Affiliation:
1. Department of Spine I, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410000,
China
2. College of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410000, China
3. Hunan
University of Chinese Medicine Graduate School, Changsha 410208, China
Abstract
Background:
Psoralidin (PL) could affect the differentiation of bone marrow
mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The role of PL is still unclear in adipose-derived
stem cells (ADSCs).
Aims:
This study aimed to investigate the effects of PL on ADSCs differentiation into
nucleus pulposus-like cells and the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.
Methods:
The proliferation and apoptosis of ADSCs were detected. The nucleus
pulposus cell-related markers (CD24, BASP1, KRT19, and Aggrecan) and TGF-β/Smad
signaling pathway indexes were analyzed.
Results:
The results showed that compared to the control group, the cell activity was
increased in the PL group, and the apoptosis rate was decreased. The mRNA and
protein levels of nucleus pulposus cells markers (CD24, BASP1, KRT19, Aggrecan, and
Collagen Type II) and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway-related indexes (TGF-β, SMAD2,
and SMAD3) were increased in PL group. After treatment with PL and TGF-β silencing,
the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway-related indicators (TGF-β, SMAD2, and SMAD3)
and nucleus pulposus cells markers (CD24, BASP1, KRT19, Aggrecan, and Collagen
Type II) were found to be higher in the sh-TGF-β +PL group than in the sh-TGF-β group.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, our study showed that PL might induce the differentiation of
ADSCs to nucleus pulposus cells through the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. It might
have the potential application value in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Molecular Biology,Molecular Medicine,General Medicine,Biochemistry