Effect of Kaempferol on the Viability and Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Aging Rats

Objective: To analyze the effects of kaempferol (KAE) on the viability and osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in aging rats and provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of age-related bone metabolic diseases. Methods: BMSCs were isolated and cultured from femurs of 12-month-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The senescent BMSCs were divided into untreated normal control (NC) group, KAE group treated with KAE intervention and decaying Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group with DMSO intervention. 0-galactosidase staining was used to observe the effect of KAE on cell growth and expression of senescence markers p53 and p21 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in BMSCs. The effect of KAE on the osteogenic differentiation of senescent BMSCs was subsequently studied by alizarin red staining and measuring the expression of osteogenic-related markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP), RUNX family transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteocalcin (OCN) and osteopontin (OPN). Results: Many 0-galactosidase-positive cells were seen in the BMSCs cells, confirming that the obtained BMSCs were senescent cells. Compared with the NC and DMSO groups, KAE treatment decreased the distribution of 0-galactosidase-positive cells and levels of p53 and p21 and production of ROS. Moreover, cell growth capacity was higher in the KAE group than in the NC and DMSO groups. In the KAE group, alizarin red staining showed large numbers of red calcified nodules in the interstitium of cells, and the highest protein expression of ALP, Runx2, OCN and OPN among the three groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: KAE alleviated the aging profile of BMSCs, promoted their activity and osteogenic differentiation, and inhibited the production of ROS.