title: Ferulic acid induces proliferation and differentiation of rat osteoblasts in vitro through cGMP/PKGII/ENaC signaling.
abstract: Ferulic acid (FA) is an active component of the traditional Chinese herb Angelica sinensis. Numerous health benefits have been attributed to FA, but few studies have investigated the effects of FA on osteoblasts (Obs). Our work studied the effects of FA on proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of rat calvarial Obs and examined the signaling pathways involved. Cell proliferation and differentiation were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay kit, respectively. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase II (PKGII) expression was silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA). The mRNA expression was investigated by semi-quantitative PCR. FA (40-2560 μM) promoted Ob proliferation and differentiation; at 40-640 μM, FA stimulated calcified nodule formation and increased the expression of osteogenic genes encoding osteopontin and collagen-l. FA (40-2560 μM) increased cGMP levels in Obs and upregulated the expression of PKGII, EnaCα, and ENaCγ mRNAs. Downregulated ENaCα mRNA expression in Obs transfected with the siRNA for PKGII was reversed when FA was introduced into Obs. These results demonstrated that FA promoted proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of Obs in vitro, and enhanced osteogenic genes expression partly through the cGMP-PKGII-ENaC signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: a School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University , Guangzhou 510006 , China.|b Department of Medicine , Dongguan Kanghua Hospital , Dongguan 523080 , China.
authors.forename: Jian-Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: a School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University , Guangzhou 510006 , China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: a School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University , Guangzhou 510006 , China.
authors.forename: Guo-Zhu
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University , Guangzhou 510006 , China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: a School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University , Guangzhou 510006 , China.
authors.forename: Xing-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: a School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University , Guangzhou 510006 , China.
authors.forename: Huan-Huan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: a School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University , Guangzhou 510006 , China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: a School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University , Guangzhou 510006 , China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: a School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University , Guangzhou 510006 , China.
authors.forename: Qing-Nan
authors.initials: QN
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D053495:Osteopontin; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003373:Coumaric Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C506895:SPP1 protein, human; D053495:Osteopontin; C004999:ferulic acid; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D006152:Cyclic GMP
keywords: ENaC; Ferulic acid; PKGII; cGMP; osteoblast