title: Effects of compressive force on the differentiation of pluripotent mesenchymal cells.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mechanical stress on the differentiation of the pluripotent mesenchymal cell line C2C12. C2C12 cells were cultured continuously under compressive force (0.25-2.0 g/cm(2)). After mechanical stress loading, the levels of expression of mRNAs and proteins for phenotype-specific markers of osteoblasts (Runx2, Msx2, Dlx5, Osterix, AJ18), chondroblasts (Sox5, Sox9), myoblasts (MyoD), and adipocytes (PPAR gamma) were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis and Western blot analysis, respectively. The expression of activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) was measured by Western blotting and/or ELISA. Loading 0.5 g/cm(2) of compressive force significantly increased the expression levels of Runx2, Msx2, Dlx5, Osterix, Sox5, and Sox9. In contrast, the expression levels of AJ18, MyoD, and PPAR gamma were decreased by exposure to 0.5 g/cm(2) of compressive force. Loading 0.5 g/cm(2) of compressive force also induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. SB203580, which is a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, inhibited the compressive force-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and partially blocked compressive force-induced Runx2 mRNA expression. These results demonstrate that compressive force stimulation directs the differentiation pathway of C2C12 cells into the osteoblast and chondroblast lineage via activated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Momoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yanagisawa
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Narihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mitsui
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Kichibee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Noriyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases