Si and Zn dual ions upregulate the osteogenic differentiation of mBMSCs: mRNA transcriptomic sequencing analysis

Both silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn) ions are essential elements to bone health and their mechanisms for promoting osteogenesis have aroused the extensive attention of researchers. Thereinto, the mechanism by which dual ions promote osteogenic differentiation remains to be elucidated. Herein, the effects of Si and Zn ions on the cytological behaviors of mBMSCs were firstly studied. Then, the molecular mechanism of Si-Zn dual ions regulating the osteogenic differentiation of mBMSCs was investigated via transcriptome sequencing technology. In the single-ion system, Si ion at the concentration of 1.5 mM (Si-1.5) had better comprehensive effects of cell proliferation, ALP activity and osteogenesis-related gene expression levels (ALP, Runx2, OCN, Col-I and BSP); Zn ion at the concentration of 50 μM (Zn-50) demonstrated better combining effects of cell proliferation, ALP activity and same osteogenic genes expression levels. In the dual-ion system, the Si (1.5 mM)-Zn (50 μM) group (Si1.5-Zn50) synthetically enhanced ALP activity and osteogenesis genes compared with single-ion groups. Analysis of the transcriptome sequencing results showed that Si ion had a certain effect on promoting the osteogenic differentiation of mBMSCs; Zn ion had a stronger effect of contributing to a better osteogenic differentiation of mBMSCs than that of Si ion; the Si-Zn dual ions had a synergistic enhancement on conducting to the osteogenic differentiation of mBMSCs compared to single ion (Si or Zn). This study offers a blueprint for exploring the regulation mechanism of osteogenic differentiation by dual ions.