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Alendronate Enhances Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells: A Preliminary Study

  • Symposium: Tribute to Dr. Marshall Urist: Musculoskeletal Growth Factors
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Alendronate inhibits osteoclastic activity. However, some studies suggest alendronate also has effects on osteoblast activity. We hypothesized alendronate would enhance osteoblastic differentiation without causing cytotoxicity of the osteoblasts. We evaluated the effect of alendronate on the osteogenic differentiation of mouse mesenchymal stem cells. D1 cells (multipotent mouse mesenchymal stem cells) were cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium for 7 days and then treated with alendronate for 2 days before being subjected to various tests using MTT assays, Alizarin Red, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, energy-dispersive xray spectrophotometry, reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometric analysis. D1 cells differentiated into osteoblasts in the presence of osteogenic differentiation medium as confirmed by positive Alizarin Red S staining, increased alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin mRNA expression, a calcium peak by energy-dispersive xray spectrophotometry, and by positive immunofluorescence staining against CD44. Osteogenic differentiation was enhanced after treatment with alendronate as confirmed by Alizarin Red S staining, elevated alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin mRNA expression, a greater calcium peak by energy-dispersive xray spectrophotometry, and by immunofluorescence staining against CD44 by flow cytometric analysis. These data suggest alendronate enhances osteogenic differentiation when treated with mouse mesenchymal stem cells in osteogenic differentiation medium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Jeonnam, Korea

    Hyung Keun Kim PhD, Ji Hyun Kim MS, Azlina Amir Abbas MS (Ortho) & Taek Rim Yoon MD

  2. Cardiovascular Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea

    Hyung Keun Kim PhD, Ji Hyun Kim MS & Taek Rim Yoon MD

  3. Center for Joint Disease, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 160 Ilsimri, Hwasuneup, Hwasungun, 519-809, Jeonnam, Korea

    Taek Rim Yoon MD

Authors
  1. Hyung Keun Kim PhD
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  2. Ji Hyun Kim MS
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  3. Azlina Amir Abbas MS (Ortho)
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Correspondence to Taek Rim Yoon MD.

Additional information

One of the authors (TRY) received funding from a Chonnam National University (Korea) research fund.

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Kim, H.K., Kim, J.H., Abbas, A.A. et al. Alendronate Enhances Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells: A Preliminary Study. Clin Orthop Relat Res 467, 3121–3128 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0409-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0409-y

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