BMP3 expression by osteoblast lineage cells is regulated by canonical Wnt signaling

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and canonical Wnt (cWnt) signaling factors are both known to regulate bone mass, fracture risk, fracture repair, and osteoblastogenesis. BMP3 is the most abundant BMP and negatively regulates osteoblastogenesis and bone mass. Thus, identifying the mechanism by which BMP3 acts to depress bone formation may allow for the development of new therapeutics useful in the treatment for osteopenia and osteoporosis. Here, we report that cWnt signaling stimulates BMP3 expression in osteoblast (OB) lineage cells. The expression of BMP3 increases with OB differentiation. Treatment of cells with various cWnt proteins stimulated BMP3 expression. Mice with enhanced cWnt signaling had high expression levels of BMP3. Our data suggest that reduction in BMP3 levels may contribute beneficially to the positive effect of cWnt agonists on bone mass.