Panax notoginseng Saponins Potentiate Osteogenesis of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells by Modulating Gap Junction Intercellular Communication Activities

[摘要] Aims The Chinese medicinal herb, Panax notoginseng, has long been used to treat bone fractures and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) could promote bone formation. We investigated the effects of PNS on gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) and osteogenesis-associated genes in rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Methods and ResultsOur MTT assays demonstrated that PNS enhanced BMSC proliferation under basal medium culture in vitro. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays and alizarin Red staining showed that PNS stimulated ALP activity and calcium deposition by BMSCs. Measurement of the traversing of Lucifer yellow through intercellular junctions revealed that PNS significantly stimulated GJIC activities. RT-PCR assays further showed that PNS augmented the increase in the mRNA levels of ALP, core-binding factor a1, and bone sialoprotein while decreasing the mRNA level of PPARΓ2. PNS also reduced RANKL levels and increased osteoprotegerin levels. Gap junction inhibitor, 18a-glycyrrhetinic acid, could partially reverse the actions of PNS on BMSCs. Conclusions Our findings indicate that PNS could promote osteogenesis of BMSCs by targeting osteogenesis-associated genes, which could be mediated by their actions on GJIC.

[学科分类] 分子生物学，细胞生物学和基因

[关键词] Panax notoginseng saponins;Bone marrow stromal cells;Gap junction intercellular communication;Osteogenesis