Mechanical Strain Regulates Osteogenic and Adipogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Figure 4

Mechanical strain impedes the differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis shows that mRNA levels of PPARγ-2 (a) and C/EBPα (b) decreased in MSCs assigned to strain stimulation groups in adipogenic differentiation medium at both 3 days and 5 days, as compared with levels in the unstrained groups. Levels of mRNA in the different groups were measured by Bio-Rad CFX Manager Software. Values are expressed as means plus or minus standard errors of the mean (±SEMs) (); , . Strain-stimulated groups were compared with corresponding unstrained control groups. (c) Western blot analysis showing that levels of PPARγ-2 and C/EBPα proteins clearly decreased in MSCs assigned to strain stimulation groups in adipogenic differentiation medium at both 3 days and 5 days, as compared with levels in the unstrained groups. The mRNA/GAPDH ratios in the different groups were measured by the intensity of the various protein bands, as quantified by densitometry with ImageJ software. Values are expressed as the means ± SEMs (); , . Strain-stimulated groups were compared with corresponding unstrained control groups.

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