Inhibition of GSK3β Stimulates BMP Signaling and Decreases SOST Expression Which Results in Enhanced Osteoblast Differentiation.

Both bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt signaling have significant roles in osteoblast differentiation and the interaction between BMP and Wnt signaling is well known. Sclerostin is an important inhibitor of bone formation, inhibiting Wnt signaling and downstream effects of BMP such as alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization in vitro. However, little is known about the effect of BMP and Wnt signaling interaction on the regulation of SOST, the gene encoding sclerostin.

Validation of a simple and fast method to quantify in vitro mineralization with fluorescent probes used in molecular imaging of bone.

Alizarin Red S staining is the standard method to indicate and quantify matrix mineralization during differentiation of osteoblast cultures. KS483 cells are multipotent mouse mesenchymal progenitor cells that can differentiate into chondrocytes, adipocytes and osteoblasts and are a well-characterized model for the study of bone formation. Matrix mineralization is the last step of differentiation of bone cells and is therefore a very important outcome measure in bone research.

First missense mutation in the SOST gene causing sclerosteosis by loss of sclerostin function.

Sclerosteosis is a rare bone dysplasia characterized by greatly increased bone mass, especially of the long bones and the skull. Patients are tall, show facial asymmetry and often have syndactyly. Clinical complications are due to entrapment of cranial nerves.