Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of teriparatide on the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells in high-glucose microenvironment and explore the possible mechanism. Methods MC3T3-E1 cells cultured in normal glucose or high-glucose (25 mmol/L) medium were treated with 10 nmol/L teriparatide with or without co-treatment with H-89 (a PKA inhibitor). CCK-8 assay was used to detect the changes in cell proliferation, and cAMP content in the cells was determined with ELISA. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralized nodules in the cells were detected using ALP kit and Alizarin red staining, respectively. The changes in cell morphology were detected by cytoskeleton staining. Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of PKA, CREB, RUNX2 and Osx in the treated cells. Results The treatments did not result in significant changes in proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells (P>0.05). Compared with the cells in routine culture, the cells treated with teriparatide showed significantly increased cAMP levels (P<0.05) with enhanced ALP activity and increased area of mineralized nodules (P<0.05). Teriparatide treatment also resulted in more distinct visualization of the cytoskeleton in the cells and obviously up-regulated the mRNA expressions of PKA, CREB, RUNX2 and Osx (P<0.05). The opposite changes wereobserved in cells cultured in high glucose. In cells exposed to high glucose, treatment with teriparatide significantly increased cAMP levels (P<0.05), ALP activity and the area of mineralized nodules (P<0.05) and enhanced the clarity of the cytoskeleton and mRNA expressions of PKA, CREB, RUNX2 and Osx; the effects of teriparatide was strongly antagonized by co-treatment with H-89 (P<0.05). Conclusion Teriparatide can promote osteoblast differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells in high-glucose microenvironment possibly by activating the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway.

Key words: osteoblasts; cell differentiation; teriparatide; osteoporosis; cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathways; high-glucose microenvironment