Nacre or mother of pearl is a calcified structure that forms the lustrous inner layer of some shells. We studied the biological activity of the water-soluble matrix (WSM) extracted from powdered nacre from the shell of the pearl oyster, Pinctada maxima, on the MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cell line from mouse calvaria. This cell line has the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts and to mineralize in the presence of beta-glycerophosphate and ascorbic acid. Cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity were measured as markers of osteoblast differentiation, and mineralization was analyzed. These studies revealed that WSM stimulates osteoblast differentiation and mineralization by day 6 instead of the 21-day period required for cells grown in normal mineralizing media. We compared the activity of WSM with that of dexamethasone on this cell line. WSM can inhibit alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the activity of dexamethasone on MC3T3-E1 cells. This study shows that nacre WSM could speed up the differentiation and mineralization of this cell line more effectively than dexamethasone.
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Elife
January 2025
Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Heritable fragile bone disorders (FBDs), ranging from multifactorial to rare monogenic conditions, are characterized by an elevated fracture risk. Validating causative genes and understanding their mechanisms remain challenging. We assessed a semi-high throughput zebrafish screening platform for rapid in vivo functional testing of candidate FBD genes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol
January 2025
British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, King's College London, United Kingdom. (M.W., M.F., R.O., L.S., M.M., C.M.S.).
Background: The ECM (extracellular matrix) provides the microenvironmental niche sensed by resident vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Aging and disease are associated with dramatic changes in ECM composition and properties; however, their impact on the VSMC phenotype remains poorly studied.
Methods: Here, we describe a novel in vitro model system that utilizes endogenous ECM to study how modifications associated with age and metabolic disease impact the VSMC phenotype.
Int J Biol Macromol
January 2025
Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine/National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of High Technology Research, Nanjing 210029, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing 210023, China. Electronic address:
In recent years, polysaccharides derived from natural sources have garnered significant attention due to their safety and potential anti-osteoporotic effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the sources, distribution, structures, and mechanisms of anti-osteoporosis polysaccharides, as well as an investigation into their structure-activity relationships. Over thirty distinct, homogenous polysaccharides with anti-osteoporosis properties have been extracted from natural sources, primarily categorized as glucans, fructans, galactomannans, glucomannans, and various other heteropolysaccharides.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Oral Biol
January 2025
Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology Program, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellent in Natural Products and Nanoparticles (NP2), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Objective: Asiaticoside has the capacity to induce osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) through Wnt (Wingless-related integration site) signaling. A modified chemical structure (by removing glycoside side chain), referred to as asiatic acid methyl ester (AA1), has been constructed and evaluated for its capacity to induce osteogenic differentiation.
Design: hPDLCs viability was determined by MTT assay.
Sci Rep
January 2025
Saudi Geological Survey, P.O Box: 54141, Jeddah, 21514, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Recent reconnaissance geochemical investigations have unveiled Cryogenian magmatism linked to the compressional accretionary phase, contributing to the growth of the Afif Terrane in the eastern Arabian Shield. The Cryogenian Suwaj intrusive suite, within the Afif Terrane, displays a compositional range from gabbro-diorite to tonalite-granodiorite. The uniform compositional variation is primarily due to magmatic differentiation within parental magma across multiple pulses.
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