Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP6 and BMP7) enhance the protective effect of neurotrophins on cultured septal cholinergic neurons during hypoglycemia

The effects of two bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP6, BMP7), alone and in combination with neurotrophins, were tested on cultures of embryonic day 15 rat septum. A week-long exposure to BMP6 or BMP7 in the optimal concentration range of 2-5 n M increased the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) by 1.6-2-fold, in both septal and combined septal-hippocampal cultures. The increase in ChAT activity reached significance after 4 days and continued to increase over an 11-day exposure. Under control culture conditions neither BMP significantly altered the number of cholinergic neurons, and BMP effects on ChAT activity were less than linearly additive with those of nerve growth factor. The effects of BMPs and BMP + neurotrophin combinations were also assayed under two stress conditions: low-density culture and hypoglycemia. In low-density cultures BMPs and BMP + neurotrophin combinations preserved ChAT activity more effectively than neurotrophins alone. During 24 h hypoglycemic stress, BMPs alone did not preserve ChAT activity, but BMP + neurotrophin combinations preserved ChAT activity much more effectively than neurotrophins alone. These results demonstrate that BMP6 and BMP7 enhance ChAT activity under control and low-density stress conditions, and that during a hypoglycemic stress their trophic effect requires and complements that exerted by neurotrophins.     

BMP2-induced apoptosis is mediated by activation of the TAK1-p38 kinase pathway that is negatively regulated by Smad6

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, regulates a variety of cell fates and functions. At present, the molecular mechanism by which BMP2 induces apoptosis has not been fully elucidated. Here we propose a BMP2 signaling pathway that mediates apoptosis in mouse hybridoma MH60 cells whose growth is interleukin-6 (IL-6)-dependent. BMP2 dose-dependently induces apoptosis in MH60 cells even in the presence of IL-6. BMP2 has no inhibitory effect on the IL-6-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3, and the bcl-2 gene expression which is known to be regulated by STAT3, suggesting that BMP2-induced apoptosis is not attributed to alteration of the IL-6-mediated bcl-2 pathway. We demonstrate that BMP2 induces activation of TGF-beta-activated kinase (TAK1) and subsequent phosphorylation of p38 stress-activated protein kinase. In addition, forced expression of kinase-negative TAK1 in MH60 cells blocks BMP2-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that BMP2-induced apoptosis is mediated through the TAK1-p38 pathway in MH60 cells. We also show that MH60-derived transfectants expressing Smad6 are resistant to the apoptotic signal of BMP2. Interestingly, this ectopic expression of Smad6 blocks BMP2-induced TAK1 activation and p38 phosphorylation. Moreover, Smad6 can directly bind to TAK1. These findings suggest that Smad6 is likely to function as a negative regulator of the TAK1 pathway in the BMP2 signaling, in addition to the previously reported Smad pathway.     

阻断ERK1/2激酶可增强骨形态发生蛋白9诱导的间充质干细胞成骨分化

骨形态发生蛋白9(bone morphogenetic protein 9,BMP9)具有很强的诱导间充质干细胞定向成骨分化的能力.但对于其所涉及的相关分子机理了解并不深入.利用BMP9重组腺病毒感染间充质干细胞,Western blot检测ERK1/2激酶的磷酸化,ERK1/2的特异性抑制剂PD98059阻断ERK1/2活性,或以RNA干扰抑制ERK1/2表达,通过体外细胞实验和体内动物实验,初步分析和揭示ERK1/2对于BMP9诱导的间充质干细胞成骨分化的调控作用及其可能机制.结果发现:BMP9可以促进ERK1/2激酶的磷酸化,ERK1/2抑制剂PD98059可增强由BMP9诱导的碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphatase,ALP)活性、骨桥蛋白(osteopontin,OPN)表达和钙盐沉积,并促进由BMP9诱导的Runx2基因的表达和转录活性,以及Smad经典途径的活化;而RNA干扰导致ERK1/2基因沉默同样也可进一步促进BMP9诱导的ALP活性和钙盐沉积,并促进BMP9诱导的间充质干细胞在裸鼠皮下异位成骨.因此,BMP9可以促进ERK1/2蛋白激酶的活化,而阻断ERK1/2蛋白激酶可进一步增强BMP9诱导的成骨分化,ERK1/2极可能对于BMP9诱导的间充质干细胞成骨分化起着负向调控作用.     

Interplay between BMP4 and IL-7 in human intrathymic precursor cells

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play a pivotal role during vertebrate embryogenesis and organogenesis, and have also been described to function in regulating cell fate and determination in self-renewing tissues in adults. Recent results have demonstrated that the different components of the BMP2/4 signaling pathway are expressed in the human thymus. In this study, we provide evidence that BMP4 and IL-7 interplay is important in the maintenance of the human thymic progenitor population. Intrathymic CD34⁺ cells express BMP receptors (BMPRIA, BMPRIB, ActRIA, BMPRII), signal transduction molecules (Smad1, 5, 8 and 4), and produce BMP4. Neutralization of endogenous BMP4 by treatment with the antagonist Noggin reduces thymic precursor cell survival, and the addition of exogenous BMP4 decreases their proliferation. The treatment of chimeric human-mouse fetal thymus organ cultures with BMP4 inhibits cell expansion, arrests thymocyte differentiation, and leads to the accumulation of human CD34⁺ precursor cells. This effect is mainly attributed to the ability of BMP4 to counteract the IL-7-induced proliferation and differentiation of CD34⁺ cells. BMP4 down-regulates in the precursor cell population the expression of CD127 and inhibits the IL-7-dependent STAT5 phosphorylation. In addition, BMP signaling is promoted by IL-7. Our results also demonstrate that in thymic progenitors BMPs act downstream of Sonic Hedgehog, previously described to function as a maintenance factor for human intrathymic CD34⁺ precursor cells.     

Secreted type of amyloid precursor protein induces glial differentiation by stimulating the BMP/Smad signaling pathway

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases leading to dementia. Although cytotoxicity of amyloid β peptides has been intensively studied within pathophysiology of AD, the physiological function of amyloid precursor protein (APP) still remains unclarified. We have shown previously that secreted APPα (sAPPα) is associated with glial differentiation of neural stem cells. To elucidate specific mechanisms underlying sAPPα-induced gliogenesis, we examined the potential involvement of bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs). BMPs are one of the factors involved in glial differentiation of neural progenitor cells. When expressions of BMP-2, -4, and -7 were examined, upregulation of BMP-4 expression was solely observed as a result of treatment with sAPPα in a time and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the treatment of sAPPα promoted phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8, a downstream signaling mediator of BMP receptors. Interestingly, N-terminal domain of APP (1–205) was sufficient to elevate BMP4 expression, resulting in an increase of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression and phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8. However, the application of APP neutralizing antibody and anti-BMP4 antibody significantly suppressed expression of BMP-4 as well as phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8. Thus, our results indicate that sAPPα-induced gliogenesis is in part mediated by the BMP-4 signaling pathway. We also observed upregulation of BMP-4 and phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 in APP transgenic mice. It is imperative to unravel the mechanisms underlying the role of BMP-4 during APPα-induced glial differentiation in hope of providing novel prevention or treatment for AD.     

Bone morphogenetic protein signaling in articular chondrocyte differentiation

Articular chondrocytes progressively undergo dedifferentiation into a spindle-shaped mesenchymal cellular phenotype in monolayers. Chondrocyte dedifferentiation is stimulated by retinoic acid. On the other hand, bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) stimulate differentiation of chondrocytes. We examined the mechanism of effects of BMP in chondrocyte differentiation with use of a recombinant adenovirus vector system. Constitutively active forms of BMP type I receptors (BMPR-IA and BMPR-IB) and those of activin receptor-like kinase (ALK)-1 and ALK-2 maintained differentiation of chondrocytes in the presence of retinoic acid. The BMP receptor-regulated signaling substrates, Smad1/5, weakly induced chondrocyte differentiation; the effects of Smad1/5 were enhanced by BMP-7 treatment. Inhibitory Smad, Smad6, blocked increase of expression of chondrocyte markers by BMP-7 in a dose-dependent manner. SB202190, a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, inhibited this effect of BMP-7; however, since SB202190 suppressed phosphorylation of Smad1/5, this may be due to blockade of BMP receptor activation. These results together strongly suggest that induction of chondrocyte differentiation by BMP-7 is regulated by Smad pathways.     

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.     

Activation of the ERK pathway in osteoblastic cells, role of gremlin and BMP-2

Gremlin is a glycoprotein that binds and antagonizes the actions of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) -2, -4, and -7. Gremlin appears to activate the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in endothelial and tumor cells, and as a consequence to have direct cellular effects. To determine whether gremlin has direct effects in osteoblasts, independent of its BMP binding activity, we examined its effects in ST-2 murine stromal cell lines and in primary cultures of murine calvarial osteoblasts. Gremlin did not activate Signaling mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad), and suppressed the BMP-2 induced Smad 1/5/8 phosphorylation and the transactivation of the BMP/Smad reporter construct 12xSBE-Oc-pGL3, confirming its BMPs antagonizing activity. Neither gremlin nor BMP-2 induced ERK 1/2 activation in ST-2 cells or calvarial osteoblasts. Moreover, slight changes in culture conditions induced the phosphorylation of ERK independent from BMP or gremlin exposure. In conclusion, gremlin inhibits BMP-2 signaling and activity, and does not have independent actions on ERK signaling in osteoblasts. Consequently, gremlin activity in osteoblasts can be attributed only to its BMP antagonizing effects.     

The Angiopoietin-1 Variant COMP-Ang1 Enhances BMP2-Induced Bone Regeneration with Recruiting Pericytes in Critical Sized Calvarial Defects

Craniofacial bone defects are observed in a variety of clinical situations, and their reconstructions require coordinated coupling between angiogenesis and osteogenesis. In this study, we explored the effects of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein-angiopoietin 1 (COMP-Ang1), a synthetic and soluble variant of angiopoietin 1, on bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2)-induced cranial bone regeneration, and recruitment and osteogenic differentiation of perivascular pericytes. A critical-size calvarial defect was created in the C57BL/6 mouse and COMP-Ang1 and/or BMP2 proteins were delivered into the defects with absorbable collagen sponges. After 3 weeks, bone regeneration was evaluated using micro-computed tomography and histologic examination. Pericyte recruitment into the defects was examined using immunofluorescence staining with anti-NG2 and anti-CD31 antibodies. In vitro recruitment and osteoblastic differentiation of pericyte cells were assessed with Boyden chamber assay, staining of calcified nodules, RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Combined administration of COMP-Ang1 and BMP2 synergistically enhanced bone repair along with the increased population of CD31 (an endothelial cell marker) and NG2 (a specific marker of pericyte) positive cells. In vitro cultures of pericytes consistently showed that pericyte infiltration into the membrane pore of Boyden chamber was more enhanced by the combination treatment. In addition, the combination further increased the osteoblast-specific gene expression, including bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteocalcin (OCN) and osterix (OSX), phosphorylation of Smad/1/5/8, and mineralized nodule formation. COMP-Ang1 can enhance BMP2-induced cranial bone regeneration with increased pericyte recruitment. Combined delivery of the proteins might be a therapeutic strategy to repair cranial bone damage.     

BMP9经Smad信号通路调控iSCAP成骨/成牙本质分化

目的：研究BMP9是否能够激活 iSCAP细胞中的Smad信号通路,以及Smad信号通路在BMP9诱导iSCAP细胞成骨/成牙本质向分化过程中的作用。方法：首先,采用Western印迹实验检测Ad-BMP9转染iSCAP后Smad1/5/8蛋白的磷酸化水平。随后,利用dnALK1重组腺病毒和BMP9条件培养基作用于iSCAP,Western印迹实验检测Smad1/5/8蛋白磷酸化水平;采用碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活性检测和染色方法分析早期成骨/成牙本质指标变化,茜素红染色法检测钙盐沉积程度;RT-PCR成骨/成牙本质相关基因Runx2、OCN、OPN和DMP1表达的影响。结果：BMP9可上调iSCAP中Smad1/5/8的磷酸化水平;dnALK1抑制BMP9条件培养基作用后,可抑制Smad1/5/8的磷酸化,iSCAP细胞中早期成骨/成牙本质标志物ALP活性和晚期成骨/成牙本质标志钙盐结节减少,重要成骨转录因子Runx2基因表达减少,成骨/成牙本质相关基因OCN、OPN、DMP1的表达也受到了抑制。结论：Smad信号通路在BMP9诱导iSCAP成骨/成牙本质过程中存在并起着重要作用。     

何首乌苷通过激活BDNF/TrkB信号通路拮抗H2O2诱导的大鼠海马神经元氧化损伤

探讨脑源性神经营养因子/酪氨酸激酶受体B(BDNF/TrkB)信号通路激活参与何首乌苷(PMG)对过氧化氢(H2O2)诱导神经元氧化应激损伤的保护作用。实验采用神经元原代培养,建立大鼠乳鼠海马神经元氧化应激损伤模型。实验结果显示高浓度的H2O2与MTT测定的细胞存活率降低相关,选择细胞存活率在40%~50%之间的200μmol/LH2O2浓度作为氧化应激损伤的实验浓度。与模型组相比,PMG预处理组(200μmol/L)可抑制H2O2诱导的神经元损伤(P<0.001)。TUNEL和β-微管蛋白III荧光染色显示PMG保护H2O2诱导的神经细胞损伤,明显降低细胞凋亡率(P<0.001),细胞骨架形态恢复正常。与PMG+H2O2预处理组相比较,当加入BDNF/TrkB信号转导通路阻断剂K252a后,PMG+H2O2+K252a组神经元细胞存活率大幅度下降(P<0.01),细胞骨架形态呈损伤状态。同时,我们发现PMG预处理恢复H2O2诱导的BDNF和P-TrkB的低表达水平,并且用K252a阻断BDNF/TrkB信号传导抑制了PMG对BDNF和P-TrkB表达水平的影响(P<0.01)。综上所述,何首乌苷可能通过激活BDNF/TrkB信号转导通路及维护神经元骨架的完整,实现对大鼠海马神经元氧化应激损伤的拮抗作用。     

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.     

Interaction and functional cooperation between the serine/threonine kinase bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor with the tyrosine kinase stem cell factor receptor

Transmembrane receptors with intrinsic serine/threonine or tyrosine kinase domains regulate vital functions of cells in multicellular eukaryotes, e.g., differentiation, apoptosis, and proliferation. Here, we show that bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR-II) which has a serine/threonine kinase domain, and stem cell factor receptor (c-kit) which contains a tyrosine kinase domain form a complex in vitro and in vivo; the interaction is induced upon treatment of cells with BMP2 and SCF. Stem cell factor (SCF) modulated BMP2-dependent activation of Smad1/5/8 and phosphorylation of Erk kinase. SCF also enhanced BMP2-dependent differentiation of C2C12 cells. We found that BMPR-II was phosphorylated at Ser757 upon co-expression with and activation of c-kit. BMPR-II phosphorylation required intact kinase activity of BMPR-II. Abrogation of the c-kit/SCF-dependent phosphorylation of BMPR-II at the Ser757 interfered with the cooperative effect of BMP2 and SCF. Our data suggest that the complex formation between c-kit and BMPR-II leads to phosphorylation of BMPR-II at Ser757, which modulates BMPR-II-dependent signaling.     

SnoN Suppresses Maturation of Chondrocytes by Mediating Signal Cross-talk between Transforming Growth Factor-β and Bone Morphogenetic Protein Pathways

Hypertrophic maturation of chondrocytes is a crucial step in endochondral ossification, whereas abnormally accelerated differentiation of hypertrophic chondrocytes in articular cartilage is linked to pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. This cellular process is promoted or inhibited by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) or transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling, respectively, suggesting that these signaling pathways cross-talk during chondrocyte maturation. Here, we demonstrated that expression of Tgfb1 was increased, followed by phosphorylation of Smad2, during BMP-2-induced hypertrophic maturation of ATDC5 chondrocytes. Application of a TGF-β type I receptor inhibitor compound, SB431542, increased the expression of Id1, without affecting the phosphorylation status of Smad1/5/8, indicating that the activated endogenous TGF-β pathway inhibited BMP signaling downstream of the Smad activation step. We searched for TGF-β-inducible effectors that are able to inhibit BMP signaling in ATDC5 cells and identified SnoN. Overexpression of SnoN suppressed the activity of a BMP-responsive luciferase reporter in COS-7 cells as well as expression of Id1 in ATDC5 cells and, subsequently, the expression of Col10a1, a hallmark of hypertrophic chondrocyte maturation. siRNA-mediated loss of SnoN showed opposite effects in BMP-treated ATDC5 cells. In adult mice, we found the highest level of SnoN expression in articular cartilage. Importantly, SnoN was expressed, in combination with phosphorylated Smad2/3, in prehypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plate of mouse embryo bones and in chondrocytes around the ectopically existing hypertrophic chondrocytes of human osteoarthritis cartilage. Our results indicate that SnoN mediates a negative feedback mechanism evoked by TGF-β to inhibit BMP signaling and, subsequently, hypertrophic maturation of chondrocytes.     

HLA-B-associated transcript 3 (Bat3/Scythe) negatively regulates Smad phosphorylation in BMP signaling

Members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily participate in numerous biological phenomena in multiple tissues, including in cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. TGF-β superfamily proteins therefore have prominent roles in wound healing, fibrosis, bone formation, and carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating these signaling pathways are not fully understood. Here, we describe the regulation of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling by Bat3 (also known as Scythe or BAG6). Bat3 overexpression in murine cell lines suppresses the activity of the Id1 promoter normally induced by BMP signaling. Conversely, Bat3 inactivation enhances the induction of direct BMP target genes, such as Id1, Smad6, and Smad7. Consequently, Bat3 deficiency accelerates the differentiation of primary osteoblasts into bone, with a concomitant increase in the bone differentiation markers Runx2, Osterix, and alkaline phosphatase. Using biochemical and cell biological analyses, we show that Bat3 inactivation sustains the C-terminal phosphorylation and nuclear localization of Smad1, 5, and 8 (Smad1/5/8), thereby enhancing biological responses to BMP treatment. At the mechanistic level, we show that Bat3 interacts with the nuclear phosphatase small C-terminal domain phosphatase (SCP) 2, which terminates BMP signaling by dephosphorylating Smad1/5/8. Notably, Bat3 enhances SCP2–Smad1 interaction only when the BMP signaling pathway is activated. Our results demonstrate that Bat3 is an important regulator of BMP signaling that functions by modulating SCP2–Smad interaction.