Objective: To investigate the osteogenic differentiation potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and to explore the role of BMMSC osteogenic differentiation in the pathogenesis of MDS.
Methods: BMMSC were isolated from bone marrow of patients with MDS and healthy donors, then expanded in vitro. The expression of transcription factor gene RUNX2, Osterix and osteogenic differentiation markers (ALP, BSP, OPN, OCN) were measured by real-time PCR, the alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity was assessed at 3, 7, 10 days after osteogenic differentiation. Mineralization analysis was performed at day 21 of osteogenic induction.
Results: The expression level of RUNX2 and Osterix were significantly decreased in BMMSC from lower-risk MDS patients compared with normal controls (P<0.05). After osteogenic induction, low-risk MDS showed lower alkaline phosphatase activity at day 3 (P<0.05), less intense alizarin red S staining at day 21 (P<0.05), and lower gene expression of osteogenic differentiation markers (P<0.05), however, these expressions in higher-risk MDS were normal.
Conclution: BMMSC from low-risk MDS have abnormalities in osteogenic differentiation, it may contribute to the ineffective hamatopoiesis of MDS.