Differential roles for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor type IB and IA in differentiation and specification of mesenchymal precursor cells to osteoblast and adipocyte lineages.
Cumulative evidence indicates that osteoblasts and adipocytes share a common mesenchymal precursor and that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) can induce both osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation of this precursor. In the present study, we investigated the roles of BMP receptors in differentiation along these separate lineages using a well-characterized clonal cell line, 2T3, derived from the mouse calvariae. BMP-2 induced 2T3 cells to differentiate into mature osteoblasts or adipocytes depending upon culture conditions. To test the specific roles of the type IA and IB BMP receptor components, truncated and constitutively active type IA and IB BMP receptor cDNAs were stably expressed in these cells. Overexpression of truncated type IB BMP receptor (trBMPR-IB) in 2T3 cells completely blocked BMP-2-induced osteoblast differentiation and mineralized bone matrix formation. Expression of trBMPR-IB also blocked mRNA expression of the osteoblast specific transcription factor, Osf2/ Cbfa1, and the osteoblast differentiation-related genes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OC). BMP-2-induced ALP activity could be rescued by transfection of wild-type (wt) BMPR-IB into 2T3 clones containing trBMPR-IB. Expression of a constitutively active BMPR-IB (caBMPR-IB) induced formation of mineralized bone matrix by 2T3 cells without addition of BMP-2. In contrast, overexpression of trBMPR-IA blocked adipocyte differentiation and expression of caBMPR-IA induced adipocyte formation in 2T3 cells. Expression of the adipocyte differentiation-related genes, adipsin and PPARgamma, correlated with the distinct phenotypic changes found after overexpression of the appropriate mutant receptors. These results demonstrate that type IB and IA BMP receptors transmit different signals to bone-derived mesenchymal progenitors and play critical roles in both the specification and differentiation of osteoblasts and adipocytes.
Chen
D
D
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78284, USA.
Ji
X
X
Harris
M A
MA
Feng
J Q
JQ
Karsenty
G
G
Celeste
A J
AJ
Rosen
V
V
Mundy
G R
GR
Harris
S E
SE
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D052004:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D019070:Cell Lineage; D011416:Complement Factor D; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D015870:Gene Expression; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
C525719:Bmp2 protein, mouse; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D015675:Osteocalcin; D052004:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D011416:Complement Factor D; C493491:complement factor D, mouse; D007213:Indomethacin