The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism underlying the promotive effect of morroniside on rat mesenchymal stem cell (RMSC) proliferation and to provide an experimental basis for the development of potential new drugs. RMSCs were obtained from the bone marrow of Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3-4 months. The proliferation of primary and subcultured RMSCs in the high‑, medium‑ and low‑concentration morroniside intervention and blank control groups was observed using light microscopy. Cell proliferation and survival conditions were detected using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric tests. Light microscopy and the MTT assay revealed that RMSC adherence time in the morroniside groups was shorter compared with that of the control group. Twelve hours after the media of primary RMSCs were changed, the number of adherent cells in the morroniside groups increased and an elongated cell morphology was observed. The cells at the fourth passage in the morroniside groups fused completely 12‑16 h after inoculation and then rapidly entered into the logarithmic phase. The primary RMSCs of the morroniside intervention groups grew into typical bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) colonies after 4 days of morroniside treatment and their fusion rate had reached 80% after 9‑11 days. By contrast, the cell fusion rate of the control group only reached 75-80% after 14 days of morroniside treatment. Morroniside exhibited a similar promotive effect on proliferation in primary and subcultured RMSCs. Morroniside may promote RMSC proliferation through secreted factors, cell-to-cell interactions and/or the interactions between cellular adhesion molecules and extracellular matrices (ECMs). However, the specific mechanism underlying this effect remains to be fully elucidated.
Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SIONFH) is a frequent orthopedic disease caused by long-term or high-dose administration of corticosteroids. Tanshinone I (TsI), a flavonoid compound isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has been reported to inhibit osteoclastic differentiation in vitro. This study aimed to investigate whether TsI can ameliorate SIONFH. Herein, SIONFH was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 20 μg/kg lipopolysaccharide every 24 h for 2 days, followed by an intramuscular injection of 40 mg/kg methylprednisolone every 24 h for 3 days. Four weeks after the final injection of methylprednisolone, the rats were intraperitoneally administrated with low-dose (5 mg/kg) and high-dose (10 mg/kg) TsI once daily for 4 weeks. Results showed that TsI significantly alleviated osteonecrotic lesions of the femoral heads as determined by micro-CT analysis. Furthermore, TsI increased alkaline phosphatase activity and expressions of osteoblastic markers including osteocalcin, type I collagen, osteopontin, and Runt-related transcription factor 2 and decreased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity and expressions of osteoclastic markers including cathepsin K and acid phosphatase 5. TsI also reduced inflammatory response and oxidative stress and activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in the femoral heads. Taken together, our findings show that TsI can relieve SIONFH, indicating that it may be a candidate for preventing SIONFH.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.