Glycogen synthase kinase 3 controls endochondral bone development: contribution of fibroblast growth factor 18

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibits signaling pathways that are essential for bone development. To study the requirement for GSK activity during endochondral bone development, we inhibited GSK3 in cultured metatarsal bones with pharmacological antagonists. Interestingly, we find that inhibition of GSK3 strongly repressed chondrocyte and perichondrial osteoblast differentiation. Moreover, chondrocyte proliferation was inhibited, whereas perichondrial cell proliferation was stimulated. These results mirror the effects of fibroblast growth factor signaling (FGF), suggesting the FGF expression is induced. Indeed, we showed that (1) FGF18 expression is stimulated following inhibition of GSK3 and (2) GSK3 regulates FGF18 expression through the control of beta-catenin levels. Stimulation of cultured metatarsal with FGF18 had similar effects on the differentiation and proliferation of chondrocytes and perichondrial cells as GSK3 repression. This suggests that the regulation of FGF18 expression is a major function of GSK3 during endochondral bone development. Consistent with this, we showed that the effect of GSK3 inhibition on chondrocyte proliferation is repressed in tissues lacking a receptor for FGF18, FGF receptor 3.     

Expression of Stra13 during mouse endochondral bone development

We have examined the expression of the basic helix-loop-helix factor Stra13 (DEC1/Sharp2) during endochondral bone development in the mouse. Stra13 expression was examined by in situ hybridization in the tibia from E14.5-E18.5, and at post-natal day 24. At E14.5, expression of Stra13 mRNA was very low, with expression limited to scattered hypertrophic chondrocytes. At E15.5 Stra13 mRNA was present in post-mitotic hypertrophic chondrocytes, co-localizing with collagen X expression. At E16.5-E18.5, Stra13 was expressed in both the proliferating chondrocytes and in the late hypertrophic chondrocytes. At E15.5-E18.5, Stra13 expression was also observed in the primary spongiosa. Stra13 expression was also maintained in the 24-day post-natal tibia, with expression detectable only in the late hypertrophic chondrocytes. Because Stra13 has been shown to be induced by hypoxia, and the growth plate is hypoxic during embryonic development, we compared the expression pattern of Stra13 and the HIF1-alpha target gene VEGF. VEGF is expressed predominantly in the late hypertrophic chondrocytes, with lower expression in the proliferating chondrocytes. Thus, there was a large degree of overlap in the expression patterns of Stra13 and VEGF in chondrocytes during embryonic development.     

Stimulation of chondrocyte hypertrophy by chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1 in the chondro-osseous junction during endochondral bone formation

During endochondral bone formation, chondrocytes undergo differentiation toward hypertrophy before they are replaced by bone and bone marrow. In this study, we found that a G-protein coupled receptor CXCR4 is predominantly expressed in hypertrophic chondrocytes, while its ligand, chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) is expressed in the bone marrow adjacent to hypertrophic chondrocytes. Thus, they are expressed in a complementary pattern in the chondro-osseous junction of the growth plate. Transfection of a CXCR4 cDNA into pre-hypertrophic chondrocytes results in a dose-dependent increase of hypertrophic markers including Runx2, Col X, and MMP-13 in response to SDF-1 treatment. In organ culture SDF-1 infiltrates cartilage and accelerates growth plate hypertrophy. Furthermore, a continuous infusion of SDF-1 into the rabbit proximal tibial physis results in early physeal closure, which is accompanied by a transient elevation of type X collagen expression. Blocking SDF-1/CXCR4 interaction suppresses the expression of Runx2. Thus, interaction of SDF-1 and CXCR4 is required for Runx2 expression. Interestingly, knocking down Runx2 gene expression results in a decrease of CXCR4 mRNA levels in hypertrophic chondrocytes. This suggests a positive feedback loop of stimulation of chondrocyte hypertrophy by SDF-1/CXCR4, which is mediated by Runx2.     

p107 and p130 Coordinately regulate proliferation,Cbfa1 expression,and hypertrophic differentiation during endochondral bone development

During endochondral bone development, both the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchyme and the hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes coincide with the proliferative arrest of the differentiating cells. However, the mechanisms by which differentiation is coordinated with cell cycle withdrawal, and the importance of this coordination for skeletal development, have not been defined. Through analysis of mice lacking the pRB-related p107 and p130 proteins, we found that p107 was required in prechondrogenic condensations for cell cycle withdrawal and for quantitatively normal alpha1(II) collagen expression. Remarkably, the p107-dependent proliferative arrest of mesenchymal cells was not needed for qualitative changes that are associated with chondrogenic differentiation, including production of Alcian blue-staining matrix and expression of the collagen IIB isoform. In chondrocytes, both p107 and p130 contributed to cell cycle exit, and p107 and p130 loss was accompanied by deregulated proliferation, reduced expression of Cbfa1, and reduced expression of Cbfa1-dependent genes that are associated with hypertrophic differentiation. Moreover, Cbfa1 was detected, and hypertrophic differentiation occurred, only in chondrocytes that had undergone or were undergoing a proliferative arrest. The results suggest that Cbfa1 links a p107- and p130-mediated cell cycle arrest to chondrocyte terminal differentiation.     

Notch signaling regulates the differentiation of bone marrow-derived cells into smooth muscle-like cells during arterial lesion formation

Bone marrow- (BM-) derived cells can differentiate into smooth muscle-like cells (SMLC), resulting in vascular pathogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism of the differentiation remains unknown. We have recently reported that Notch signaling promotes while a Notch target HERP1 inhibit the differentiation of mesenchymal cells to SMC. During the differentiation of BM-derived mononuclear cells into smooth muscle α-actin (SMA)-positive cells, expression of Jagged1 and SMC-specific Notch3 was increased. Blocking Notch with γ-secretase inhibitor prevented the induction of SMA. Wire-mediated vascular injury was produced in femoral arteries in mice transplanted with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive cells. Many double-positive cells for GFP/Jagged1 or GFP/Notch3 were detected in the thickened neointima. In contrast, only a few SMA-positive cells were positive for GFP in neointima where HERP1, a suppressor for Notch, were abundantly expressed. In conclusion, Notch-HERP1 pathway plays an important role in differentiation of BM-derived mononuclear cells into SMLC.     

A molecular analysis of matrix remodeling and angiogenesis during long bone development

The replacement of cartilage by bone is the net result of genetic programs that control chondrocyte differentiation, matrix degradation, and bone formation. Disruptions in the rate, timing, or duration of chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation result in shortened, misshapen skeletal elements. In the majority of these skeletal disruptions, vascular invasion of the elements is also perturbed. Our hypothesis is that the processes involved in endochondral ossification are synchronized via the vasculature. The purpose of this study was to examine carefully the events of vascular invasion and matrix degradation in the context of chondrocyte differentiation and bone formation. Here, we have produced a ‘molecular map’ of the initial vascularization of the developing skeleton that provides a framework in which to interpret a wide range of fetal skeletal malformations, disruptions, and dysplasias.