Effects of genistein, daidzein and glycitein on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells and on the adipogenic trans-differentiation of osteoblasts

The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and oil red O assays were used to examine the effects of genistein, daidzein and glycitein on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of primary mouse bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) and the adipogenic trans-differentiation of primary mouse osteoblasts. The results indicated that daidzein, genistein and glycitein at concentrations from 1 × 10 ^-8 mol/L to 1× 10^-5 mol/L promoted the proliferation of MSCs and osteoblasts; genistein, daidzein and glycitein promoted osteogenic differentiation and inhibited adipogenic differentiation of MSCs, and inhibited adipocytic transdifferentiation of osteoblasts at appropriate concentrations as 17β-estradiol. It suggests that genistein, daidzein and glycitein regulate a dual differentiational process of MSCs into the osteogenic and adipogenic lineages, and trans-differentiational process of primary osteoblasts into the adipocyte lineages, causing a lineage shift toward osteoblast. Protective effects of them on bone may be mediated by a reversal of adipogenesis which may promote the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts, and make adipocytes secrete less cytokines which may promote osteoclast formation and activation. In addition, the results also indicated that genistein, daidzein and glycitein may be helpful in preventing the development of steroid induced osteonecrosis.