Effect of lactoferrin on proliferation and differentiation in primary rat osteoblasts

Objective To observe the effect of lactoferrin on the proliferation and differentiation in primary rat osteoblasts. Methods The proliferation of osteoblasts was tested by MTT and the ALP activity of osteoblasts was tested by AKP reagent and the expression of mRNA of OPG and RANKL were examed by RT-PCR.Results Both the proliferation and differentiation of os- teoblasts were increased depend on the time and the solution of lactoferrin.Each group was significant(P0.05)in different time,the number of osteoblasts got the peak at 400μg/ml in 72 h,while the activity of ALP decreased in the same time.The mRNA expressions of OPG in osteoblasts were increased according to time and dose,while RANKL mRNA was decreased.Con- clusions Lactoferrin can make the positive change on osteoblasts'proliferation and can modulate ALP activity of osteoblasts also, meanwhile,it stimulated production of OPG,while inhibited the mRNA levels of RANKL in primary rat osteoblasts.