Continuous inhibition of MAPK signaling promotes the early osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of the extracellular matrix

J Bone Miner Res. 2002 Oct;17(10):1785-94. doi: 10.1359/jbmr.2002.17.10.1785.

Abstract

We screened the small molecule compounds that stimulate osteogenesis by themselves or promote bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-induced bone formation. We found that a specific inhibitor for MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK)-1, promoted the early osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of extracellular matrix (ECM) in C2Cl2 pluripotent mesenchymal cells treated with recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) and MC3T3-E1 preosteoblastic cells. ALP activity was synergistically increased by the treatment with a specific MEK-1 inhibitor PD98059 and rhBMP-2 in both cell lines. Twenty-five micromolar PD98059 promoted mineralization of ECM in rhBMP-2-treated C2Cl2 cells and MC3T3-E1 cells. In contrast, PD98059 reduced osteocalcin (OCN) secretion and its transcriptional level in rhBMP-2-treated C2Cl2 cells but increased its secretion and mRNA level in MC3T3-E1 cells. Stable expression of a dominant-negative MEK-1 mutant in C2Cl2 cells represented high ALP activity and low osteocalcin production in the presence of rhBMP-2, while a constitutively active mutant of MEK-1 attenuated both of them. Together, our results indicated that BMP-2-induced mineralization of ECM of pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells and preosteoblastic cells could be controlled by a fine tuning of the MAPK signaling pathway. Further, MEK-1 inhibitors would be useful for the promotion of bone formation, for instance, the treatments for delayed fracture healing or advance of localized osteoporotic change after fracture healing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Line / drug effects
  • Cell Line / metabolism
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Extracellular Matrix / drug effects*
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology*
  • Mesoderm / cytology
  • Mice
  • Minerals / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / physiology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / physiology
  • Osteoblasts / cytology
  • Osteoblasts / drug effects*
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Osteocalcin / biosynthesis
  • Osteocalcin / drug effects
  • Osteocalcin / metabolism
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / physiology
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta*
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Substances

  • BMP2 protein, human
  • Bmp2 protein, mouse
  • Bmp2 protein, rat
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Flavonoids
  • Minerals
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2
  • Osteocalcin
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1
  • MAP2K1 protein, human
  • Map2k1 protein, mouse
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • 2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one