Hesperidin promotes differentiation of alveolar osteoblasts via Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway

Alveolar bone has a high plasticity. The health of alveolar bones directly determines the success of oral implant surgery, and the health and functions of oral and maxillofacial system. Hesperidin (HES) has many pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, promotion of osteoblast differentiation, but its effect on alveolar osteoblasts is rarely reported. Healthy human alveolar osteoblasts were treated by HES (0.1, 1, 10, 100 μmol/l) and Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1). Then the cell osteogenic differentiation was detected by Alizarin Red S staining, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected by ALP kit. Expressions of genetic markers such as runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2), osterix (OSX), and osteocalcin (OCN) of osteoblasts were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Expressions of Wnt/β-Catenin pathway-related proteins were measured by Western blot (WB) analysis. HES increased numbers of the cells stained red by Alizarin Red S staining, the ALP activity, and the mRNA expression of Runx2, BMP2, OSX, and OCN, and activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. However, DKK-1 reversed the differentiation function of human alveolar osteoblasts accelerated by HES. HES promoted the differentiation of human alveolar osteoblasts through the activation of the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway.