Effects of the Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor on OPG mRNA and protein expression in HCEM cells treated with baicalin. HCEM cells were treated with 1 μM baicalin in the presence or absence of 100 ng/mL Dkk-1 followed by 48-h culturing. Gene expression was evaluated using qPCR. ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗p < 0.05, vs control n = 3. Baicalin treatment significantly enhanced OPG gene expression in the baicalin-treated group, which was significantly suppressed by adding Dkk-1, a Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor (Fig. 4A). HCEM cells were seeded and cultured in α-MEM containing 10% FBS. When 80% confluence was reached, the cells were treated with 1 μM baicalin in the presence or absence of 100 ng/mL Dkk-1. After 7 days, the cells were collected and evaluated using western blotting. OPG protein levels were increased by baicalin, which was suppressed after inhibition of Wnt signaling using Dkk-1 (Fig. 4B). The lower bands show the amount of β-actin, n = 3.