Interleukin-6 Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Activating Wnt Signaling Pathway

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts. Osteoporosis is closely related to BMSCs osteogenic differentiation, and IL-6 is closely related to osteoporosis. This study assessed the effect of IL-6 on BMSCs osteogenic differentiation. Rat BMSCs were cultured and osteogenic induction of BMSCs was performed in the presence of different concentrations (0, 10, 100 ng/ml) of IL-6 followed by analysis of IL-6 level by ELISA, ALP activity by the instructions of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) detection kit, IL-6, Runx2 and OCN mRNA level, and level of beta-catenin by Western blot. Compared with 0 d, IL-6 protein content and IL-6 mRNA expression in cell culture medium was increased significantly on day 7 d, 14 d and 21 d. Compared with 0 ng/ml group, 10, 100 ng/ml IL-6 group showed significantly increased ALP activity and Runx2 and OCN mRNA level in a dose-response relationship. beta-catenin was increased significantly in 100 ng/ml IL-6 group. No difference of ALP activity and the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers was found between blocking group and control group, which was significantly lower than those in experimental group. IL-6 can promote BMSCs osteogenic differentiation through Wnt signaling.