Figure 5: Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway via lithium released from Li/CPC.

(A–E) Gene expression of Col1a1, Bglap, OPG, Runx2 and β-catenin were better in Li/CPC-50 and Li/CPC-100 than in CPC and Li/CPC-200 (n = 3). (F) β-catenin accumulation in the cytosol and translocation to the nucleus in Li/CPC-100 (n = 3). (G,H) Representative Western blot analysis of p-GSK-3β, t-GSK-3β, p-β-catenin, t-β-catenin and Runx2. Li/CPC-50 and Li/CPC-100 increased the amount of p-GSK-3β significantly and decreased the amount of p-β-catenin compared with Li/CPC-200 and CPC, expression of Runx2 was increased significantly in Li/CPC-50 and Li/CPC-100 compared with Li/CPC-200 and CPC. The band density was quantified using ImageJ software and data from three independent experiments were presented (CPC as the control group, the values were expressed as the mean ± SD, n = 3). Statistical analyses were done using Students’t-test. *p < 0.05 was considered significant.