Drynaria fortunei J. Sm. promotes osteoblast maturation by inducing differentiation-related gene expression and protecting against oxidative stress-induced apoptotic insults.
OBJECTIVE
Drynaria fortunei J. Sm. is one variety of the traditional Chinese medical herb Gusuibu. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of water extracts of Kunze on regulation of osteoblast maturation and its possible mechanisms.


METHODS
Primary osteoblasts prepared from neonatal rat calvarias were exposed to the water extracts of Kunze (WEK), and the cytotoxicity was assayed. Osteoblast maturation was evaluated by analyzing cell mineralization. RT-PCR was executed to determine the effects of WEK on regulation of osteoblast differentiation-related gene expression. Nitrosative stress and apoptotic cells were quantified using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Exposure of rat calvarial osteoblasts to WEK did not affect cell viability, but significantly promoted osteoblast mineralization. WEK induced osteoprogenitor proliferation-related insulin-like growth factor-1 mRNA, but did not affect collagen type 1 mRNA expression. Treatment with WEK likewise induced the expression of matrix maturation-related bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and BMP-6 mRNA. Consequently, WEK enhanced the levels of mineralization-related alkaline phosphatase, ostepontin, and osteocalcin mRNA in osteoblasts. In addition, exposure of osteoblasts to WEK alleviated nitrosative stress-caused apoptotic insults.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that WEK can promote osteoblast maturation by regulating bone differentiation-related gene expression and defending against nitrosative stress-induced apoptotic insults.
Hung
Tai-Yuan
TY
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yuan's General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chen
Ta-Liang
TL
Liao
Mei-Hsiu
MH
Ho
Wei-Pin
WP
Liu
Der-Zen
DZ
Chuang
Wu-Chang
WC
Chen
Ruei-Ming
RM
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D029621:Polypodiaceae; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal