title: Connective tissue growth factor in regulation of RhoA mediated cytoskeletal tension associated osteogenesis of mouse adipose-derived stromal cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytoskeletal tension is an intracellular mechanism through which cells convert a mechanical signal into a biochemical response, including production of cytokines and activation of various signaling pathways.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) were allowed to spread into large cells by seeding them at a low-density (1,250 cells/cm(2)), which was observed to induce osteogenesis. Conversely, ASCs seeded at a high-density (25,000 cells/cm(2)) featured small cells that promoted adipogenesis. RhoA and actin filaments were altered by changes in cell size. Blocking actin polymerization by Cytochalasin D influenced cytoskeletal tension and differentiation of ASCs. To understand the potential regulatory mechanisms leading to actin cytoskeletal tension, cDNA microarray was performed on large and small ASCs. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was identified as a major regulator of osteogenesis associated with RhoA mediated cytoskeletal tension. Subsequently, knock-down of CTGF by siRNA in ASCs inhibited this osteogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that CTGF is important in the regulation of cytoskeletal tension mediated ASC osteogenic differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Hagey Pediatric Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Diane R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bekerman
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Aaron W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Longaker
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015638:Cytochalasin D / Q000494:pharmacology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010012:Osteogenesis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D015638:Cytochalasin D; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein