TGF-β regulates β-catenin signaling and osteoblast differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells

Human adult bone marrow-derived skeletal stem cells a.k.a mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been shown to be precursors of several different cellular lineages, including osteoblast, chondrocyte, myoblast, adipocyte, and fibroblast. Several studies have shown that cooperation between transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways plays a role in controlling certain developmental events and diseases. Our previous data showed that agents like TGF-β, cooperation with Wnt signaling, promote chondrocyte differentiation at the expense of adipocyte differentiation in hMSCs. In this study, we tested mechanisms by which TGF-β activation of β-catenin signaling pathway and whether these pathways interact during osteoblast differentiation of hMSCs. With selective small chemical kinase inhibitors, we demonstrated that TGF-β1 requires TGF-β type I receptor ALK-5, Smad3, phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K), and protein kinase A (PKA) to stabilize β-catenin, and needs ALK-5, PKA, and JNK to inhibit osteoblastogenesis in hMSCs. Knockdown of β-catenin with siRNA stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity and antagonized the inhibitory effects of TGF-β1 on bone sialoprotein (BSP) expression, suggested that TGF-β1 cooperated with β-catenin signaling in inhibitory of osteoblastogenesis in hMSCs. In summary, TGF-β1 activates β-catenin signaling pathway via ALK-5, Smad3, PKA, and PI3K pathways, and modulates osteoblastogenesis via ALK5, PKA, and JNK pathways in hMSCs; the interaction between TGF-β and β-catenin signaling supports the view that β-catenin signaling is a mediator of TGF-β's effects on osteoblast differentiation of hMSCs.     

BMP2具有诱导C3H10T1/2细胞成脂肪分化的能力

探讨骨形态发生蛋白2（BMP2）诱导鼠胚胎间充质干细胞C3H10T1/2成脂肪分化能力,为临床脂肪代谢疾病的治疗提供理论基础．培养多潜能的间充质干细胞C3H10T1/2,用20 μg/ml BMP2对其诱导一定时间后,RT-PCR检测是否存在BMP信号通路中关键分子BMP受体BMPR I, BMPR Ⅱ及Smad 1/5/8的表达.Western印迹检测Smad 蛋白及MAPK 信号通路中p38磷酸化水平变化,QRT PCR检测成脂肪标志基因aP2以及成脂肪相关转录因子PPARγ,C/EBPα,C/EBPβ表达水平,同时用油红O染色,观测C3H10T1/2细胞成脂肪分化情况．经BMP2诱导后,C3H10T1/2细胞成脂肪分化标志(油红O染色)显著增加,Smad 蛋白及p38磷酸化水平有所上升,同时成脂肪标志基因aP2以及成脂肪相关转录因子PPARγ,C/EBPα,C/EBPβ表达水平各有一定程度提高．BMP2具有诱导C3H10T1/2细胞成脂肪分化能力,其成脂肪分化呈现对BMP2作用的时间依赖性．     

C／EBPβ作为LIF的中介维持小鼠胚干细胞于未分化状态

C／EBPβ（CCAAT／增强子结合蛋白β,又称NF—IL6）是一个多功能的转录因子,其主要功能之一是促进细胞分化。白血病抑制因子（LIF）是一个细胞因子．其在不同类型的细胞中具有不同的效应：它诱导前脂肪细胞分化,却抑制小鼠胚多能干细胞（mES）的分化。在mES中,C／EBPβ究竟起什么作用．尚未有报道。本文首次报告在mES中。在LIF蛋白存在下,C／EBPβ的作用是维持mES的未分化状态．即C／EBPβ是LIF的调控对象。主要事实如下。在mES细胞中．内源C／EBPβ蛋白的表达量与加到培养基中的LIF蛋白的量呈正相关。而在未分化的mES细胞中人工高表达的外源C／EBPβ蛋白和其截短形式LIP蛋白。在LIF存在下．也不但不促进反而抑制mES细胞分化,C／EBPβ的大分子异型蛋白还显著促进mES细胞的增殖：而且,在LIF去除后,这种促进mES细胞增殖的效应还能持续一段短时间。当LIF不存在时。C／EBPβ和LIP才如所预期的那样．诱导分化相关基因表达并促进细胞分化。C／EBPβ和LIP所调控的某些分化相关的基因的表达水平．当LIF存在时．也比没有LIF时显著降低。因此,在mES细胞中C／EBPβ是受LIF的调控而作为LIF的中介．维持mES于未分化状态。     

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.