Mechanism of Astragaloside IV in Promoting Osteogenic Differentiation

This study focuses on exploring the impact of Astragaloside IV [AS-IV] on osteogenic differentiation. Osteogenic differentiation was induced in rat osteoblasts, following which treatment with AS-IV at varied doses was performed. Using Alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] detection assay, the osteogenic differentiation of the cells was investigated. The expressions of osteogenic differentiation-related genes were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction [qRT-PCR]. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3K]/protein kinase B [Akt] signaling pathwayassociated protein expressions were examined using Western blot. After osteoblasts were transfected with protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 [PTPN2] overexpression plasmid, the impact of PTPN2 on osteoblasts treated with AS-IV was examined. AS-IV treatment enhanced osteogenic differentiation and up-regulated the expression of osteogenic differentiation-related genes, as well as the levels of p- PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT, while reducing PTEN protein production in osteoblasts. Overexpression of phosphatase and tensin homolog [PTEN] inhibited osteogenic differentiation, and PTPN2 overexpression counteracted the effects of AS-IV on osteogenic differentiation. AS-IV contributing to osteogenic differentiation may be related to the PTPN2-mediated PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway.