Mechanical stress is known to alter bone mass and the loss of force stimuli leads to reduction of bone mass. However, molecules involved in this phenomenon are incompletely understood. As mechanical force would affect signaling events in cells, we focused on a calcium channel, TRPV4 regarding its role in the effects of force stimuli on calcium in osteoblasts. TRPV4 expression levels were enhanced upon differentiation of osteoblasts in culture. We found that BMP-2 treatment enhanced TRPV4 gene expression in a dose dependent manner. BMP-2 effects on TRPV4 expression were suppressed by inhibitors for transcription and new protein synthesis. In these osteoblasts, a TRPV4-selective agonist, 4α-PDD, enhanced calcium signaling and the effects of 4α-PDD were enhanced in differentiated osteoblasts compared to the control cells. Fluid flow, as a mechanical stimulation, induced intracellular calcium oscillation in wild type osteoblasts. In contrast, TRPV4 deficiency suppressed calcium oscillation significantly even when the cells were subjected to fluid flow. These data suggest that TRPV4 is involved in the flow-induced calcium signaling in osteoblasts.
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