Enhancement of Osteogenesis by Concanavalin A in Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Cultures

Sekiya Kensuke

Nishimura Masahiro

Suehiro Fumio

Nishimura Haruki

Hamada Taizo

Kato Yukio

The International Journal of Artificial Organs

This study investigates concanavalin A (ConA) as a novel factor that may enhance osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro. Various factors have been studied as promoting factors for MSC osteogenesis in vivo and in vitro. However, their safety, effectiveness, and cost may not be ideal. So, human MSCs were cultured in osteogenic medium in the presence or absence of ConA. We used calcium assays to compare the effects of ConA and BMP-2 on MSC calcification. Also enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative PCR were used to evaluate the expression levels of bone specific markers. ConA was observed to enhance the calcification and this effect was comparable to that of BMP-2. Combination of ConA and BMP-2 further enhanced the calcification slightly but significantly. ConA also increased osteocalcin and BMP-2 protein levels in the medium of MSC cultures. Furthermore, ConA increased osteocalcin, RUNX2, BMP-2, and BMP-4 mRNA expression levels. However, gene expression pattern of MSCs stimulated by ConA was different from that observed with BMP-2. These results, taken together, suggest that ConA and BMP-2 enhance MSC osteogenesis via different pathways. The ConA-induced bone formation in MSC cultures may be useful in regenerative medicine or tissue engineering in clinical studies and in basic research on bone formation.

Concanavalin A

Mesenchymal stem cells

Calcification

Osteogenesis

Medical sciences [ 490 ]

eng

Wichtig Editore

[ISSN] 0391-3988

[NCID] AA00679932