title: Enhanced proliferation and differentiation effects of a CGRP- and Sr-enriched calcium phosphate cement on bone mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because of its good osteoconductivity, strontium (Sr) ranelate has been extensively used as a bone substitute for the treatment of bone disorders. To facilitate treatment, Sr is also incorporated into calcium phosphate cement (Sr-CPC); however, the Sr from Sr-CPC is not sufficient to induce a significant increase of bone mass in an ovariectomized rat model. To improve the efficiency of Sr-CPC, we developed a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and Sr-enriched CPC (CGRP-Sr-CPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We used X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to measure properties of CGRP-Sr-CPC. We also employed a cell proliferation assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay and real-time PCR to assess the effects of CPC implants on proliferation and differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from an ovariectomized rat model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CGRP did not change the composition, pore sizes and compressive strength of the cement body as compared with Sr-CPC. Meanwhile, CGRP-Sr-CPC did not show cell cytotoxicity to BMSCs. Further, CGRP and Sr released from CGRP-Sr-CPC significantly enhanced the cell proliferation of BMSCs and increased the activity of ALP during differentiation of BMSCs, compared with CGRP- or Sr-CPC. Moreover, CGRP-Sr-CPC significantly up-regulated the expression levels of osteogenic differentiation-related genes including Alp, Bmp2, Osteonectin and Runx2 during differentiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate the optimized effects of CGRP- and Sr-enriched CPC in promoting proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, suggesting the potential ability of this novel cement to assist the formation of new bone during osteoporosis-induced bone disorders.
authors:  Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi - PR China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Liang
authors:  Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi - PR China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Li
authors:  Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen - PR China.
authors: Xu
authors: X
authors: Cui
authors:  Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi - PR China.
authors: Zhongfei
authors: Z
authors: Tang
authors:  Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi - PR China.
authors: Xiaomou
authors: X
authors: Wei
authors:  Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen - PR China.
authors: Haobo
authors: H
authors: Pan
authors:  Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi - PR China.
authors: Bing
authors: B
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D013324:Strontium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C020243:calcium phosphate; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D013324:Strontium