Quercetin promotes MC3T3-E1 cell growth via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Purpose: To investigate the effect of quercetin on mouse osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cell growth and the molecular mechanisms involved. Methods: The effect of quercetin on MC3T3-E1 cells growth, cell cycle distribution, bone-related genes and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were determined in vitro using MTT assay, flow cytometry, qPCR and western blot, respectively. Results: Qercetin promoted MC3T3-E1 cell growth, as revealed from MTT assay. Flow cytometry showed that quercetin administration resulted in accumulation of cells in the S phase. In addition, quercetin up-regulated mRNA expression levels of osteopontin, ALP, osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin and RunX-2, and increased phosphorylation of AKT. Conclusion: Quercetin enhances the growth of MC3T3-E1 cells via a mechanism involving accumulation of cells in S phase, increasing mRNA expression levels of bone-associated genes, and increasing the phosphorylation of AKT.