Berberine ameliorates the LPS-induced imbalance of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation in rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from oral pathogenic bacteria is an important factor leading to alveolar bone absorption and the implant failure. The present study aimed to evaluate the modulation of berberine hydrochloride (BBR) on the LPS-mediated osteogenesis and adipogenesis imbalance in rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Cell viability, osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation levels were measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and content assay, and oil red O staining, respectively. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and immunoblotting were used to detect the related gene and protein expression levels. In undifferentiated cells, BBR increased the mRNA expression levels of the osteoblastic genes (Alp, RUNX family transcription factor 2, osteocalcin and secreted phosphoprotein 1) but not the adipogenic genes (fatty acid binding protein 4, Adipsin and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ). LPS-induced osteoblastic gene downregulation, adipogenic gene enhancement and NF-κB activation were reversed by BBR treatment. In osteoblastic differentiated cells, decreased ALP production by LPS treatment was recovered with BBR co-incubation. In adipogenic differentiated cells, LPS-mediated lipid accumulation was decreased by BBR administration. The mRNA expression levels of the pro-inflammatory factors (MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) were increased by LPS under both adipogenic and osteoblastic conditions, which were effectively ameliorated by BBR. The actions of BBR were attenuated by compound C, suggesting that the role of BBR may be partly due to AMP-activated protein kinase activation. The results demonstrated notable pro-osteogenic and anti-adipogenic actions of BBR in a LPS-stimulated inflammatory environment. This indicated a potential role of BBR for bacterial infected-related peri-implantitis medication.