BMP2 induces chondrogenic differentiation, osteogenic differentiation and endochondral ossification in stem cells.

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) super-family, is one of the main chondrogenic growth factors involved in cartilage regeneration. BMP2 is known to induce chondrogenic differentiation in various types of stem cells in vitro. However, BMP2 also induces osteogenic differentiation and endochondral ossification in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Downregulation of RSK2 influences the biological activities of human osteosarcoma cells through inactivating AKT/mTOR signaling pathways.

RSK2 (90 kDa ribosomal S6 kinase) is a downstream effector of the Ras/ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) signaling pathway that has major functions in cell biological activities, including regulating nuclear signaling, cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, cell growth, protein synthesis, cell migration and cell survival, and is expressed in most types of human malignant tumors, including lung cancer, prostate and breast tumors, skin cancer and osteosarcomas (OS). RSK2 was found to be essential for osteosarcoma formation. To investigate whether RSK2 is expressed at high levels in human osteosarcome tissues and whether its expression is correlated with the aggressive biological behavior of osteosarcoma cell line (OCLs), we assessed the association between RSK2 expression and OS cell progression, as well as the effects of RSK2 inhibition on the biological activities of osteosarcoma cells.

SIRT1 alleviates senescence of degenerative human intervertebral disc cartilage endo-plate cells via the p53/p21 pathway.

Cartilage end plates (CEP) degeneration plays an integral role in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration resulting from nutrient diffusion disorders. Although cell senescence resulting from oxidative stress is known to contribute to degeneration, no studies concerning the role of senescence in CEP degeneration have been conducted. SIRT1 is a longevity gene that plays a pivotal role in many cellular functions, including cell senescence.

Dickkopf-1 is involved in BMP9-induced osteoblast differentiation of C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) is a potent inducer of osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. The Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1) is involved in skeletal development and bone remodeling. Here, we investigated the role of Dkk1 in BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Adenovirus‑mediated overexpression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator enhances invasiveness and motility of serous ovarian cancer cells.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) belongs to the adenosine triphosphate‑binding cassette transporter family, members of which are involved in several types of cancer. Previous studies by our group reported that CFTR was highly expressed in serous ovarian cancer (SOC) tissues, and that knockdown of CFTR suppressed the proliferation of ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the aim of the present study was to construct a recombinant adenoviral vector for the expression of the human CFTR gene in order to study the role of CFTR overexpression in the malignant invasion and migration of SOC cells in vitro.

HIF-1α as a Regulator of BMP2-Induced Chondrogenic Differentiation, Osteogenic Differentiation, and Endochondral Ossification in Stem Cells.

Background/aims: Joint cartilage defects are difficult to treat due to the limited self-repair capacities of cartilage. Cartilage tissue engineering based on stem cells and gene enhancement is a potential alternative for cartilage repair. Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) has been shown to induce chondrogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs); however, maintaining the phenotypes of MSCs during cartilage repair since differentiation occurs along the endochondral ossification pathway.

SIRT1 protects against apoptosis by promoting autophagy in degenerative human disc nucleus pulposus cells.

SIRT1 could protect degenerative human NP cells against apoptosis, and there were extensive and intimate connection between apoptosis and autophagy. Up to now, the role of autophagy in the process of human IVD degeneration is unclear. We sought to explore the relationship between autophagy and human IVD degeneration and to understand whether autophagy is involved in the protective effect of SIRT1 against apoptosis in NP cells.

[Co-expression of BMP2 and Sox9 promotes chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effect of co-expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and Sox9 on chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro and provide experimental evidence for tissue engineering of cartilage.

Methods: Mouse embryonic bone marrow MSC C3H10T1/2 cells were infected with recombinant adenovirus expressing BMP2, Sox9 and green fluorescent protein (GFP) for 3-14 days, with cells infected with the adenovirus carrying GFP gene as the control. The mRNA expression of the markers of chondrogenic differentiation, including collagen type II (Col2a1), aggrecan (ACAN), and collagen type X (Col10a1), were determined by real-time PCR.

Sox9 potentiates BMP2-induced chondrogenic differentiation and inhibits BMP2-induced osteogenic differentiation.

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is one of the key chondrogenic growth factors involved in the cartilage regeneration. However, it also exhibits osteogenic abilities and triggers endochondral ossification. Effective chondrogenesis and inhibition of BMP2-induced osteogenesis and endochondral ossification can be achieved by directing the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) towards chondrocyte lineage with chodrogenic factors, such as Sox9.

[Effect of titanium particles and TNF-alpha on the gene expression and activity of MMP-1, 2, 3 in human knee joint synovial cells].

This paper is aimed to investigate the effect of titanium (Ti) particles and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) on the expressions of MMP-1, 2, 3 in human synovial cells, so as to explore the possible mechanism of osteolysis post-operation of metal-on-metal total joint arthroplasty in human synovial cells induced by Ti particles. In vitro cell cultures, human synovial cells were treated by Ti particles and/or TNF-alpha. The total RNA was isolated at 2 hours after the treatment.

Wnt3a enhances bone morphogenetic protein 9-induced osteogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells.

Background: Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways are able to induce osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), but the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation is not well understood. Thus, our experiment was undertaken to investigate the interaction between BMP9 and Wnt/β-catenin pathway in inducing osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Methods: C3H10T1/2 cells were infected with recombinant adenovirus expressing BMP9, Wnt3a, and BMP9+Wnt3a.