Figure 3.

Sclerostin (SOST) expression is decreased after glucocorticoid treatment in human bone marrow stromal cells. Real-time PCR analysis of SOST mRNA expression in human mesenchymal stromal cells (HMSCs) treated with different doses of Dexamethasone (DEX; 0.01–10 µM; A) for two different time points (48 h, 72 h; B). n = 3; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001 vs CO. SOST protein concentration was measured in the supernatants of the treated HMSCs using a commercially available ELISA (C and D). n = 4; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01 vs 0. The mRNA expression of osteocalcin (BGLAP) was also determined by real-time PCR analysis (E and F). n = 2–3; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01 vs CO.