title: MAPK/ERK Signaling Pathway Analysis in Primary Osteoblasts From Patients With Nonsyndromic Sagittal Craniosynostosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The MAPK/ERK signaling pathway has been implicated in several craniosynostosis syndromes and represents a plausible target for therapeutic management of craniosynostosis. The causes of sagittal nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (sNSC) have not been well understood and the role that MAPK/ERK signaling cascade plays in this condition warrants an investigation. We hypothesized that MAPK-signaling is misregulated in calvarial osteoblasts derived from patients with sNSC.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to analyze if the MAPK/ERK pathway is perturbed in sNSC, we established primary calvarial osteoblast cell lines from patients undergoing surgery for correction of this congenital anomaly. Appropriate negative and positive control cell lines were used for comparison, and we examined the levels of phosphorylated ERK by immunoblotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary osteoblasts from patients with sNSC showed no difference in ERK1/2 phosphorylation with or without FGF2 stimulation as compared with control osteoblasts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under the described test conditions, we did not observe convincing evidence that MAPK/ERK signaling contributes to the development of sNSC.
authors.forename: Sun-Don
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Garima
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yagnik
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Jinoh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Simeon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Boyadjiev
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D048728:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012886:Skull / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D048728:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1