Adiponectin Promotes Human Jaw Bone Marrow Stem Cell Osteogenesis

Human jaw bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (h-JBMMSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells with osteogenic differentiation potential. The relationship between adiponectin (APN) and the metabolism of h-JBMMSCs has not been fully elucidated, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of APN on h-JBMMSC metabolism. h-JBMMSCs were obtained from the primary culture of human jaw bones and treated with or without APN (1 µg/mL). Osteogenesis-related gene expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To further investigate the signaling pathway, mechanistic studies were performed using Western blotting, immunofluorescence, lentiviral transduction, and SB202190 (a specific p38 inhibitor). Alizarin Red staining showed that APN promoted h-JBMMSC osteogenesis. Real-time PCR, ALP assay, and ELISA showed that ALP, osteocalcin (OCN), osteopon...