| Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of different concentrations of Polydatin (PD) on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of dexamethasone(Dex)-induced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated, purified and cultured, with their surface markers identified by immunofluorescence. The proliferative effects of different concentrations of polydatin (PD) on BMSCs were determined using CCK-8 assay. The cells were divided into control group (Control), dexamethasone group (Dex), low-, medium- and high-dose polydatin groups (PD-L, PD-M, PD-H), and high-dose polydatin plus Wnt inhibitor group (PD-H+DKK1). Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red S (ARS) staining, while adipogenic differentiation was assessed by Oil Red O staining for lipid droplet formation. The expression levels of osteogenic- and adipogenic-specific genes as well as Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins and genes were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. Results BMSCs were spindle-shaped, uniform in morphology, adhered to the surface, and showed high expression of positive markers in the cytoplasm. CCK-8 results indicated that PD concentrations of 5-15μmol/L had no effect on BMSCs induced by dexamethasone; therefore, PD concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 μmol/L were selected for subsequent experiments. Compared with the Control group, the Dex group showed significantly reduced ALP activity, fewer mineralized nodules, and increased lipid droplets. Additionally, ALP, RUNX-2, OCN, Wnt10b, and β-catenin mRNA expression levels were significantly reduced, while PPAR-γ and FABP4 mRNA levels were significantly increased. Compared with the Dex group, the PD-L, PD-M, and PD-H groups showed progressively increased ALP activity and mineralized nodule numbers, and decreased lipid droplet counts. Furthermore, ALP, RUNX-2, Wnt10b, and β-catenin mRNA levels increased progressively, while PPAR-γ and FABP4 mRNA levels decreased. Compared with the PD-H group, the PD-H+DKK1 group exhibited significantly reduced ALP activity, mineralized nodule numbers, and lipid droplet counts. RUNX-2, OCN, ALP, Wnt10b, and β-catenin mRNA levels were significantly reduced, while PPAR-γ and FABP4 mRNA levels increased. Western blot results were consistent with RT-qPCR findings. Conclusion Different concentrations of PD promote osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs and inhibit adipogenic differentiation by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, enhancing the expression of RUNX-2, ALP, and OCN, and suppressing the expression of PPAR-γ, C/EBP-α, and FABP4. |