TY - JOUR AB - The present study aimed to investigate whether VEGF was involved in bisphosphonate (BP)‑induced apoptosis and differentiation of osteoblasts. Murine MC3T3‑E1 osteoblasts were stimulated with zoledronic acid (ZA) for 7 days. VEGF mRNA and protein expression levels were determined via reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Cell viability was evaluated using Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay. In addition, the cell apoptotic rate and the expression levels of apoptosis‑related proteins were measured using a TUNEL staining kit and western blot analysis, respectively. To evaluate mineralization, cells were stained with alizarin red, while the secretion levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured using the corresponding assay kit. Finally, the expression levels of differentiation‑related proteins and proteins of the Nod‑like receptor family pyrin domain‑containing 3 (NLRP3)/caspase 1/gasdermin D (GSDMD) pyroptosis pathway were measured by western blot analysis. VEGF expression level was notably decreased in ZA‑stimulated MC3T3‑E1 cells. However, the viability of these cells was enhanced following VEGF addition. Furthermore, VEGF attenuated apoptosis, promoted mineralization and increased ALP activity in ZA‑stimulated MC3T3‑E1 cells. The ZA‑mediated decrease in the protein expression of the osteogenic genes osteopontin, osteocalcin and runt‑related transcription factor 2 was restored after MC3T3‑E1 cell treatment with 10 ng/ml VEGF. The present study demonstrated that VEGF could attenuate BP‑induced apoptosis and differentiation of MC3T3 cells by regulating the NLRP3/caspase 1/GSDMD pathway. AD - Department of Second Dental Center, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100101, P.R. China Department of Third Dental Center, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100083, P.R. China Stomatology Department, Changle People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 262400, P.R. China Department of Orthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University and Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration and Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China AU - Duan,Yao AU - Li,Hejia AU - Dong,Xiaohong AU - Geng,Zhaoli AU - Xu,Xinyi AU - Liu,Yi DA - 2022/02/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2021.11053 IS - 2 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - VEGF bisphosphonates zoledronic acid osteonecrosis osteoblasts PY - 2022 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 130 ST - VEGF mitigates bisphosphonate‑induced apoptosis and differentiation inhibition of MC3T3‑E1 cells T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - VEGF mitigates bisphosphonate‑induced apoptosis and differentiation inhibition of MC3T3‑E1 cells UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.11053 VL - 23 ER -