Effects of icariin on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering technology has been applied extensively for clinical research and human amnion mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) could cause mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into the bone tissue. However, it is necessary to develop and identify the safer appropriate amount of osteogenic inducer. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of icariin (ICA) on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hAMSCs. METHODS: The morphology and phenotype of hAMSCs were discovered by flow cytometry and immunocytochemical staining. The osteogenic differentiation of hAMSCs under the influence of different concentrations of ICA were assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity substrate assay and alizarin red staining. RESULTS: MTT assay revealed that the hAMSCs pretreated with ICA exhibited increased proliferation when compared with the control group, and the most optimum concentration of ICA was 1 × 10(− 6) mol/L. The combined analysis of ALP activity and ARS staining showed that ICA could significantly promote the osteogenic differentiation of hAMSCs, and the effect was most significant when the concentration of ICA was 1 × 10(− 6) mol/L. CONCLUSION: All the above results implied that ICA could significantly increase proliferation and enhance the osteogenic differentiation of hAMSCs, especially when the concentration of ICA was 1 × 10(− 6) mol/L.