Objective To determine the effects of different concentrations of glucose on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of orofacial bonemesenchymal stem cells (OFMSCs). Methods OFMSCs were primarily cultured and identified in vitro to undergo osteogenic/adipogenic/chondrogenic differentiation. The cells were exposed to osteogenic medium containing different levels of glucose: 5.5,11,16.5,25,44 mmol/L. The cell activity and proliferation index were measured using a cell counting kit (CCK)-8 and flow cytometry. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of the cells was measured at the 4th and 7th day. Alizarin red staining was carried out at the 21st day. RT-PCR detecting osteogenesis-related gene Runx2 and Osterix mRNA expression was performed at the 4th, 7th, 14th and 21st day. Results Osteogenesis induced calcium nodes was observed with Alizarin red staining at the 21st day. Adipogenic induced red lipid droplets was observed with Oil Red O staining at the 14th day. Chondrogenic induced blue cytoplasm was observed with Alcian blue staining at the 14th day. With 5.5 to 25 mmol/L glucose,OFMSCs proliferation was promoted.But when the concentration of glucose continued to increase (from 25 to 44 mmol/L),OFMSCs proliferation significantly reduced.The ALP activity decreased with glucose in a concentration-dependent manner (P st day. The calcium nodes and mineralization quantity decreased with glucose in a concentration-dependent manner (P Runx2 and Osterix mRNA than the others (P Runx2 and Osterix mRNA in all groups showed a trend of rising first, followed by an obvious down regulation. Conclusion With certain limits,OFMSC proliferation is promoted by glucose. Osteogenic differentiation is inhibited by glucose in a concentration-dependent manner.
