The effect of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) on human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hUCMSCs) with regard to Osteogenesis and Calcification

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a systemic disease characterized by an increase in blood glucose which, in the long term, enhances advanced glycation end product and leads to impaired osteogenesis. In prosthodontics, the osteogenic process plays an important role in successful treatment. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) present in Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hUCMSCs) on osteogenesis and calcification. Materials and Methods: MSCs isolated from human umbilical cord were cultured and underwent expansion up to passage 5. The research sample was divided into two sub-groups; a treatment group (osteogenic medium+AGE-BSA medium) and a control group (osteogenic medium) each of which underwent three replications. Samples were examined immunocytochemically on days 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 21 to quantify the level of RUNX2 expression. Alizarin red staining was performed on day 21. Results: In the treatment group, RUNX2 expression increased on day 3, reaching a peak on days 7 and 14. That expression decreased on day 8. In the control group, the expression of RUNX2 reached its peak on day 8 before decreasing on day 9. The presence of alizarin red indicated calcification in the control medium, but less mineralization in the treatment group. Conclusion: The research indicated that AGE-BSA enhances the production of RUNX2 expression in hUCMSCs at both the initial and maturation stages. This finding was supported by the results of alizarin red staining which indicated that increased levels of RUNX2 produced less mineralization.