title: Mechanical stress-mediated Runx2 activation is dependent on Ras/ERK1/2 MAPK signaling in osteoblasts.
abstract: The sequence of biochemical events involved in mechanical stress-induced signaling in osteoblastic cells remains unclear. Runx2, a transcription factor involved in the control of osteoblast differentiation, has been identified as a target of mechanical stress-induced signaling in osteoblastic cells. In this study, uniaxial sinusoidal stretching (15% strain, 115% peak-to-peak, at 1/12 Hz) stimulated the differentiation of osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells and rat primary osteoblastic cells by activating Runx2. We examined the involvement of diverse mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in the activation of Runx2 during mechanical stress. Mechanical stress increased alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker of osteoblast differentiation, increased the expression of the osteoblast-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) protein osteocalcin, and induced Runx2 activation, along with increased osterix expression. Furthermore, activation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPKs increased significantly. U0126, a selective inhibitor of ERK1/2, completely blocked Runx2 activation during periods of mechanical stress, but the p38 MAPK-selective inhibitor SB203580 did not alter nuclear phosphorylation of Runx2. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Rous sarcoma kinase (RAS), an upstream regulator of both ERK1/2 and p38 MAPKs, inhibited stretch-induced ERK1/2 activation, but not mechanically induced p38 MAPK activity. Furthermore, mechanically induced Runx2 activation was inhibited by Ras depletion, using siRNA. These findings indicate that mechanical stress regulates Runx2 activation and favors osteoblast differentiation through the activation of MAPK signal transduction pathways and Ras/Raf-dependent ERK1/2 activation, independent of p38 MAPK signaling.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Science of Physical Functions, Kyushu Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujisawa
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ariyoshi
authors.forename: Tatsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishihara
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C493716:Runx2 protein, mouse; C493717:Runx2 protein, rat; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D018631:ras Proteins