2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (11): 1722-1727

Mechanism by which naringin regulates osteogenic differentiation in osteoblasts

Wu Jingjing1, Lin Haixiong2,3, Sun Weipeng1, Li Zige1, Jiang Ziwei4   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Studies have found that naringin affects bone metabolism directly through Wnt, transforming growth factor β, MAPK signaling pathway, and osteoclast signaling pathway, as well as indirectly through P13K-Akt and vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway. Naringin can promote bone repair and retard osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of naringin on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts by targeting the activation of connexin 43/ERK1 signaling pathway through down-regulation of miR-206.
METHODS: Rat osteoblasts (ROB cells) were treated and cultured with different concentrations of naringin (1, 10, 100 mg/L and 1, 10 g/L), and the cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay. Naringin at 100 mg/L and 1, 10 g/L were used for subsequent experiments. Osteoblasts with non-drug culture were used as controls. RT-qPCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of miR-206, connexin 43 and ERK1 mRNAs in ROB cells to verify their targeting relationship. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of ERK1/2 and P-ERK in ROB cells. Alkaline phosphatase activity and calcification ability in ROB cells were observed by alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Naringin significantly promoted the proliferation activity of ROB cells (P < 0.05). The absorbance value and relative proliferation rate of ROB cells increased as the administration concentration of naringin increased in a certain range. When the mass concentration was 1 g/L, the cell proliferation activity was the strongest. Naringin significantly inhibited the expression of miR-206 mRNA in ROB cells and promoted the expression of connexin 43 mRNA and ERK1/2 and P-ERK protein (P < 0.05). Naringin could significantly promote the activity and expression of alkaline phosphatase and the level of cellular calcification in ROB cells (P < 0.05). Moreover, naringin at 1 g/L showed the best effect. To conclude, naringin can target and activate the connexin 43/ERK1 signaling pathway by down-regulating the expression of miR-206, thereby promoting the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of ROB cells.
Key words: naringin, miR-206, Cx43, ERK1, osteoblast, bone injury, drynariae, microRNAs