[Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in the Icariin induced proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells]

J Tradit Chin Med. 2016 Jun;36(3):360-8. doi: 10.1016/s0254-6272(16)30050-4.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of icariin on proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

Methods: BMSCs were obtained from SD rat bone marrow with differential time adherent method. Its characteristic was identified through differentiation cell surface antigens and the multi-lineage (osteo/adipo/chondo) differentiation potential. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and 5-Bromo-2-Deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation were applied to detect the effect of icariin on BMSCs proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect proliferation index of BMSCs. The RNA level and the distribution of β-catenin were evaluated by Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Immunofluorescent staining respectively. Western blot was used to detect protein expression levels of β-catenin, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β), phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (pGSK-3β) and cyclinD1.

Results: Icariin promoted BMSCs proliferation at the concentration of 0.05-2.0 mg/L. The percentage of BrdU positive cells of BMSCs was increased from 40.98% to 70.42%, and the proliferation index value was increased from 8.9% to 17.5% with the treatment of 0.05 mg/L icariin, which significance values were both less than 0.05. Compared with the control group, total and nuclear β-catenin proteins, as well as β-catenin mRNA expression, were all increased with icariin treatment. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation level of GSK-3β and cyclinD1 protein expressions were also increased in BMSCs with icariin treatment.

Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrated that low dosage of icariin could promote BMSCs proliferation. The activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathways was involved in this process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects*
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Flavonoids
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • icariin