Objective To investigate the effect of conditioned serum of Xianling Gubao capsules on the proliferation and differentiation of mouse embryonic osteoblast precursor cells (MC3T3-E1) and its relationship with p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Methods MC3T3-E1 cells were intervened with conditioned serum of Xianling Gubao capsules. The optimal intervention time and concentration were selected using CCK8 assay. ALP activity of cells in various groups was detected with kit. The cells were divided into four groups: A, B, C, and D. They were conditioned with 10% conditioned serum, 10% blank serum, 10% conditioned serum+SB203580, and 10% blank serum+SB203580, respectively. The protein expressions of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38), phosphorylated p38 (p-p38), osteogenesis-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) were detected using immunoblotting (Western blotting). The mRNA expressions of p38, Runx2, and BMP-2 were detected with real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Results Compared with the blank serum group, conditioned serum at different concentrations of Xianling Gubao capsules promoted the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells and increased the activity of ALP. The most significant effect was achieved at 10% conditioned serum intervening for 36h (P<0.05). Compared to those in group B, the expression levels of p38, p-p38, Runx2, and BMP-2 protein and p38, Runx2, BMP-2 mRNA were significantly increased in group A (P<0.05). After adding SB203580, a blocker of signaling pathway, the expressions of the above indicators were significantly lower in the C and D groups (P<0.05). The expression of p38, p-p38, Runx2 and BMP-2 protein and p38, Runx2, BMP-2 mRNA in group C were lower than those in group D (P<0.05). Conclusion Conditioned serum of Xianling Gubao capsules promotes the differentiation and growth of MC3T3-E1 cells. Its mechanism may be related to the activation of p38MAPK signaling pathway and the up-regulation of the expressions of osteogenesis-related factors Runx2 and BMP-2. |