[Simvastatin induces osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of simvastatin on osteoblastic cell differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells in vitro, and to elucidate the mechanisms of anabolic effect of simvastatin on bone formation.


METHODS
Bone marrow stromal cells from femur and tibia of adult female BALB-C mice were cultured in vitro, after being treated with different concentrations of simvastatin for 72 h, changes of mRNA level of osteocalcin (OCN) were detected by RT-PCR, change of OCN, and osteopontin (OPN) expression were examined by Western blot, and the changes of cellular alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) were examined by histochemistry and enzymologic measurement.


RESULTS
After bone marrow stromal cells were treated with different concentration of simvastatin for 72 h, level of OCN mRNA increased, and expression of OCN and OPN also increased in a concentration-dependent manner, and cellular ALP activity significantly increased in a concentration-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Simvastatin can stimulate osteoblastic differentiation, and improve cellular ALPase activity with high expression of osteocalcin and osteopontin in vitro. These may be parts of the mechanism of anabolic effect of simvastatin on bone formation.
Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China.
Chunli
C
Song
Gengting
G
Dang
Hongti
H
Jia
Zhaoqing
Z
Guo
Qingjun
Q
Ma
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015675:Osteocalcin; D053495:Osteopontin; D019821:Simvastatin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase