Nodal Signaling Regulates the Bone Morphogenic Protein Pluripotency Pathway in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily play essential roles in both the pluripotency and differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Although bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) maintain pluripotency of undifferentiated mouse ES cells, the role of autocrine Nodal signaling is less clear. Pharmacological, molecular, and genetic methods were used to further understand the roles and potential interactions of these pathways. Treatment of undifferentiated ES cells with SB431542, a pharmacological inhibitor of Smad2 signaling, resulted in a rapid reduction of phosphorylated Smad2 and altered the expression of several putative downstream targets. Unexpectedly, inhibition of the Nodal signaling pathway resulted in enhanced BMP signaling, as assessed by Smad1/5 phosphorylation. SB431542-treated cells also demonstrated significant induction of the Id genes, which are known direct targets of BMP signaling and important factors in ES cell pluripotency. Inhibition of BMP signaling decreased the SB431542-mediated phosphorylation of Smad1/5 and induction of Id genes, suggesting that BMP signaling is necessary for some Smad2-mediated activity. Because Smad7, a known inhibitory factor to both Nodal and BMP signaling, was down-regulated following inhibition of Nodal-Smad2 signaling, the contribution of Smad7 to the cross-talk between the transforming growth factor-β pathways in ES cells was examined. Biochemical manipulation of Smad7 expression, through shRNA knockdown or inducible gene expression, significantly reduced the SB431542-mediated phosphorylation of Smad1/5 and induction of the Id genes. We conclude that autocrine Nodal signaling in undifferentiated mouse ES cells modulates the vital pluripotency pathway of BMP signaling.     

Runx2 is a common target of transforming growth factor beta1 and bone morphogenetic protein 2, and cooperation between Runx2 and Smad5 induces osteoblast-specific gene expression in the pluripotent mesenchymal precursor cell line C2C12

When C2C12 pluripotent mesenchymal precursor cells are treated with transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), terminal differentiation into myotubes is blocked. Treatment with bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) not only blocks myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells but also induces osteoblast differentiation. The molecular mechanisms governing the ability of TGF-beta1 and BMP-2 to both induce ligand-specific responses and inhibit myogenic differentiation are not known. We identified Runx2/PEBP2alphaA/Cbfa1, a global regulator of osteogenesis, as a major TGF-beta1-responsive element binding protein induced by TGF-beta1 and BMP-2 in C2C12 cells. Consistent with the observation that Runx2 can be induced by either TGF-beta1 or BMP-2, the exogenous expression of Runx2 mediated some of the effects of TGF-beta1 and BMP-2 but not osteoblast-specific gene expression. Runx2 mimicked common effects of TGF-beta1 and BMP-2 by inducing expression of matrix gene products (for example, collagen and fibronectin), suppressing MyoD expression, and inhibiting myotube formation of C2C12 cells. For osteoblast differentiation, an additional effector, BMP-specific Smad protein, was required. Our results indicate that Runx2 is a major target gene shared by TGF-beta and BMP signaling pathways and that the coordinated action of Runx2 and BMP-activated Smads leads to the induction of osteoblast-specific gene expression in C2C12 cells.     

Lactacystin, a proteasome inhibitor, enhances BMP-induced osteoblastic differentiation by increasing active Smads

Proteasome inhibitors enhance bone formation and osteoblastic differentiation in vivo and in vitro. In the present study, we examined whether the molecular mechanisms of lactacystin, one of many proteasome inhibitors, stimulated the osteoblastic differentiation of C2C12 cells that is induced by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Pretreatment with lactacystin enhanced the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity induced by BMP2, BMP4 or BMP7, but lactacystin did not induce ALP in the absence of BMPs. In addition, lactacystin-stimulated BMP2 induced mRNA expression of ALP, type I collagen, osteonectin, osteocalcin, Id1, Osterix, and Runx2. Lactacystin maintained BMP2-induced phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 and increased the length of time that these Smads were bound to target DNA. Moreover, lactacystin prevented BMP receptor-induced Smad degradation. This enhancement of BMP2-induced ALP activity and Smad phosphorylation by lactacystin was also observed in primary osteoblasts. These findings suggest that pretreatment with lactacystin accelerates BMP-induced osteoblastic differentiation by increasing the levels of phosphorylated Smads, which are maintained because BMP receptor-induced degradation is inhibited. We propose that optimized stimulation by proteasome inhibitors in a clinical setting may facilitate autogenous or BMP-induced bone formation in areas of defective bone.     

Roles of autocrine TGF-beta receptor and Smad signaling in adipocyte differentiation

TGF-beta inhibits adipocyte differentiation, yet is expressed by adipocytes. The function of TGF-beta in adipogenesis, and its mechanism of action, is unknown. To address the role of TGF-beta signaling in adipocyte differentiation, we characterized the expression of the TGF-beta receptors, and the Smads which transmit or inhibit TGF-beta signals, during adipogenesis in 3T3-F442A cells. We found that the cell-surface availability of TGF-beta receptors strongly decreased as adipogenesis proceeds. Whereas mRNA levels for Smads 2, 3, and 4 were unchanged during differentiation, mRNA levels for Smads 6 and 7, which are known to inhibit TGF-beta responses, decreased severely. Dominant negative interference with TGF-beta receptor signaling, by stably expressing a truncated type II TGF-beta receptor, enhanced differentiation and decreased growth. Stable overexpression of Smad2 or Smad3 inhibited differentiation and dominant negative inhibition of Smad3 function, but not Smad2 function, enhanced adipogenesis. Increased Smad6 and Smad7 levels blocked differentiation and enhanced TGF-beta-induced responses. The inhibitory effect of Smad7 on adipocyte differentiation and its cooperation with TGF-beta was associated with the C-domain of Smad7. Our results indicate that endogenous TGF-beta signaling regulates the rate of adipogenesis, and that Smad2 and Smad3 have distinct functions in this endogenous control of differentiation. Smad6 and Smad7 act as negative regulators of adipogenesis and, even though known to inhibit TGF-beta responses, enhance the effects of TGF-beta on these cells.     

TGF-β receptors, in a Smad-independent manner, are required for terminal skeletal muscle differentiation

Skeletal muscle differentiation is strongly inhibited by transforming growth factor type β (TGF-β), although muscle formation as well as regeneration normally occurs in an environment rich in this growth factor. In this study, we evaluated the role of intracellular regulatory Smads proteins as well as TGF-β-receptors (TGF-β-Rs) during skeletal muscle differentiation. We found a decrease of TGF-β signaling during differentiation. This phenomenon is explained by a decline in the levels of the regulatory proteins Smad-2, -3, and -4, a decrease in the phosphorylation of Smad-2 and lost of nuclear translocation of Smad-3 and -4 in response to TGF-β. No change in the levels and inhibitory function of Smad-7 was observed. In contrast, we found that TGF-β-R type I (TGF-β-RI) and type II (TGF-β-RII) increased on the cell surface during skeletal muscle differentiation. To analyze the direct role of the serine/threonine kinase activities of TGF-β-Rs, we used the specific inhibitor SB 431542 and the dominant-negative form of TGF-β-RII lacking the cytoplasmic domain. The TGF-β-Rs were important for successful muscle formation, determined by the induction of myogenin, creatine kinase activity, and myosin. Silencing of Smad-2/3 expression by specific siRNA treatments accelerated myogenin, myosin expression, and myotube formation; although when SB 431542 was present inhibition in myosin induction and myotube formation was observed, suggesting that these last steps of skeletal muscle differentiation require active TGF-β-Rs. These results suggest that both down-regulation of Smad regulatory proteins and cell signaling through the TGF-β receptors independent of Smad proteins are essential for skeletal muscle differentiation.     

miR-210 promotes osteoblastic differentiation through inhibition of AcvR1b

Although microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in many biological processes, the mechanisms whereby miRNAs regulate osteoblastic differentiation are poorly understood. Here, we found that BMP-4-induced osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow-derived ST2 stromal cells was promoted and repressed after transfection of sense and antisense miR-210, respectively. A reporter assay demonstrated that the activin A receptor type 1B (AcvR1b) gene was a target for miR-210. Furthermore, inhibition of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/activin signaling in ST2 cells with SB431542 promoted osteoblastic differentiation. We conclude that miR-210 acts as a positive regulator of osteoblastic differentiation by inhibiting the TGF-β/activin signaling pathway through inhibition of AcvR1b.     

Bone morphogenetic protein and retinoic acid signaling cooperate to induce osteoblast differentiation of preadipocytes

Mesenchymal cells can differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, myoblasts, or chondroblasts. Whether mesenchymal cells that have initiated differentiation along one lineage can transdifferentiate into another is largely unknown. Using 3T3-F442A preadipocytes, we explored whether extracellular signals could redirect their differentiation from adipocyte into osteoblast. 3T3-F442A cells expressed receptors and Smads required for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. BMP-2 increased proliferation and induced the early osteoblast differentiation marker alkaline phosphatase, yet only mildly affected adipogenic differentiation. Retinoic acid inhibited adipose conversion and cooperated with BMP-2 to enhance proliferation, inhibit adipogenesis, and promote early osteoblastic differentiation. Expression of BMP-RII together with BMP-RIA or BMP-RIB suppressed adipogenesis of 3T3-F442A cells and promoted full osteoblastic differentiation in response to retinoic acid. Osteoblastic differentiation was characterized by induction of cbfa1, osteocalcin, and collagen I expression, and extracellular matrix calcification. These results indicate that 3T3-F442A preadipocytes can be converted into fully differentiated osteoblasts in response to extracellular signaling cues. Furthermore, BMP and retinoic acid signaling cooperate to stimulate cell proliferation, repress adipogenesis, and promote osteoblast differentiation. Finally, BMP-RIA and BMP-RIB induced osteoblast differentiation and repressed adipocytic differentiation to a similar extent.     

The RING domain of PIASy is involved in the suppression of bone morphogenetic protein-signaling pathway

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play central roles in differentiation, development, and physiologic tissue remodeling. Recently, we have demonstrated that a protein inhibitor of activated STAT, PIASy, suppresses TGF-beta signaling by interacting with Sma and MAD-related protein 3 (Smad3). In this study, we examined a PIASy-dependent inhibitory effect on BMP signaling. PIASy expression was induced by BMP-2 stimulation and suppressed BMP-2-dependent Smad activity in hepatoma cells. Furthermore, BMP-2-regulated Smads directly bound to PIASy. We also demonstrated that the RING domain of PIASy played an important role in PIASy-mediated suppression of Smad activity. We here provide evidence that the inhibitory action of PIASy on BMP-regulated Smad activity was due to direct physical interactions between Smads and PIASy through its RING domain.     

Critical regulation of bone morphogenetic protein-induced osteoblastic differentiation by Delta1/Jagged1-activated Notch1 signaling

Functional involvement of the Notch pathway in osteoblastic differentiation has been previously investigated using the truncated intracellular domain, which mimics Notch signaling by interacting with the DNA-binding protein CBF-1. However, it is unclear whether Notch ligands Delta1 and Jagged1 also induce an identical cellular response in osteoblastic differentiation. We have shown that both Delta1 and Jagged1 were expressed concomitantly with Notch1 in maturating osteoblastic cells during bone regeneration and that overexpressed and immobilized recombinant Delta1 and Jagged1 alone did not alter the differentiated state of MC3T3-E1 and C2C12 cells. However, they augmented bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2)-induced alkaline phosphatase activity and the expression of several differentiation markers, except for osteocalcin, and ultimately enhanced calcified nodule and in vivo ectopic bone formation of MC3T3-E1. In addition, both ligands transmitted signal through the CBF-1-dependent pathway and stimulated the expression of HES-1, a direct target of Notch pathway. To test the necessity of Notch signaling in BMP2-induced differentiation, Notch signaling was inhibited by the dominant negative extracellular domain of Notch1, specific inhibitor, or small interference RNA. These treatments decreased alkaline phosphatase activity as well as the expression of other differentiation markers and inhibited the promoter activity of Id-1, a target gene of the BMP pathway. These results indicate the functional redundancy between Delta1 and Jagged1 in osteoblastic differentiation whereby Delta1/Jagged1-activated Notch1 enhances BMP2-induced differentiation through the identical signaling pathway. Furthermore, our data also suggest that functional Notch signaling is essential not only for BMP2-induced osteoblast differentiation but also for BMP signaling itself.     

Roles of bone morphogenetic protein type I receptors and Smad proteins in osteoblast and chondroblast differentiation

The biological effects of type I serine/threonine kinase receptors and Smad proteins were examined using an adenovirus-based vector system. Constitutively active forms of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptors (BMPR-IA and BMPR-IB; BMPR-I group) and those of activin receptor-like kinase (ALK)-1 and ALK-2 (ALK-1 group) induced alkaline phosphatase activity in C2C12 cells. Receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads) that act in the BMP pathways, such as Smad1 and Smad5, also induced the alkaline phosphatase activity in C2C12 cells. BMP-6 dramatically enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity induced by Smad1 or Smad5, probably because of the nuclear translocation of R-Smads triggered by the ligand. Inhibitory Smads, i.e., Smad6 and Smad7, repressed the alkaline phosphatase activity induced by BMP-6 or the type I receptors. Chondrogenic differentiation of ATDC5 cells was induced by the receptors of the BMPR-I group but not by those of the ALK-1 group. However, kinase-inactive forms of the receptors of the ALK-1 and BMPR-I groups blocked chondrogenic differentiation. Although R-Smads failed to induce cartilage nodule formation, inhibitory Smads blocked it. Osteoblast differentiation induced by BMPs is thus mediated mainly via the Smad-signaling pathway, whereas chondrogenic differentiation may be transmitted by Smad-dependent and independent pathways.