Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) induce concerted changes in the osteoblastic expression of their receptor RAGE and in the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)

An increase in the interaction between advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and their receptor RAGE is believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic complications of Diabetes mellitus, which can include bone alterations such as osteopenia. We have recently found that extracellular AGEs can directly regulate the growth and development of rat osteosarcoma UMR106 cells, and of mouse calvaria-derived MC3T3E1 osteoblasts throughout their successive developmental stages (proliferation, differentiation and mineralisation), possibly by the recognition of AGEs moieties by specific osteoblastic receptors which are present in both cell lines. In the present study we examined the possible expression of RAGE by UMR106 and MC3T3E1 osteoblastic cells, by immunoblot analysis. We also investigated whether short-, medium- or long-term exposure of osteoblasts to extracellular AGEs, could modify their affinity constant and maximal binding for AGEs (by 125I-AGE-BSA binding experiments), their expression of RAGE (by immunoblot analysis) and the activation status of the osteoblastic ERK 1/2 signal transduction mechanism (by immunoblot analysis for ERK and P-ERK). Our results show that both osteoblastic cell lines express readily detectable levels of RAGE. Short-term exposure of phenotypically mature osteoblastic UMR106 cells to AGEs decrease the cellular density of AGE-binding sites while increasing the affinity of these sites for AGEs. This culture condition also dose-dependently increased the expression of RAGE and the activation of ERK. In proliferating MC3T3E1 pre-osteoblasts, 24–72 h exposure to AGEs did not modify expression of RAGE, ERK activation or the cellular density of AGE-binding sites. However, it did change the affinity of these binding sites for AGEs, with both higher- and lower-affinity sites now being apparent. Medium-term (1 week) incubation of differentiated MC3T3E1 osteoblasts with AGEs, induced a simultaneous increase in RAGE expression and in the relative amount of P-ERK. Mineralising MC3T3E1 cultures grown for 3 weeks in the presence of extracellular AGEs showed a decrease both in RAGE and P-ERK expression. These results indicate that, in phenotypically mature osteoblastic cells, changes in ERK activation closely follow the AGEs-induced regulation of RAGE expression. Thus, the AGEs-induced biological effects that we have observed previously in osteoblasts, could be mediated by RAGE in the later stages of development, and mediated by other AGE receptors in the earlier pre-osteoblastic stage.     

Active vitamin D possesses beneficial effects on the interaction between muscle and bone

Vitamin D deficiency and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and sarcopenia. However, the effects of vitamin D and AGEs on myogenesis and the interaction between muscle and bone remains still unclear. We previously showed that osteoglycin (OGN) is secreted from myoblasts and stimulates osteoblastic differentiation, suggesting that it plays important roles in the interaction between muscle and bone. The aim of this study is thus to examine the effects of vitamin D and AGEs on myoblastic differentiation of C2C12 cells and osteoblastic differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells through OGN expression. 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25D) and eldecalcitol, an active vitamin D analog, induced the expression of MyoD, myogenin and OGN, and these effects were abolished by vitamin D receptor (VDR) suppression by siRNA in C2C12 cells. Moreover, conditioned medium from 1,25D-pretreated C2C12 cells stimulated the expression of type 1 collagen and alkaline phosphatase in MC3T3-E1 cells, compared to control medium from 1,25D-untreated C2C12 cells. In contrast, conditioned medium from VDR-suppressed and 1,25D-pretreated C2C12 cells showed no effects. AGE2 and AGE3 suppressed the expression of MyoD, myogenin and OGN in C2C12 cells. Moreover, 1,25D blunted the AGEs’ effects. In conclusion, these findings showed for the first time that active vitamin D plays important roles in myogenesis and muscle-induced osteoblastogenesis through OGN expression. Active vitamin D treatment may rescue the AGEs-induced sarcopenia as well as – suppressed osteoblastic differentiation via OGN expression in myoblasts.     

AGE-R3/galectin-3 expression in osteoblast-like cells: Regulation by AGEs

The accumulation of irreversible advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) on long-lived proteins, and the interaction of AGEs with cellular receptors such as AGE-R3/galectin-3 and RAGE, are considered to be key events in the development of long-term complications of diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, uremia and ageing. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and sub-cellular distribution of galectin-3, as well as its possible modulation by AGEs, in MC3T3E1 mouse calvaria-derived osteoblasts and in UMR 106 rat osteosarcoma cells. Both osteoblastic lines were cultured either with control bovine serum albumin (BSA) or with AGEs-BSA for 48 h. Cells were evaluated for galectin-3 expression by fixing and immunofluorescent microscopic analysis; or Western blot analysis of whole cell extracts, sub-cellular fractions and culture media. Both cell lines express 30 kDa (monomeric) galectin-3, although expression was about 15-fold lower in the UMR106 osteosarcoma cells. Dimeric (70 kDa) galectin-3 was additionally observed in the UMR106 cells. Immunofluorescent analysis of galectin-3 distribution showed a diffuse cytoplasmic and strong nuclear pattern in MC3T3E1 osteoblasts, and a patchy cytoplasmic pattern in UMR106 cells. Western blot analysis for both cell lines showed that galectin-3 was mainly found in the cytoplasm and in minor amounts in the microsomal fraction, while considerable amounts were secreted into the culture media. Exposure to 100-200 microg/mL AGEs-BSA increased the cellular content of 30 kDa galectin-3 (20-25% for MC3T3E1 and 35-70% for UMR106 versus control BSA, p < 0.05), and decreased the culture media levels of galectin-3 (10-20% for MC3T3E1 and for UMR106 versus control BSA, p < 0.05). These results confirm the expression of galectin-3 in osteoblastic cells, and suggest different levels and sub-cellular distribution of this protein in transformed versus non-transformed osteoblasts. Osteoblastic exposure to AGEs alters their expression and secretion of galectin-3, which could have significant consequences on osteoblast metabolism and thus on bone turnover.     

高浓度葡萄糖通过p38MAPK-TXNIP/TRX-ROS通路抑制MC3T3-E1细胞成骨分化

目的：研究高浓度葡萄糖抑制MC3T3-E1细胞成骨分化的机理。方法：建立MC3T3-E1细胞成骨分化诱导体系,观察不同浓度葡萄糖（5.5mM和22mM）对MC3T3-E1细胞成骨分化的影响;用不同浓度的p38 MAPK抑制剂Fr167653（0.1μM、1.0μM和10μM）进行药物干预,观察MC3T3-E1细胞在22mM葡萄糖浓度下成骨分化的变化情况。通过钙含量检测、Real time PCR检测相关分化的变化;用Western Blot方法检测MC3T3-E1细胞分化过程中p38 MAPK磷酸化状态、TXNIP表达水平的变化;使用胰岛素二硫键还原法检测细胞内TRX活性水平;使用活性氧检测试剂盒检测细胞内自由氧生成水平。结果：体外诱导条件下,高浓度（22mM）葡萄糖通过升高p38 MAPK磷酸化水平,上调TXNIP表达水平,同时降低TRX活性,使细胞内自由氧生成增加,抑制MC3T3-E1细胞的成骨分化;Fr167653通过抑制p38 MAPK磷酸化,下调TXNIP表达同时升高TRX活性,抑制细胞内自由氧生成,解除高浓度葡萄糖对细胞成骨分化的抑制作用。结论：高浓度葡萄糖通过p38 MAPK-TXNIP/TRX-ROS信号通路抑制MC3T3-E1细胞成骨分化。     

Induction of osteoblast differentiation indices by statins in MC3T3-E1 cells

Statins inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, which catalyzes conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a rate-limiting step in cholesterol synthesis. The present study was undertaken to understand the events of osteoblast differentiation induced by statins. Simvastatin at 10(-7) M markedly increased mRNA expression for bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin (OCN) in nontransformed osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1), while suppressing gene expression for collagenase-1, and collagenase-3. Extracellular accumulation of proteins such as VEGF, OCN, collagenase-digestive proteins, and noncollagenous proteins was increased in the cells treated with 10(-7) M simvastatin, or 10(-8) M cerivastatin. In the culture of MC3T3-E1 cells, statins stimulated mineralization; pretreating MC3T3-E1 cells with mevalonate, or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (a mevalonate metabolite) abolished statin-induced mineralization. Statins stimulate osteoblast differentiation in vitro, and may hold promise drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis in the future.     

Involvement of calcium-sensing receptor in osteoblastic differentiation of mouse MC3T3-E1 cells

We have previously shown that the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is expressed in various bone marrow-derived cell lines and plays an important role in stimulating their proliferation and chemotaxis. It has also been reported that the CaR modulates matrix production and mineralization in chondrogenic cells. However, it remains unclear whether the CaR plays any role in regulating osteoblast differentiation. In this study, we found that mineralization of the mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells was increased when the cells were exposed to high calcium (2.8 and 3.8 mM) or a specific CaR activator, NPS-R467 (1 and 3 microM). Next, we stably transfected MC3T3-E1 cells with either a CaR antisense vector (AS clone) or a vector containing the inactivating R185Q variant of the CaR (DN clone) that has previously been shown to exert a dominant negative action. Alkaline phosphatase activities were decreased compared with controls in both the AS and DN clones. However, the levels of type I procollagen and osteopontin mRNA in the AS clone, as detected by Northern blotting, were almost the same as in the controls. On the other hand, the expression of osteocalcin, which is expressed at a later stage of osteoblastic differentiation, was significantly reduced in both the AS and DN clones. Mineralization was also decreased in both clones. In conclusion, this study showed that the abolition of CaR function results in diminishing alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin expression, and mineralization in mouse osteoblastic cells. This suggests that the CaR may be involved in osteoblastic differentiation.     

Ginsenoside Rh2(S) induces the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells through activation of PKD and p38 MAPK pathways

As part of the search for biologically active anti-osteoporotic agents that enhance differentiation and mineralization of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, we identified the ginsenoside Rh2(S), which is an active component in ginseng. Rh2(S) stimulates osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization, as manifested by the up-regulation of differentiation markers (alkaline phosphatase and osteogenic genes) and Alizarin Red staining, respectively. Rh2(S) activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in time- and concentration-dependent manners, and Rh2(S)-induced differentiation and mineralization of osteoblastic cells were totally inhibited in the presence of the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580. In addition, pretreatment with Go6976, a protein kinase D (PKD) inhibitor, significantly reversed the Rh2(S)-induced p38 MAPK activation, indicating that PKD might be an upstream kinase for p38 MAPK in MC3T3-E1 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that Rh2(S) induces the differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells through activation of PKD/p38 MAPK signaling pathways, and these findings provide a molecular basis for the osteogenic effect of Rh2(S).     

Simvastatin promotes osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells

The cholesterol-lowering drug, simvastatin, is a pro-drug of a potent 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor and inhibits cholesterol synthesis in humans and animals. In addition, the bone effects of statins including simvastatin are being studied. We assessed the effects of simvastatin on osteoblastic differentiation in nontransformed osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1) and rat bone marrow cells. Simvastatin enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralization in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. This stimulatory effect of the statin was observed at relatively low doses (significant at 10(-8) M and maximal at 10(-7) M). Northern blot analysis showed that the statin (10(-7) M) increased in bone morphogenetic protein-2 as well as ALP mRNA concentrations in MC3T3-E1 cells. Simvastatin (10(-7) M) slightly increased in type I collagen mRNA abundance throughout the culture period, whereas it markedly inhibited the gene expression of collagenase-1 between days 14 and 22 of culture. These results indicate that simvastatin has anabolic effects on bone through the promotion of osteoblastic differentiation, suggesting that it could be used for the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis.     

ERRα regulates osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

The orphan nuclear receptor estrogen-related receptor-α (ERRα) has been reported to have both a positive and a negative regulatory role in osteoblastic and adipocytic differentiation. We have studied the role of ERRα in osteoblastic and adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from ERRα deficient mice and their differentiation capacities were compared to that of the wild-type cells. ERRα deficient cultures displayed reduced cellular proliferation, osteoblastic differentiation, and mineralization. In the complementary experiment, overexpression of ERRα in MC3T3-E1 cells increased the expression of osteoblastic markers and mineralization. Alterations in the expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP) may at least partially explain the effects on mineralization as BSP expression was reduced in ERRα deficient MSCs and enhanced upon ERRα overexpression in MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter construct driven by the BSP promoter was efficiently transactivated by ERRα. Under adipogenic conditions, ERRα deficient cultures displayed reduced adipocytic differentiation. Our data thus propose a positive role for ERRα in osteoblastic and adipocytic differentiation. The variability in the results yielded in the different studies implies that ERRα may play different roles in bone under different physiological conditions.     

A Prunus mume extract stimulated the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells

Osteoporosis is a serious disease caused by decreased bone mass. There is constant matrix remodeling in bones, by which bone formation is performed by osteoblastic cells, whereas bone resorption is accomplished by osteoclast cells. We investigated the effect of a Japanese apricot (Prunus mume SIBE. et ZUCC.) extract on the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation in pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. An alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, cell proliferation assay, alizarin red staining and expression analysis of osteoblastic genes were carried out to assess the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation. The water-soluble fraction of Prunus mume (PWF) increased the ALP activity, cell proliferation and mineralization. The gene expression of osteopontin and bone morphogenetic protein-2, which are markers in the early period of osteoblastic differentiation, were significantly enhanced by the PWF treatment. PWF therefore stimulated the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of cells and may have potential to prevent osteoporosis.     

Advanced glycation end products suppress osteoblastic differentiation of stromal cells by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are involved in bone quality deterioration in diabetes mellitus. We previously showed that AGE2 or AGE3 inhibited osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of mouse stromal ST2 cells, and also induced apoptosis and decreased cell growth. Although quality management for synthesized proteins in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is crucial for the maturation of osteoblasts, the effects of AGEs on ER stress in osteoblast lineage are unknown. We thus examined roles of ER stress in AGE2- or AGE3-induced suppression of osteoblastogenesis of ST2 cells. An ER stress inducer, thapsigargin (TG), induced osteoblastic differentiation of ST2 cells by increasing the levels of Osterix, type 1 collagen (Col1), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA. AGE2 or AGE3 suppressed the levels of ER stress sensors such as IRE1α, ATF6 and OASIS, while they increased the levels of PERK and its downstream molecules, ATF4. A reduction in PERK level by siRNA did not affect the AGEs-induced suppression of the levels of Osterix, Col1 and OCN mRNA. In conclusion, AGEs inhibited the osteoblastic differentiation of stromal cells by suppressing ER stress sensors and accumulating abnormal proteins in the cells. This process might accelerate AGEs-induced suppression of bone formation found in diabetes mellitus.     

Pancreatic polypeptide is secreted from and controls differentiation through its specific receptors in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells

Although the neuropeptide Y (NPY) family has been demonstrated to control bone metabolism, the role of pancreatic polypeptide (PP), which has structural homology with NPY and peptide YY (PYY) to share the NPY family receptors, in peripheral bone tissues has remained unknown. In the present study, we studied the regulatory roles of PP and its Y receptors using MC3T3-E1 cells, a murine transformed osteoblastic cell line, as a model for osteoblastic differentiation. We found that (1) PP mRNA was detected and increased during cell-contact-induced differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells; (2) the immunoreactivity of PP was detected by radioimmunoassay and increased in culture medium during differentiation; (3) all the types of NPY family receptor mRNAs (Y1, Y2, Y4, Y5, and y6) were found to increase during differentiation; (4) PP stimulated differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells in terms of ALP mRNA and BMP-2 mRNA. These findings suggested that MC3T3-E1 cells produce and secrete PP, which may in turn stimulate the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 through its specific receptors in an autocrine manner.     

Direct inhibitory and indirect stimulatory effects of RAGE ligand S100 on sRANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis

Diabetes results in increased fracture risk, and advance glycation endproducts (AGEs) have been implicated in this pathophysiology. S100 proteins are ligands for the receptor of AGEs (RAGE). An intracellular role of the S100 family member S100A4 (Mts1) to suppress mineralization has been described in pre‐osteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 cells. However, S100 proteins could have additional effects on bone. The goal of the current study was to determine effects of increased extracellular S100 on osteoclastogenesis. We first determined the direct effects of S100 on pre‐osteoclast proliferation and osteoclastic differentiation. RANKL‐treated RAW 264.7 cell proliferation and TRAP activity were significantly inhibited by S100, and the number and size of TRAP‐positive multinucleated cells were decreased. We then determined whether S100 could affect osteoclastogenesis by an indirect process by examining effects of conditioned media from S100‐treated MC3T3‐E1 cells on osteoclastogenesis. In contrast to the direct inhibitory effect of S100, the conditioned media promoted RAW 264.7 cell proliferation and TRAP activity, with a trend toward increased TRAP‐positive multinucleated cells. S100 treatment of the MC3T3‐E1 cells for 14 days did not significantly affect alkaline phosphatase, M‐CSF, or OPG gene expression. RANKL was undetectable in both untreated and treated cells. The treatment slightly decreased MC3T3‐E1 cell proliferation. Interestingly, S100 treatment increased expression of RAGE by the MC3T3‐E1 cells. This suggested the possibility that S100 could increase soluble RAGE, which acts as a decoy receptor for S100. This decrease in availability of S100, an inhibitor of pre‐osteoclast proliferation, could contribute to osteoclastogenesis, ultimately resulting in increased bone resorption. J. Cell. Biochem. 107: 917–925, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Constitutive expression of thrombospondin 1 in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells inhibits mineralization

Thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) is a multifunctional extracellular glycoprotein present mainly in the fetal and adult skeleton. Although an inhibitory effect of TSP1 against pathological mineralization in cultured vascular pericytes has been shown, its involvement in physiological mineralization by osteoblasts is still unknown. To determine the role of TSP1 in biomineralization, mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in the presence of antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to the TSP1 sequence. The 18- and 24-mer antisense oligonucleotides caused concentration-dependent increases in the number of mineralized nodules, acid-soluble calcium deposition in the cell/matrix layer, and alkaline phosphatase activity within 9 days, without affecting cell proliferation. The corresponding sense or scrambled oligonucleotides did not affect these parameters. In the antisense oligonucleotide-treated MC3T3-E1 cells, thickened extracellular matrix, well-developed cell processes, increased intracellular organelles, and collagen fibril bundles were observed. On the other hand, the addition of TSP1 to the culture decreased the production of a mineralized matrix by MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, MC3T3-E1 clones overexpressing mouse TSP1 were established and assayed for TSP1 protein and their capacity to mineralize. TSP1 dose-dependently inhibited mineralization by these cells both in vitro and in vivo. These results indicate that TSP1 functions as an inhibitory regulator of bone mineralization and matrix production by osteoblasts to sustain bone homeostasis.     

Dimethyl sulfoxide as an inducer of differentiation in preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells

Osteoblastic differentiation is an essential part of bone formation. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a water miscible solvent that is used extensively for receptor ligands in osteoblast studies. However, little is known about its effects on osteoblastogenic precursor cells. In this study, we have used a murine preosteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1 cells to demonstrate that DMSO effectively induces osteoblastic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells via the activation of Runx2 and osterix and is dependent upon the protein kinase C (PKC) pathways. We further demonstrated that prolonged activation of PKC pathways is sufficient to induce osteoblastic differentiation, possibly via the activation of PKD/PKCmu.