Efficiency of Cell Therapy to GC-Induced ONFH: BMSCs with Dkk-1 Interference Is Not Superior to Unmodified BMSCs

Figure 2

RT-PCR analyses (a) for mRNA levels of Dkk-1, GSK3β, β-catenin, Runx2, and PPARγ. Dkk-1, the antagnosist of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, its mRNA level in TG were significantly lower than BG, GG or NG () but not between GG and NG (). GSK3β mRNA in BG or TG was significantly lower () than that of GG or NG, and mRNA of β-catenin in TG or BG was higher () than that in GG or NG. Runx2 was higher () in BG or TG than that in GG or NG while PPARγ was lower () in BG or TG than that in GG or NG. The mRNA level of GSK3β, β-catenin, Runx2, or PPARγ was not significantly different between BG and TG () or between GG and NG (). Western blotting analyses (b and c) of the expressions of Dkk-1, GSK3, β-catenin, Runx2, and PPARγ. The amount of Dkk-1 or GSK3β within TG and BG had no difference (), as well as within GG and NG (). But in TG or BG, these amounts were lower than those in GG or NG (). So, β-catenin, as the intracellular signal transducer of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, its expression were significantly higher in BG or TG (no difference between these two groups, ) than those in GG or NG (no difference between these two groups, ). The expression of osteogenesis marker, Runx2, was also more upregulated () in BG or TG than that in GG or NG. On the contrary, the adipogenesis marker, PPARγ, had the opposite expression: lower in BG or TG and higher in GG or NG. Also, the expressions of Dkk-1, GSK3β, β-catenin, Runx2, and PPARγ had no statistical significances () between BG and TG or between GG and NG (NS, ; ).

(a)

(b)

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