Bone Morphogenetic Protein-9 Induces PDLSCs Osteogenic Differentiation through the ERK and p38 Signal Pathways

Guo Ye^1,2, Conghua Li^1,2, Xuerong Xiang^1,2, Chu Chen³, Ruyi Zhang³, Xia Yang^1,2, Xuesong Yu^1,2, Jinhua Wang^1,2, Lan Wang^1,2, Qiong Shi^3✉, Yaguang Weng^3✉

1. Chongqing key Laboratory for Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing 401147, China
2. The Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 401147, China
3. Department of Laboratory Medicine, M.O.E. Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine Diagnostics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.

✉ Corresponding author: Yaguang Weng, Department of Laboratory Medicine, M.O.E. Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine Diagnostics, Chongqing Medical University, 1#, Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, China. Tel: +86 023 68485239; Fax: +86 023 68485006; More

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Citation:
Ye G, Li C, Xiang X, Chen C, Zhang R, Yang X, Yu X, Wang J, Wang L, Shi Q, Weng Y. Bone Morphogenetic Protein-9 Induces PDLSCs Osteogenic Differentiation through the ERK and p38 Signal Pathways. Int J Med Sci 2014; 11(10):1065-1072. doi:10.7150/ijms.8473. Available from https://www.medsci.org/v11p1065.htm

Abstract

Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) with bone morphogenic ability are used to treat diseases such as periodontitis. Their treatment potential is increased when used in combination with proteins that induce osteogenic differentiation. For example, bone morphogenetic protein-9 (BMP9) has been found to have potent osteogenic activity. In the present study, PDLSCs were isolated from human periodontal membrane and infected with recombinant adenoviruses expressing BMP9 (Ad-BMP9). Levels of osteogenic markers such as runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin (OPN), and osteocalcin (OCN) as well as mineralization ability were measured. The results showed that BMP9 promoted bone formation of PDLSCs. In other experiments, SB203580 and PD98059, which are inhibitors of p38 and ERK1/2, respectively, were used to determine if these kinases are involved in the osteogenic differentiation process. The resulting protein expression profiles and osteogenic markers of PDLSCs revealed that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway might play an important role in the process of BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs.

Keywords: Periodontal ligament stem cells, BMP9, MAPK, Osteogenesis.