TMT-Based Proteomics Explores the Influence of DHEA on the Osteogenic Differentiation of hBMSCs

The study investigated the effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) using Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) proteomics. DHEA was found to significantly enhance cell viability and promote osteoblastic differentiation, as evidenced by increased alkaline phosphatase activity and calcification deposits. The proteomic analysis revealed that DHEA influenced the expression of 547 differentially expressed proteins, impacting metabolic pathways more than the osteogenic induction medium alone. Key proteins associated with oxidative phosphorylation were identified, suggesting that DHEA may regulate energy metabolism pathways to promote osteogenesis. The study concluded that DHEA could effectively accelerate osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, supporting its potential application in osteoporosis therapy.