Osteoblastic differentiation induced by simvastatin promote bone morphogenic protein-7 modified mesenchymal stem cells osteoblast conversion

Objective To determine whether or not the induction of simvastatin influences proliferation and differentiation of the phenotype of bone morphogenic protein-7(BMP-7) modified rabbit mesenchymal stem cells(rMSCs).Methods The rMSCs treated and untreated with simvastatin were transfected with BMP-7 gene.The expression of BMP-7 was determined by Western blotting.The changes of proliferation and differentiation of the phenotype in the cells were observed by cell growth state, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity and osteocalcin(OCN) content analysis.Results The expression of BMP-7 was confirmed in levels of protein.Cell cultures of rMSCs pretreated with simvastatin showed a higher BMP-7 protein expression, ALP activity and osteocalcin content than that of untreated cells.Conclusion Early osteoblastic differentiation induced by simvastatin can significantly promote BMP-7 modified MSCs osteoblast conversion.