger chelator than chelex resin. This study showed that TPEN would be a stronger chelator compared to DTPA or chelex resin and TPEN and chelex resin exerted cellular zinc depletion to be enough for cell study for Zn depletion.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.518-526
• /
• 2015

Objectives This study investigated the effect of purified safflower (Carthamus tinctorius Linne) and safflower seed (Carthamus tinctorius L. seed; CS) extract, using hot water and ethanol extract methods , on the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3E1 cells.Methods The safflower and safflower seed were extracted with hot water and ethanol. The samples were concentrated by a rotary evaporator and then freeze-dried using a freeze-dryer. The MC3T3E1 cells were propagated and maintained in DMEM (Gibco) containing 10% FBS and a 1% antibiotic antimycotic solution. To induce osteogenic differentiation, the cells were treated for 14 days with DMEM with 10 mM β-glycerophosphate and 50 μM ascorbic acid. Extract doses were confirmed by the results of an MTT assay, and treatment of the extracts was performed in a differentiation medium every two days. The ALP staining and activity were tested after osteogenic differentiation for five days, and after 14 days, osteogenic differentiation was determined by alizarin red S staining. The mRNA expressions of osteogenic-related genes were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR.Results In the results of the MTT assay, all concentrations of safflower extracts had no toxicity in the MC3T3El cells. But in the groups of 100 ng/ml and 200 ng/ml concentrations of safflower seed extracts, the cell viability was significantly reduced by up to 40-50%. So we fixed the treatment concentration of the extract at 50 ng/ml. In the ALP and alizarin red S staining, all extract groups increased osteogenic differentiation compared with the control group. The water-safflower extract group showed the highest mRNA level of Alp, Runx2, and Dlx5 genes. The mRNA level of Ocn, an osteogenic gene related to late-stage differentiation, in the ethanol-safflower extract group increased the mineralization more significantly than in other groups.Conclusions These data suggest that the extract of safflower increases the osteoblastic differentiation activates of MC3T3E1 cells like the extract of safflower seed. The water-extract and ethanol-extract of safflower have effects on different stages of osteogenesis in MC3T3El. Not only safflower seed but also safflower will be useful therapeutic reagents for age-associated chronic diseases such as osteoporosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.46-53
• /
• 2015

Background: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used in many chemotherapeutic protocols and play an important role in the normal regulation of bone remodeling. However, the prolonged use of GCs results in osteoporosis, which is partially due to apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes. In this study, effects of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on GC-treated murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and a GC-induced osteoporosis mouse model were investigated. Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells were exposed to dexamethasone (Dex) with or without KRG and cell viability was measured by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Realtime polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate the apoptotic gene expression; osteogenic gene expression and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were also measured. Western blotting was performed to evaluate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins. A GC-induced osteoporosis animal model was used for in vivo study. Results and conclusion: The MTT assay revealed that Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) prevents loss of cell viability caused by Dex-induced apoptosis in MC3T3E1 cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction data showed that groups treated with both Dex and KRG exhibited lower mRNA levels of caspase-3 and -9, whereas the mRNA levels of Bcl2, IAPs, and XIAP increased. Moreover, groups treated with both Dex and KRG demonstrated increased mRNA levels of ALP, RUNX2, and bone morphogenic proteins as well as increased ALP activity in MC3T3-E1 cells, compared to cells treated with Dex only. In addition, KRG increased protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation and decreased c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation. Moreover, microcomputed tomography analysis of the femurs showed that GC implantation caused trabecular bone loss. However, a significant reduction of bone loss was observed in the KRG-treated group. These results suggest that the molecular mechanism of KRG in the GC-induced apoptosis may lead to the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent and/or delay osteoporosis.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.751-763
• /
• 2005

Statement of problem. To improve a direct implant fixation to the bone, various strategies have been developed focusing on the surface of materials. The surface quality of the implant depends on the chemical, physical, mechanical and topographical properties of the surface. The different properties will interact with each other and a change in thickness of the oxide layer may also result in a change in surface energy, the surface topography and surface, chemical composition. However, there is limited the comprehensive study with regard to changed surface and biologic behavior of osteoblast by anodization. Purpose of study. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of an oxide layer formed and to evaluate the cellular biologic behaviors on titanium by anodic oxidation (anodization) by cellular proliferation, differentiation, ECM formation and gene expression. And the phospholipase activity was measured on the anodized surface as preliminary study to understand how surface properties of Ti implant are transduced into downstream cellular events. Methods and Materials. The surface of a commercially pure titanium(Grade 2) was modified by anodic oxidation. The group 1 samples had a machined surface and other three experimental specimens were anodized under a constant voltage of 270 V(Group 2), 350 V(Group 3), and 450 V(Group 4). The specimen characteristics were inspected using the following five categories; the surface morphology, the surface roughness, the thickness of oxide layer, the crystallinity, and the chemical composition of the oxide layer. Cell numbers were taken as a marker for cell proliferation. While the expression of alkaline phosphatase and Runx2 (Cbfa1) was used as early differentiation marker for osteoblast. The type I collagen production was determined, which constitutes the main structural protein of the extracellular matrix. Phospholipase $A_2$ and D activity were detected. Results. (1) The anodized titanium had a porous oxide layer, and there was increase in both the size and number of pores with increasing anodizing voltage. (2) With increasing voltage, the surface roughness and thickness of the oxide film increased significantly (p<0.01), the $TiO_2$phase changed from anatase to rutile. During the anodic oxidization, Ca and P ions were more incorporated into the oxide layer. (3) The in vitro cell responses of the specimen were also dependant on the oxidation conditions. With increasing voltage, the ALP activity, type I collagen production, and Cbfa 1 gene expression increased significantly (p<0.01), while the cell proliferation decreased. (4) In preliminary study on the relation of surface property and phospholipase, PLD activity was increased but $PLA_2$ activity did not changed according to applied voltage. Conclusion. The anodized titanium shows improved surface characteristics than the machined titanium. The surface properties acquired by anodization appear to give rise more mature osteoblast characteristics and might result in increased bone growth, and contribute to the achievement of a tight fixation. The precise mechanism of surface property signaling is not known, may be related to phospholipase D.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the immunosuppressants FK506 and cyclosporin A (CsA) on the osteogenic differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Methods: The effect of FK506 and CsA on rat MSCs was assessed in vitro. The MTT assay was used to determine the deleterious effect of immunosuppressants on stem cell proliferation at 1, 3, and 7 days. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was analyzed on days 3, 7, and 14. Alizarin red S staining was done on day 21 to check mineralization nodule formation. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was also performed to detect the expressions of bone tissue-specific genes on days 1 and 7. Results: Cell proliferation was promoted more in the FK506 groups than the control or CsA groups on days 3 and 7. The FK506 groups showed increased ALP activity compared to the other groups during the experimental period. The ALP activity of the CsA groups did not differ from the control group in any of the assessments. Mineralization nodule formation was most prominent in the FK506 groups at 21 days. RT-PCR results of the FK506 groups showed that several bone-related genes-osteopontin, osteonectin, and type I collagen (Col-I)-were expressed more than the control in the beginning, but the intensity of expression decreased over time. Runx2 and Dlx5 gene expression were up-regulated on day 7. The effects of 50 nM CsA on osteonectin and Col-I were similar to those of the FK506 groups, but in the 500 nM CsA group, most of the genes were less expressed compared to the control. Conclusions: These results suggest that FK506 enhances the osteoblastic differentiation of rat MSCs. Therefore, FK506 might have a beneficial effect on bone regeneration when immunosuppressants are needed in xenogenic or allogenic stem cell transplantation to treat bone defects.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.49 no.10
• /
• pp.548-553
• /
• 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in cartilage tissue engineering to repair articular cartilage defects. However, hypertrophy of chondrocytes derived from MSCs might hinder the stabilization of hyaline cartilage. Thus, it is very important to find a suitable way to maintain the chondrogenic phenotype of chondrocytes. It has been reported that cordycepin has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor functions. However, the role of cordycepin in chondrocyte hypertrophy remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of cordycepin on chondrogenesis and chondrocyte hypertrophy in MSCs and ATDC5 cells. Cordycepin upregulated chondrogenic markers including Sox9 and collagen type II while down-regulated hypertrophic markers including Runx2 and collagen type X. Further exploration showed that cordycepin promoted chondrogenesis through inhibiting Nrf2 while activating BMP signaling. Besides, cordycepin suppressed chondrocyte hypertrophy through PI3K/Bapx1 pathway and Notch signaling. Our results indicated cordycepin had the potential to maintain chondrocyte phenotype and reconstruct engineered cartilage.

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

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.214-220
• /
• 2001

The clinical application of the three-dimensional radiographic technique had been limited to standard Broadbent-Bolton cephalometer with biplanar stereoradiography. We developed a new method for compensating the error of head position in ordinary non-biplanar cephalostat. It became to possible to use the three dimensional cephalogram commonly in clinical bases. 1. The method of methemetical compensation of head positioning error in non-biplanar condition was evaluated with dry skull. The error of the method of first and the second trial was $0.46{\pm}1.21$, $0.33{\pm}0.90mm$, which means the error of the head positioning correction in conventional cephalogram was within clinical acceptance. 2. The reproducibility of this system for clinical application was 0.54 mm ($-2.99{\sim}2.26mm$) which defines the absolute mean difference of the first and second trial. Compare to the The landmark identification error $1.2{\pm}1.6mm$, the error of the measurement was within the range of landmark identification error. The result indicates the adequate clinical accuracy of the computation of three-dimensional coordinates by compensation of the error of the head position in ordinary non-biplanar cephalostat.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.279-288
• /
• 2007

In the present study, we focused on stem cells in the dental papilla of the tooth germ. The tooth germ, sometimes called the tooth bud, is the primordial structure from which a tooth is formed. The tooth germ consists of the enamel organ, the dental papilla, and the dental follicle. The dental papilla lies below a cellular aggregation of the enamel organ. Mesenchymal cells within the dental papilla are responsible for formation of dentin and pulp of a tooth. Tooth germ disappears as a tooth is formed, but that of a third molar stays in the jawbone of a human until the age of 10 to 16, because third molars grow slowly. Impacted third molar tooth germs from young adults are sometimes extracted for orthodontic treatment. In the present study, we evaluated the osteogenic activity and mineralization of cultured human dental papilla-derived cells. Dental papillas were harvested from mandible during surgical extraction of lower impacted third molar from 3 patients aged 13-15 years. After passage 3, the dental papilla-derived cells were trypsinized and subsequently suspended in the osteogenic induction DMEM medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 50 g/ml L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, 10 nM dexamethasone and 10 mM -glycerophosphate at a density of $1\;{\times}10^6\;cells/dish$ in a 100-mm culture dish. The dental papilla-derived cells were then cultured for 6 weeks and the medium was changes every 3 days during the incubation period. Dental papilla-derived cells showed positive alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining during 42 days of culture period. The formation of ALP stain showed its maximal manifestation at day 7 of culture period, then decreased in intensity during the culture period. ALP mRNA level was largely elevated at 1 weeks and gradually decreased with culture time. Osteocalcin mRNA expression appeared at day 14 in culture, after that its expression continuously increased in a time-dependent manner up to day 28. The expression remained constant thereafter. Runx2 expression appeared at day 7 with no detection thereafter. Von Kossa-positive mineralization nodules were first present at day 14 in culture followed by an increased number of positive nodules during the entire duration of the culture period. Osteocalcin secretion was detectable in the culture medium from 1 week. The secretion of osteocalcin from dental papilla-derived cells into the medium greatly increased after 3 weeks although it showed a shallow increase by then. In conclusion, our study showed that cultured human dental papilla-derived cells differentiated into active osteoblastic cells that were involved in synthesis of bone matrix and the subsequent mineralization of the matrix.