title: Baicalein stimulates osteoblast differentiation via coordinating activation of MAP kinases and transcription factors.
abstract: The identification of anabolic agents that directly stimulate bone formation has recently attracted greater interest. Here, baicalein was identified as a natural compound that stimulates the differentiation of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 subclone 4 cells. Baicalein induced the activation of NF-kappaB in the initiation stage of osteoblast differentiation, and it activated the MAP kinase/NF-kappaB signaling pathway and induced the expression of osteoblast differentiation markers in the early stage. In the late stage, baicalein stimulated the calcium deposition with the activation of MAP kinases and AP-1 family members such as Fra-1 and Fra-2. Another transcription factor, NFATc1, was slightly induced by baicalein in the late stage. Thus, baicalein could stimulate the osteoblast differentiation via the activation of complexly coordinated signaling pathways that include MAP kinases and transcription factors such as NF-kappaB, AP-1, and NFATc1.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Center for Drug Discovery Technologies, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Su-Ui
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Sup
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Ki
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Seong Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D044950:Flavanones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D044950:Flavanones; D016328:NF-kappa B; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C006680:baicalein; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase