Rie Matsushima‑Nishiwaki

Resveratrol amplifies BMP‑4‑stimulated osteoprotegerin synthesis via p38 MAP kinase in osteoblasts

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol that possesses health‑related properties, and is predominantly found in grapes and berries. Bone morphogenetic protein‑4 (BMP‑4) stimulates osteocalcin synthesis via p38 mitogen‑activated protein (MAP) kinase in osteoblast‑like MC3T3‑E1 cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of resveratrol on BMP‑4‑induced osteoprotegerin (OPG) synthesis in MC3T3‑E1 cells. Resveratrol alone had no effect on OPG expression levels, but significantly enhanced BMP‑4‑induced OPG release. In addition, resveratrol markedly amplified the mRNA expression levels of BMP‑4‑induced OPG. SB203580 is an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, which was shown to suppress BMP‑4‑stimulated OPG release. BMP‑4‑induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase was also enhanced by resveratrol. Furthermore, SB203580 significantly reduced the resveratrol‑induced amplification of BMP‑4‑stimulated OPG release. These results suggested that resveratrol was able to upregulate BMP‑4‑stimulated OPG synthesis via the amplification of p38 MAP kinase activity in osteoblasts.

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate but not chlorogenic acid upregulates osteoprotegerin synthesis through regulation of bone morphogenetic protein-4 in osteoblasts

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a primary phenolic component of coffee and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a primary flavonoid component of green tea, both of which have been documented to possess beneficial health properties. A previous study by the present authors demonstrated that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) may be associated with osteoprotegerin synthesis stimulated by bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, the effects of CGA and EGCG on BMP-4-stimulated osteoprotegerin synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells were investigated. It was observed that CGA had no effect on osteoprotegerin release stimulated by BMP-4, whereas EGCG significantly enhanced BMP-4-stimulated osteoprotegerin release (P=0.003). Levels of osteoprotegerin mRNA expression induced by BMP-4 were also significantly increased by EGCG (P=0.03). By contrast, EGCG had no significant effect on phosphorylation of Smad1 or p38 MAPK induced by BMP-4. In addition, EGCG had little effect on BMP-induced phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase; however rapamycin, as an inhibitor of p70 S6 kinase, significantly suppressed osteoprotegerin release (P=0.007). These data suggest that EGCG but not CGA may upregulate the synthesis of osteoprotegerin induced by BMP-4 in osteoblasts.

Inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 augment endothelin‑1‑induced heat shock protein 27 through the SAPK/JNK signaling pathway in osteoblasts

It has been previously reported that endothelin‑1 (ET‑1) stimulates the induction of heat shock protein (HSP) 27 through the activation of p38 mitogen‑activated protein (MAP) kinase and stress‑activated protein kinase/c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) in osteoblast‑like MC3T3‑E1 cells. The present study investigated whether HSP90, a high‑molecular‑weight HSP, was implicated in the ET‑1‑stimulated HSP27 induction in MC3T3‑E1 cells. The effects of HSP90 inhibitors on the induction of HSP27 were examined. The HSP90 inhibitors geldanamycin and 17‑demethoxygeldanamycin (17‑DMAG) significantly amplified HSP27 induction stimulated by ET‑1 in a dose‑dependent manner. In addition, onalespib (another HSP90 inhibitor) significantly strengthened the ET‑1‑induced HSP27 protein levels. The ET‑1‑stimulated phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase was minimally affected by geldanamycin, 17‑DMAG or onalespib. Onalespib and 17‑DMAG significantly enhanced the ET‑1‑induced phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK. In addition, SP600125, a SAPK/JNK inhibitor, notably reduced the amplification by onalespib of ET‑1‑induced HSP27. These results suggest that HSP90 limits ET‑1‑stimulated HSP27 induction at a point upstream of SAPK/JNK in osteoblasts. These results suggest that HSP90 may be a novel clinical target for metabolic bone diseases, including osteoporosis.

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate but not chlorogenic acid suppresses EGF-stimulated migration of osteoblasts via attenuation of p38 MAPK activity

Phenolic compounds provide health benefits in humans. A previous study by our group has indicated that the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced migration of osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells is mediated by the phosphorylation of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAPK), p38 MAPK, stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and Akt, and that resveratrol, a major polyphenol in grape skin, suppresses the EGF-induced migration by attenuating Akt and SAPK/JNK activation. In the present study, the effects of chlorogenic acid, a major phenolic acid in coffee, and (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major flavonoid in green tea, on the EGF-induced migration of MC3T3-E1 cells were investigated. EGCG significantly reduced the EGF-induced migration as evaluated by a Transwell migration assay and by a wound healing assay. However, chlorogenic acid failed to affect the EGF-induced migration. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK induced by EGF was significantly suppressed by EGCG; however, the EGF-induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase, SAPK/JNK or Akt was not affected by EGCG. These results suggest that EGCG, but not chlorogenic acid, suppresses EGF-induced osteoblast migration through inhibiting p38 MAPK activation.

HSP90 limits thrombin‑stimulated IL‑6 synthesis in osteoblast‑like MC3T3‑E1 cells: Regulation of p38 MAPK

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), expressed abundantly in a variety of cell types, is a molecular chaperone, and has a central role in protein homeostasis under stress conditions. In our previous study, it was shown that thrombin stimulates interleukin‑6 (IL‑6) synthesis via p44/p42 mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p38 MAPK in osteoblast‑like MC3T3‑E1 cells, and that Rho‑kinase acts as a positive regulator at a point upstream of p38 MAPK, but not p44/p42 MAPK. The present study investigated whether or not HSP90 is involved in the thrombin‑stimulated synthesis of IL‑6 and examined the mechanism by which HSP90 is involved in MC3T3‑E1 cells. Cultured cells were stimulated by treatment with thrombin. IL‑6 concentrations in MC3T3‑E1 cells were determined using an ELISA assay, and levels of phosphorylated p38 MAPK, p44/p42 MAPK and myosin phosphatase targeting subunit, a substrate of Rho‑kinase; were analyzed by western blotting. The 17‑allylamino‑17demethoxy‑geldanamycin (17‑AAG) and 17‑dimethylamino‑ethylamino‑17‑demethoxy‑geldanamycin (17‑DMAG) HSP90 inhibitors significantly enhanced the thrombin‑stimulated release of IL‑6. Geldanamycin, another inhibitor of HSP90, also upregulated the release and mRNA expression of IL‑6. 17‑AAG and geldanamycin markedly potentiated the thrombin‑induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK without affecting the phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAPK or myosin phosphatase targeting subunit, a substrate of Rho‑kinase. Additionally, the enhancement by 17‑AAG of the thrombin‑stimulated release of IL‑6 was significantly reduced by SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK. These results suggested that the thrombin‑stimulated synthesis of IL‑6 was limited by HSP90 in osteoblasts, and that the effects of HSP90 were exerted at the point between Rho‑kinase and p38 MAPK.

Attenuation of prostaglandin E1‑induced osteoprotegerin synthesis in osteoblasts by normoxic HIF inducers

Mimosine, which is a natural plant amino acid present in the Leucaena genus, is able to induce hypoxia‑inducible factors (HIFs). Previous evidence has indicated that HIF regulates angiogenesis‑osteogenesis coupling in bone metabolism, and it has previously been reported that mimosine inhibits prostaglandin (PG)F2α‑induced osteoprotegerin (OPG) synthesis without affecting interleukin‑6 (IL‑6) production in osteoblast‑like MC3T3‑E1 cells. In addition, PGE1 has been demonstrated to induce OPG synthesis via activation of p38 mitogen‑activated protein (MAP) kinase and stress‑activated protein kinase/c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) in these cells, and PGE1 stimulates IL‑6 production via the activation of protein kinase A. In the present study, the effects of mimosine on the PGE1‑stimulated synthesis of OPG and IL‑6 were investigated in osteoblast‑like MC3T3‑E1 cells. The concentrations of OPG and IL‑6 were measured using relevant ELISA kits. OPG mRNA was measured by semi‑quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase and SAPK/JNK was analyzed by western blotting. Mimosine significantly reduced PGE1‑induced release of OPG and OPG mRNA expression levels without affecting the release of IL‑6. In addition, deferoxamine, which is also a normoxic HIF inducer, significantly inhibited PGE1‑induced OPG release and OPG mRNA expression levels; however, it had little effect on IL‑6 release. Furthermore, mimosine and deferoxamine failed to affect PGE1‑stimulated phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase or SAPK/JNK. These results strongly suggest that normoxic HIF inducers attenuate PGE1‑stimulated OPG synthesis without affecting IL‑6 production in osteoblasts.

Suppression by HSP90 inhibitors of BMP‑4‑stimulated osteoprotegerin synthesis in osteoblasts: Attenuation of p70 S6 kinase

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is an ATP‑dependent ubiquitous molecular chaperon which is important in cell homeostasis. The authors previously demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‑4 stimulates osteoprotegerin (OPG) production in osteoblast‑like MC3T3‑E1 cells, and that p70 S6 kinase positively regulates the OPG synthesis by BMP‑4. The present study investigated the involvement of HSP90 in the BMP‑4‑stimulated OPG synthesis and the mechanism in MC3T3‑E1 cells. HSP90 inhibitors, 17‑allylamino‑17demethoxy‑geldanamycin (17‑AAG), 17‑dimethylamino‑ethylamino‑17‑demethoxy‑geldanamycin (17‑DMAG) and geldanamycin significantly suppressed the BMP‑4‑stimulated OPG release. Geldanamycin markedly reduced the BMP‑4‑induced mRNA expression of OPG. 17‑AAG and 17‑DMAG significantly attenuated the phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase induced by BMP‑4 without affecting the BMP‑4‑induced phosphorylation of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 1/5. The results suggest that HSP90 inhibitors suppress the BMP‑4‑stimulated OPG synthesis in osteoblasts, and that their suppressive effects are exerted through downregulating p70 S6 kinase.