Dihydroartemisinin Promotes the Osteogenesis of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells via the ERK and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathways

Figure 5

(a) Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were cultured in osteoinductive medium (OIM), OIM + 1 μM dihydroartemisinin (DHA), OIM + 1 μM DHA + U0126, or OIM + U0126. The levels of phosphorylated (p)-ERK and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) were measured using Western blotting. (b) Protein expression levels were normalized to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). P < 0.05 vs. the control OIM group(c–e). hMSCs were cultured in OIM, OIM + 1 μM DHA, or OIM + 1 μM DHA + U0126 and stained with alizarin red on day 14. (f) Mineralization was quantified by the extraction of alizarin red-stained cells. P < 0.05 vs. OIM and OIM + DHA+ U0126 groups. Black arrows represent calcium deposits.

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