Journal of Oral Tissue Engineering

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The Effect of Dexamethasone on the Proliferation and Osteoblastic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Treated with Fluvastatin

Koji TANABE1,2, Tadashi MIURA2, Longqiang YANG2,3,
Masataka KASAHARA1, Eri TSUKAGOSHI1,
and Masao YOSHINARI2


1 Department of Pharmacology, 2 Oral Health Science Center,
3 Department of Pediatric Dentistry,
Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan


J Oral Tissue Engin 2016; 14(3):151-156.

SYNOPSIS
Statins, known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, were reported to have osteogenic effects. However, the mechanism of the effect of dexamethasone on statin-induced osteogenesis remains elusive. This study investigated the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) treated with fluvastatin (Flu). The addition of 10 nM Dex increased, by day 7, the growth of hMSCs treated with 0.5 µM Flu. Moreover, Dex of all tested concentrations increased the growth of hMSCs in the presence of 1.0 µM Flu by day 7. An alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay showed the addition of Dex resulted in increased ALP activity of the hMSCs treated with 0.5 µM Flu in a concentration-independent manner, while Dex did not increase ALP levels in the presence of high Flu concentrations including 1.0 µn;M and 2.0 µM. These results suggest that the addition of 10 nM Dex may be necessary for cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs in the presence of 0.5 µM Flu.

Key words: fluvastatin, dexamethasone, human mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblastic differentiation, cell proliferation