title: Ferutinin promotes proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation in human amniotic fluid and dental pulp stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The phytoestrogen Ferutinin plays an important role in prevention of osteoporosis caused by ovariectomy-induced estrogen deficiency in rats, but there is no evidence of its effect on osteoblastic differentiation in vitro. In this study we investigated the effect of Ferutinin on proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of two different human stem cells populations, one derived from the amniotic fluid (AFSCs) and the other from the dental pulp (DPSCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  AFSCs and DPSCs were cultured in a differentiation medium for 14 or 21days with or without the addition of Ferutinin at a concentration ranging from 10(-11) to 10(-4)M. 17β-Estradiol was used as a positive drug at 10(-8)M. Cell proliferation and expression of specific osteoblast phenotype markers were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MTT assay revealed that Ferutinin, at concentrations of 10(-8) and 10(-9)M, enhanced proliferation of both AFSCs and DPSCs after 72h of exposure. Moreover, in both stem cell populations, Ferutinin treatment induced greater expression of the osteoblast phenotype markers osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), collagen I, RUNX-2 and osterix (OSX), increased calcium deposition and osteocalcin secretion in the culture medium compared to controls. These effects were more pronounced after 14days of culture in both populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The enhancing capabilities on proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation displayed by the phytoestrogen Ferutinin make this compound an interesting candidate to promote bone formation in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplants, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. manuela.zavatti@unimore.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zavatti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Resca
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertoni
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maraldi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carnevale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Pol
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D003508:Cycloheptanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D015415:Biomarkers; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D003470:Culture Media; D003508:Cycloheptanes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C111068:4-oxy-6-(4-oxybezoyloxy)dauc-8,9-en