TY - JOUR AB - Bcl‑xL is a transmembrane molecule in the mitochondria, with apoptosis‑related and pro‑metabolic functions, that also plays a role in chondrogenesis and differentiation. A Bcl‑xL mutant, in which the GRI sequence is replaced by ELN, has no anti‑apoptotic effect, while other biological functions of this mutant remain unchanged. The present study investigated the impact of this Bcl‑xL mutant on cartilage differentiation and the expression levels of TGF‑β and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were transfected with Bcl‑xL and Bcl‑xL mutant (∆Bcl‑xL) overexpression vectors. The cells were divided into four groups: Control (not subjected to any transfection), EV (empty pcDNA3.1‑Bcl‑xL vector), OV (Bcl‑xL overexpression) and ∆OV (∆Bcl‑xL overexpression). Saffron and toluidine blue staining was performed to observe cartilage tissue formation. Flow cytometry was conducted to measure BMSC apoptosis. The expression levels of TGF‑β and BMP were evaluated using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR (RT‑qPCR) and western blotting. Compared with that in the control group, the expression levels of Bcl‑xL in the OV group increased significantly (P<0.05). Western blotting and RT‑qPCR results revealed that OV and ∆OV treatment increased the expression levels of TGF‑β and BMP in transfected cells, compared to their expression in the control and EV groups (P<0.05). Saffron and toluidine blue staining results showed that cartilage formation was increased in the ∆OV and ∆OV + Bax‑/Bak‑groups to similar degrees. Cell apoptosis in the ∆OV group did not change compared with that in the control group. The Bcl‑xL mutant promoted cartilage differentiation of BMSCs and upregulated TGF‑β/BMP expression. This enhancement of chondrogenic differentiation was not related to the expression of Bax and Bak. Taken together, these findings provided for improved application of bone tissue engineering technology in the treatment of articular cartilage defects. AD - Foot and Ankle Surgery, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Puai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430033, P.R. China Department of Allergy, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of HUST, Wuhan, Hubei 430033, P.R. China AU - Xiao,Kai AU - Yang,Lin AU - Xie,Wei AU - Gao,Xinfeng AU - Huang,Ruokun AU - Xie,Ming DA - 2021/07/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2021.10168 IS - 1 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - Bcl‑xL mutant cartilage TGF‑β bone morphogenetic protein bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells PY - 2021 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 736 ST - Bcl‑xL mutant promotes cartilage differentiation of BMSCs by upregulating TGF‑β/BMP expression levels T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Bcl‑xL mutant promotes cartilage differentiation of BMSCs by upregulating TGF‑β/BMP expression levels UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.10168 VL - 22 ER -