Binding of Shp2 Tyrosine Phosphatase to FRS2 Is Essential for Fibroblast Growth Factor-Induced PC12 Cell Differentiation

FRS2 is a lipid-anchored docking protein that plays an important role in linking fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and nerve growth factor receptors with the Ras/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway. In this report, we demonstrate that FRS2 forms a complex with the N-terminal SH2 domain of the protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 in response to FGF stimulation. FGF stimulation induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Shp2, leading to the formation of a complex containing Grb2 and Sos1 molecules. In addition, a mutant FRS2 deficient in both Grb2 and Shp2 binding induces a weak and transient MAP kinase response and fails to induce PC12 cell differentiation in response to FGF stimulation. Furthermore, FGF is unable to induce differentiation of PC12 cells expressing an FRS2 point mutant deficient in Shp2 binding. Finally, we demonstrate that the catalytic activity of Shp2 is essential for sustained activation of MAP kinase and for potentiation of FGF-induced PC12 cell differentiation. These experiments demonstrate that FRS2 recruits Grb2 molecules both directly and indirectly via complex formation with Shp2 and that Shp2 plays an important role in FGF-induced PC12 cell differentiation.     

β1 Integrin Is Essential for Teratoma Growth and Angiogenesis

Teratomas are benign tumors that form after ectopic injection of embryonic stem (ES) cells into mice and contain derivatives of all primitive germ layers. To study the role of β1 integrin during teratoma formation, we compared teratomas induced by normal and β1-null ES cells. Injection of normal ES cells gave rise to large teratomas. In contrast, β1-null ES cells either did not grow or formed small teratomas with an average weight of <5% of that of normal teratomas. Histological analysis of β1-null teratomas revealed the presence of various differentiated cells, however, a much lower number of host-derived stromal cells than in normal teratomas. Fibronectin, collagen I, and nidogen were expressed but, in contrast to normal teratomas, diffusely deposited in β1-null teratomas. Basement membranes were present but with irregular shape and detached from the cell surface.

Normal teratomas had large blood vessels with a smooth inner surface, containing both host- and ES cell–derived endothelial cells. In contrast, β1-null teratomas had small vessels that were loosely embedded into the connective tissue. Furthermore, endothelial cells were always of host-derived origin and formed blood vessels with an irregular inner surface. Although β1- deficient endothelial cells were absent in teratomas, β1-null ES cells could differentiate in vitro into endothelial cells. The formation of a complex vasculature, however, was significantly delayed and of poor quality in β1-null embryoid bodies. Moreover, while vascular endothelial growth factor induced proliferation of endothelial cells as well as an extensive branching of blood vessels in normal embryoid bodies, it had no effect in β1-null embryoid bodies.

     

SDF-1/CXCR4在BMP9介导C2C12细胞成骨分化过程中的作用研究

为了观察SDF-1/CXCR4信号轴在BMP9促C2C12细胞成骨分化过程中的作用,通过重组腺病毒过表达BMP9,检测对C2C12细胞中SDF-1及受体CXCR4 mRNA和蛋白表达水平的影响;同时利用重组腺病毒或中和抗体干扰SDF-1/CXCR4,与BMP9先后作用于C2C12细胞,通过定量测定碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、染色测定ALP表达、免疫细胞化学测定骨钙蛋白(OCN)表达、茜素红S染色测定钙盐沉积、Real-time PCR检测成骨相关转录因子Runx2和Osx的表达、Western blot检测成骨分化信号通路MAPK和Smad的变化。结果显示,BMP9能明显抑制C2C12细胞中SDF-1、CXCR4的表达(P<0.01),且具有剂量和时间依赖性;预先干扰SDF-1/CXCR4能明显影响由BMP9介导的早、中期成骨标志物ALP、OCN及早期转录因子Runx2、Osx的表达(P<0.01)和MAPK、Smad信号通路相关蛋白的变化(P<0.05);外源性SDF-1并不能影响晚期成骨标志物钙盐沉积。提示SDF-1/CXCR4信号轴在由BMP9介导的C2C12细胞成骨分化早、中期过程中发挥重要作用。     

Flouride Promotes Viability and Differentiation of Osteoblast-Like Saos-2 Cells Via BMP/Smads Signaling Pathway

The BMP/Smad signaling pathway plays an important role in the viability and differentiation of osteoblast; however, it is not clear whether this pathway is involved in the fluoride-induced osteoblast differentiation. In this study, we investigated the role of BMP/Smad signaling pathway in fluoride-induced osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells differentiation. Cells were exposed to fluoride of different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mM), and cell proliferation was determined using WST assays. The expression of osteoblast marker genes such as osteocalcin (BGP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) were detected by qRT-PCR. We found that fluoride enhanced the proliferation of Saos-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner and 0.2 mM of fluoride resulted in a higher expression of osteoblast marker genes. In addition, immunofluorescence analysis showed that the promotion effects of 0.2 mM of fluoride on Saos-2 cells differentiation were associated with the activation of the BMP/Smad pathway. Expression of phosphorylated Smad1/5(p-Smad1/5) was higher in cells exposed to 0.2 mM of fluoride. Plasmid expression vectors encoding the short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting Smad4 gene were used to block the BMP/Smad pathway, which resulted in a significantly reduced expression of BGP and BALP as well as their corresponding mRNA. The mRNA levels after transfection remained low even in the presence of fluoride. The present results reveal that BMP/Smad signaling pathway was altered during the period of osteogenesis, and that the activities of p-Smad1/5 were required for Saos-2 cells viability and differentiation induced by fluoride.     

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Enhancer-binding Protein 3 Is Essential for the Expression of Asparagine-linked Glycosylation 2 in the Regulation of Osteoblast and Chondrocyte Differentiation

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 enhancer-binding protein 3 (Hivep3) suppresses osteoblast differentiation by inducing proteasomal degradation of the osteogenesis master regulator Runx2. In this study, we tested the possibility of cooperation of Hivep1, Hivep2, and Hivep3 in osteoblast and/or chondrocyte differentiation. Microarray analyses with ST-2 bone stroma cells demonstrated that expression of any known osteochondrogenesis-related genes was not commonly affected by the three Hivep siRNAs. Only Hivep3 siRNA promoted osteoblast differentiation in ST-2 cells, whereas all three siRNAs cooperatively suppressed differentiation in ATDC5 chondrocytes. We further used microarray analysis to identify genes commonly down-regulated in both MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts and ST-2 cells upon knockdown of Hivep3 and identified asparagine-linked glycosylation 2 (Alg2), which encodes a mannosyltransferase residing on the endoplasmic reticulum. The Hivep3 siRNA-mediated promotion of osteoblast differentiation was negated by forced Alg2 expression. Alg2 suppressed osteoblast differentiation and bone formation in cultured calvarial bone. Alg2 was immunoprecipitated with Runx2, whereas the combined transfection of Runx2 and Alg2 interfered with Runx2 nuclear localization, which resulted in suppression of Runx2 activity. Chondrocyte differentiation was promoted by Hivep3 overexpression, in concert with increased expression of Creb3l2, whose gene product is the endoplasmic reticulum stress transducer crucial for chondrogenesis. Alg2 silencing suppressed Creb3l2 expression and chondrogenesis of ATDC5 cells, whereas infection of Alg2-expressing virus promoted chondrocyte maturation in cultured cartilage rudiments. Thus, Alg2, as a downstream mediator of Hivep3, suppresses osteogenesis, whereas it promotes chondrogenesis. To our knowledge, this study is the first to link a mannosyltransferase gene to osteochondrogenesis.     

Hey1基因参与调控BMP9诱导的C3H10T1/2细胞成骨分化

目的:观察发状分裂相关增强子Hey1在骨形态发生蛋白9(BMP9)诱导的小鼠间充质干细胞(MSCs)C3H10T1/2成骨分化中的作用。方法:包装Hey1、BMP9以及GFP的过表达慢病毒,并分别作用于C3H10T1/2细胞,RT-PCR和Western blot检测Hey1、BMP9以及GFP的慢病毒是否包装成功,碱性磷酸酶(ALP)检测早期成骨指标ALP的变化,茜素红S染色检测晚期成骨指标钙盐沉积,MTT检测Hey1对BMP9调控的C3H10T1/2细胞增值的影响,流式细胞术检测Hey1对BMP9调控的C3H10T1/2细胞周期的影响。结果:Hey1、BMP9以及GFP的慢病毒包装成功;在成骨分化早期,过表达Hey1基因可促进BMP9调控的C3H10T1/2细胞的成骨分化与增殖;在成骨分化晚期,过表达Hey1基因可促进BMP9诱导的C3H10T1/2细胞的成骨分化,并将BMP9调控的C3H10T1/2细胞周期阻滞在G1期。结论:Hey1基因可参与调控BMP9诱导的小鼠C3H10T1/2细胞的早晚期成骨分化,并对细胞的增殖与周期有一定的影响。     

Dpysl4 Is Involved in Tooth Germ Morphogenesis through Growth Regulation,Polarization and Differentiation of Dental Epithelial Cells

Dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 4 (Dpysl4) is a known regulator of hippocampal neuron development. Here, we report that Dpysl4 is involved in growth regulation, polarization and differentiation of dental epithelial cells during tooth germ morphogenesis. A reduction in Dpysl4 gene expression in the tooth germ produced a loss of ameloblasts, resulting in the decrease of synthesis and secretion of enamel. The inhibition of Dpysl4 gene expression led to promotion of cell proliferation of inner enamel epithelial cells and inhibition of the differentiation of these cells into pre-ameloblasts, which was confirmed by analyzing cell polarization, columnar cell structure formation and the expression of ameloblast marker genes. By contrast, overexpression of Dpysl4 in dental epithelial cells induces inhibition of growth and increases the expression of the inner enamel epithelial cell marker gene, Msx2. These findings suggest that Dpysl4 plays essential roles in tooth germ morphogenesis through the regulation of dental epithelial cell proliferation, cell polarization and differentiation.