FIGURE 6.

Wnt3a and heparin synergistically increased the expression and activity of osteogenic biomarkers. A, the mRNA levels of several osteogenic transcription factors and osteoblast phenotypic markers were assessed by TaqMan real-time PCR. The samples were prepared in triplicate, and the data represent the mean ± S.E. of three independent experiments. OCN, osteocalcin; OSX, osterix; REU, relative expression unit. B, Western blot analysis of the protein level of RUNX2 after MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with 50 ng/ml Wnt3a, 50 μg/ml heparin, or their combination for 72 h. C, 6xOSE-LUC reporter assay was performed to examine RUNX2 transcription activity as described under “Experimental Procedures.”