Effect of icariin on cell proliferation and the expression of bone resorption/formation-related markers in human periodontal ligament cells

Abstract

Periodontitis is a common destructive inflammatory disease that leads to changes in the tooth-supporting tissues. Human periodontal ligament cells are essential in periodontal tissue regeneration. The traditional Chinese medicine icariin promoted bone formation, stimulated the osteogenic differentiation of preosteoblastic cells and inhibited osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Thus, in the present study, the effect of icariin on cell proliferation and the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), core binding factor α1 (Cbfa1) and osteocalcin (OC) was investigated in human periodontal ligament cells, by an MTT assay, qPCR and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that icariin promoted cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, upregulated OPG, Cbfa1 and OC expression, and downregulated RANKL production and the RANKL/OPG expression ratio. This suggested the potential value of icariin in treating alveolar bone resorption and promoting periodontal tissue regeneration, due to its ability to stimulate the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells and inhibit osteoclast differentiation.

Effects of Plants on Osteogenic Differentiation and Mineralization of Periodontal Ligament Cells: A Systematic Review

“…Seven studies (Jittapiromsak et al ., ; Gao et al ., ; Kim et al ., ; Nowwarote et al ., ; Pei et al ., ; Chantarawaratit et al ., ; Kim et al ., ) evaluated gene or protein expression, or both, and two genes, RUNX2 and COL1 , stood out among all the genes isolated. RUNX2 was evaluated in five studies (Gao et al ., ; Kim et al ., ; Pei et al ., ; Chantarawaratit et al ., ; Kim et al ., ), and COL1 was evaluated in four studies (Gao et al ., ; Kim et al ., ; Nowwarote et al ., ; Chantarawaratit et al ., ). Other genes were also evaluated including GDF5 , VEGF , BMP2 , FN1 , ITGB1 , ALP , OCN , OSX , FRA1 , OPN , FOSB , DMP1 , BSP , MMP1 , TIMP1 , RANKL , and OPG .…”

“…Five studies Nowwarote et al, 2013;Boonanantanasarn et al, 2014;Chantarawaratit et al, 2014;Kim et al, 2015) evaluated the capacity of periodontal ligament cells treated with plants to form mineral deposition. The other three studies (Jittapiromsak et al, 2007;Kim et al, 2013;Pei et al, 2013) did not determinate the periodontal mineralization by mineral deposition. In all studies, the mineral nodules were stained with Alizarin Red.…”

“…This process led to the exclusion of 11 studies (Appendix 2). Finally, eight articles were retained for the final analysis (Jittapiromsak et al, 2007;Gao et al, 2013;Kim et al, 2013;Nowwarote et al, 2013;Pei et al, 2013;Boonanantanasarn et al, 2014;Chantarawaratit et al, 2014;Kim et al, 2015). A flowchart detailing the process of identification, inclusion, and exclusion of the studies is shown in Fig.…”

“…Two studies (Jittapiromsak et al, 2007;Kim et al, 2013) did not provide any information about the cell proliferation assay, and six studies analysed cell proliferation Nowwarote et al, 2013;Pei et al, 2013;Boonanantanasarn et al, 2014;Chantarawaratit et al, 2014;Kim et al, 2015). Furthermore, six studies used the MTT assay to evaluate cell proliferation.…”

“…Seven studies (Jittapiromsak et al, 2007;Gao et al, 2013;Kim et al, 2013;Nowwarote et al, 2013;Pei et al, 2013;Chantarawaratit et al, 2014;Kim et al, 2015) evaluated gene or protein expression, or both, and two genes, RUNX2 and COL1, stood out among all the genes isolated. RUNX2 was evaluated in five studies Kim et al, 2013;Pei et al, 2013;Chantarawaratit et al, 2014;Kim et al, 2015), and COL1 was evaluated in four studies Kim et al, 2013;Nowwarote et al, 2013;Chantarawaratit et al, 2014).…”