title: Expression and function of semaphorin 7A in bone cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sema-7A is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored semaphorin that was first identified in the immune system. It is a member of a large family of proteins involved in axon guidance signalling. Sema-7A is expressed in the myeloid and the lymphoid lineage and seems to be involved in cytokine expression and chemotaxy through its receptor Plexin C1. However, it can promote axon outgrowth, acting through a beta1 subunit-containing integrin receptor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, we have investigated its regulation and function in bone cells. Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR demonstrated that Sema-7A mRNA is present during all stages of osteoblast differentiation and maturation in mouse calvaria cells and in MC3T3 cell line in vitro. Its expression is also regulated during primary osteoclast differentiation in vitro. We report that Sema-7A is capable of increasing the migration of MC3T3 cells and that this process is mediated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in osteoblasts, probably through the integrin subunit beta1. Moreover, the addition of recombinant soluble Sema-7A to the culture enhances osteoclast fusion. These findings indicate for the first time the possible involvement of Sema-7A in bone cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire de la Cellule, ENS/CNRS 5161, IFR 128 Biosciences Lyon-Gerland, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69007 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delorme
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saltel
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonnelye
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jurdic
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Machuca-Gayet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C118753:SEMA7A protein, human; C485571:Sema7a protein, mouse; D039961:Semaphorins