title: Glucocorticoid induces apoptosis of osteoblast cells through the activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta.
abstract: Glucocorticoids (GCs), which play an important role in the normal regulation of bone remodeling, are widely used as anti-inflammatory and chemotherapeutic agents. However, continued exposure to GCs results in osteoporosis, which is partially due to apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes. To understand the mechanism of how GCs induce cell death in osteoblasts, we examined apoptotic effects of dexamethasone (Dex), GC, on MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells. Results revealed that Dex-induced apoptosis was inhibited by a GC receptor antagonist, mifepristone, and a general caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, indicating that Dex induces apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells through the pathways involved in GC receptor and caspase. Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) is known to participate in apoptosis signaling in MC3T3-E1 cells. Dex activated both GSK3beta and p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The inhibition of GSK3beta by inhibitor (LiCl) or small interference RNA (siRNA) decreased apoptosis. In contrast, the inhibition of p38-MAPK by inhibitor (SB203580) or siRNA did not decrease, but increase apoptosis. These results suggest that Dex-mediated apoptosis of osteoblasts is facilitated by GSK3beta, but prevented by p38-MAPK.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, San 5 Wonchon-Dong Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province 443-721, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Hyung-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Seon-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Yoon-Sok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000187:drug effects; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; C000605507:Gsk3b protein, mouse; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D020169:Caspases