Expression of Collagen Type II and Osteocalcin Genes in Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Rats Treated with Lead acetate II

Background: Lead is one of the sustainable metals with devastating effects on many tissues. This study, examined the adverse effect of lead poisoning on the gene expression of collagen type II and osteocalcin by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) cultured in chondrogenic and osteogenic media, respectively. Methods: We used 18 male Wistar rats, divided in 3 groups. In addition to libitum feed as the control, treatment I and treatment II groups were fed by distilled water, distilled water with a dose of 50 ppm lead acetate II and distilled water with a dose of 100 ppm lead acetate II, respectively, over a 2-month period. The MSCs of rat femur were isolated in DMEM medium. After the second passage, the media were replaced separately with chondrogenic and osteogenic media over another 21 days. Then, Collagen Type II and Osteocalcin genes expression were investigated by real time PCR. Results: Collagen Type II and Osteocalcin genes expression in treatments I and II groups showed meaningful decreases compared with that of the control group. Also, the concentration of collagen type II in treatment II group in chondrogenic medium was significantly reduced compared with Osteocalcin concentration in osteogenic medium. Conclusion: We found that poisoning with lead and its accumulation at doses of 50 and 100 ppm in femoral bone marrow of rats decreased the expression of the collagen type II and osteocalcin genes in MSCs and in the chondrogenic and osteogenic media, respectively.