title: Combination of Runx2 and BMP2 increases conversion of human ligamentum flavum cells into osteoblastic cells.
abstract: The conversion of fibroblasts into osteoblasts requires the activation of key signaling pathways, including the BMP pathway. Although Runx2 is known to be a component of the BMP pathway, the combination of Runx2 and BMP2 has not yet been examined with respect to the conversion of fibroblasts into osteoblasts. Here, human ligamentum flavum (LF) fibroblast- like cells from six patients were tested for their conversion into osteoblasts using adenoviruses expressing Runx2 or BMP2. The forced expression of Runx2 or BMP2 in primary cultured LF cells resulted in a variety of proliferation and differentiation behaviors. Combined treatment of BMP2 plus Runx2 resulted in better osteoblastic differentiation than treatment with either component alone. These results indicate that the Runx2 and BMP2 pathways possess both common and independent target genes. Collectively, Runx2 plus BMP2 mediated efficient conversion of fibroblast-like LF cells into osteoblast- like cells, suggesting the possible use of these components for clinical applications such as spinal fusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CMRI, Skeletal Diseases Genome Research Center, WCU Program, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Nam
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woo-Kie
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Jae-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Seong-Gon
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Ryong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shin-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Je-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Byung-Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010012:Osteogenesis; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; C525718:BMP2 protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; C493709:RUNX2 protein, human; C010078:alizarin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase