Relaxin treatment stimulates the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Several studies have determined that relaxin stimulates differentiation and regulates the activity of mature osteoclasts, but little is known about its effect on the differentiation of mesenchymal cells towards the osteogenic lineage. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of relaxin on the proliferation and differentiation of the osteoblastic lineage of mesenchymal cells derived from human dental pulp (hDPSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this in vitro study, hDPSC were characterized and treated with relaxin at different doses (10–80 ng/ml) and times (1–21 days). Morphology was assessed by microscopy, and proliferation was assessed using a resazurin assay. Osteoblastic differentiation was evaluated by Alizarin Red staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) labeling, and changes in the expression of the osteoblastic differentiation genes RUNX2 and BMP2. RESULTS: Relaxin treatment did not induce changes in the proliferation or viability of hDPSCs; however, larger cells and increased cytoplasmic prolongation were observed. Relaxin treatment (20 and 80 ng/ml) significantly increased calcified nodule formation on days 14 and 21. The cytochemical signals for ALP, RUNX2, and BMP2 gene expression were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by the relaxin treatment. CONCLUSION: Relaxin treatment does not induce changes in hDPSC proliferation but induces morphological changes, increases ALP detection, calcified nodule formation, and increases expression of RUNX2 and BMP2, suggesting the induction of osteoblastic differentiation of hDPSC.