BSNXD modulates mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts in a postmenopausal osteoporotic mouse model.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of stem cell that has multidirectional differentiation abilities. Under certain inducing factors, MSCs can differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. Adipocytes and osteoblasts are derived from MSCs, and decreased osteoblastogenesis and increased adipocytes may be a primary cause of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). The present study aimed to elucidate whether BuShen NingXin Decoction (BSNXD), a traditional Chinese medicinal compound, regulates MSC differentiation into both osteoblasts and adipocytes. The effects of BSNXD on bone morphometry were measured using micro-CT and its effects on the proportion of immune cells in the spleen were measured using flow cytometry (FCM). BSNXD-mediated regulation of MSC differentiation into osteoblasts and adipocytes was verified in vitro using ALP and Oil Red O staining. In addition, osteoblastogenesis-related genes and adipocyte transcription factors were measured using real-time PCR. We found that BSNXD increased bone volume, bone mineral density, and bone trabecular number, but decreased bone trabecular spacing. BSNXD treatment also increased regulatory T cell (Treg) function in vivo. In vitro, BSNXD serum increased ALP activity as well as collagen type I, osteocalcin, Runx2, and osterix mRNA expression. Moreover, BSNXD decreased adipocyte numbers and PPARγ mRNA expression, whereas in Tregs, BSNXD enhanced ALP activity. In conclusion, BSNXD promotes the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts and inhibits differentiation into adipocytes. BSNXD enhanced expression of osteoblastogenesis-related genes and decreased adipocyte transcription factor expression. We propose that BSNXD may be effective for the prevention of PMO.