Maryam Eyvazi
1 
, Raheleh Farahzadi
2 , Nahid Karimian Fathi
3 , Mohammad Karimipour
4 , Jafar Soleimani Rad
1 , Azadeh Montaseri
1* 1 Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
2 Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
3 Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
4 Anatomical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Abstract
Purpose: Application of Mummy material for treatment of different diseases such as bone fracture, cutaneous wounds and joint inflammation has been advised since hundred years ago in Persian traditional medicine. Due to the claims of indigenous people and advice of traditional medicine for application of this material in healing of bone fractures, this study has been designed to evaluate whether Mummy material can promote the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts and enhance the expression of bone specific genes and proteins. Methods: Adipose derived stem cells (ASCs) at fourth cell passage were divided into control, osteogenesis group (received osteogenic medium), Mummy group (received Mummy at concentration of 500 µg/ml). ASCs in the fourth group were treated with both osteogenic medium and Mummy (500µg/ml). Cells in all groups were harvested on days 7, 14 and 21 days for further evaluation through Real time RT-PCR, Von kossa staining, Immunocytochemistry and flowcytometery. Results: Treatment of ASCs with Mummy at concentration of 500µg/ml promotes the expression level of Osteocalcin, RUNX-2 and β1-integrin genes in different time points but that of the Osterix did not changed. Furthermore the expression of Osteocalcin protein enhanced significantly in ASCs treated with Mummy detected by Immunocytochemistry and flowcytometery technique compared to the control groups. The results of this study also showed that treatment of ASCs with Mummy resulted in formation of mineral deposits which was evaluated by Von Kossa staining method. Conclusion: Obtained data from this study reveals that Mummy is a potent enhancer for differentiation of ASCs into osteoblasts in in vitro system, probably through increasing the level of bone specific genes and proteins.