title: Erk1/2 signaling is required for Tgf-beta 2-induced suture closure.
abstract: Transforming growth factors beta (Tgf-betas) act by means of Smad signaling pathways and may also interact with the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The hypothesis was tested that Erk1/2 signaling is required for Tgf-beta2-induced suture closure, by culturing embryonic mouse calvariae in the presence of Tgf-beta2 with or without Erk1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (PD). Suture widths were measured daily, and microdissected sutures and bones were homogenized and protein analyzed by Western blots. Tgf-beta2 induced narrowing of the sutures after 72 hr, an effect inhibited by treatment with PD. Erk1/2 and Egf but not Smad2/3 protein expression was up-regulated by Tgf-beta2 calvarial tissues at 72 hr. PD inhibited endogenous and Tgf-beta2-stimulated Erk1/2 protein as well as Tgf-beta2-stimulated Egf, but increased Smad2/3 protein expression. In tissues harvested 0, 15, and 30 min after exposure to Tgf-beta2, Erk1/2 phosphorylation was up-regulated after 15 min, an effect abrogated by the simultaneous addition of PD. In summary, Tgf-beta2 stimulated Erk1/2 phosphorylation and induced Egf and Erk1/2 expression, associated with suture closure after 72 hr. Blocking Erk1/2 activity with PD inhibited these effects but increased Smad2/3 expression. We postulate that Tgf-beta2 regulates suture closure directly by means of phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and indirectly by up-regulating Erk1/2, a substrate for Fgf receptor signaling required for Fgf induction of premature suture obliteration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Dallas, Texas 75266-0677, USA. lopperman@bcd.tamhsc.edu
authors.forename: Lynne A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Opperman
authors.forename: Claudia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Joseph T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Rawlins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one