Nerve Growth Factors Promotes Osteogenic Differentiation Through TGF-β and BMP-9 Signaling Pathways in Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are related to fracture healing. In this paper, we study the effect of Nerve growth factors (NGF) on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and related mechanisms. The results indicated that NGF has a dose-dependent promotion effect on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, ALP activity, and protein expression of OPN, Osterix, Runx2, COL1A1. Further investigation showed that NGF enhanced the expression of TGF- β and BMP9, and increased phosphorylation of Smad and p38 MAPK. Moreover, block of BMP and TGF- β pathway reduced the promoted effect of NGF on osteogenic differentiation. The data revealed that NGF increased osteogenic differentiation through increased phosphorylation of Smad and MAPK p38 by regulating TGF- β and BMP pathway in BMSCs. Thus, NGF may be used in bone growth and fracture healing by improving osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.