title: A traditional Chinese medicine formula extracts stimulate proliferation and inhibit mineralization of human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula extract, named as ZD-I, on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  When hMSCs cultivated in the basal medium with ZD-I, cell viability was assessed by MTT assay and cellular proliferation was assessed by SYBR green I assay. The effects of ZD-I on osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs were assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization assay and real-time RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ZD-I (0.78-100 microg/ml) was non-cytotoxic. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of hMSCs was 200 microg/ml. ZD-I (0.78-50 microg/ml) stimulated the proliferation of hMSCs. ZD-I did not change ALP activity of hMSCs cultivated in osteogenic medium in the early stage (4 and 7 days), but ZD-I inhibited the mineralization of hMSCs through down-regulation of several osteogenic markers (e.g. osteocalcin, bone morphogenetic protein 2 and osteopontin) in the late stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ZD-I stimulate cellular proliferation and decrease the bone mineral deposition of hMSCs. These results suggest ZD-I may play an important therapeutic role in osteoarthritic patients by improving proliferative capacity of hMSCs and inhibiting the mineralization of hMSCs.
authors: Orthopaedic Research Lab, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors: Muwan
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: Wenzhou
authors: W
authors: Feng
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Cao
authors: Lijin
authors: L
authors: Zou
authors: Chungui
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Anette
authors: A
authors: Baatrup
authors: Anne Bay
authors: AB
authors: Nielsen
authors: Haisheng
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Moustapha
authors: M
authors: Kassem
authors: Xuenong
authors: X
authors: Zou
authors: Cody
authors: C
authors: Bünger
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003470:Culture Media; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase