Effects of BMP-2 and vitamin D3 on the osteogenic differentiation of adipose stem cells

We studied the effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and vitamin D3 on the osteogenic differentiation of adipose stem cells (ASCs). ASCs were treated with 10, 50, and 100 ng/ml of BMP-2, and 10−8, 10−7, 10−6 M vitamin D3. Then, to investigate the effects of combined treatment, ASCs were treated with BMP-2 and vitamin D3 dose-dependently and time-dependently. The osteogenic differentiation was assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities/staining and the mineralization was evaluated by Alizarin red S staining. ALP activity and mineralization dose-dependently increased in early stages (ALP on 7th day and mineralization on the 14th day) while all three doses of BMP-2 or vitamin D3 showed comparable effects in late stages (ALP on the 14th day and mineralization on the 21st day) in ASCs. BMP-2 and vitamin D3 had synergistic effect on the osteogenic differentiation of ASCs. While all three doses of BMP-2 acted similarly in reinforcing the effect of vitamin D3, vitamin D3 dose-dependently augmented the osteogenic effect of BMP-2. When BMP-2 was constantly treated, vitamin D3 effect did not differ depending on the period of vitamin D3 treatment. However, when vitamin D3 was constantly treated, the BMP was more effective when treated for the last 7 days than when treated for the first 7 days. In conclusion, BMP-2 and vitamin D3 promote osteogenic differentiation of ASCs, and can work synergistically. These results can be used to induce effective and economical osteogenic induction of ASCs for bone tissue engineering.

► Simpler method for inducing differentiation from ASCs is needed for clinical applications.
► Dose-dependent and time-dependent osteogenic effects of vitamin D3 and BMP-2 on ASCs were investigated.
► Vitamin D3 and BMP-2 can work synergistically to induce osteogenic differentiation from ASCs at low doses.
► The results can be used to induce effective and economical osteogenic induction of ASCs for bone tissue engineering.