BACKGROUND Bone fracture is one of the most common physical injuries in which gene expression and the microenvironment are reprogramed to facilitate the recovery process. METHODS By specific siRNA transfection and MTT assay, we evaluated the effects of metastasis-associated gene 1 (MTA1) in osteoblast growth. To show the role of MTA1 in osteoblast under hypoxia conditions, by overexpressing a...

Rosuvastatin (RSV) is a synthetic statin with favourable pharmacologic properties including minimal metabolism, hepatic selectivity and enhanced inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. An induction of osteoblast differentiation has been reported in vitro with lipophilic statins but not with RSV, which, like pravastatin, is relatively hydrophilic compared with other statins. To mediate its action, an a...

Pluripotent stem cells are a promising tool for mechanistic studies of tissue development, drug screening, and cell-based therapies. Here, we report an effective and mass-producing strategy for the stepwise differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and mouse and human induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs and hiPSCs, respectively) into osteoblasts using four small molecules (CHIR99...

Osteoblasts and adipocytes may develop from common bone marrow mesenchymal precursors. Transgenic mice overexpressing DeltaFosB, an AP-1 transcription factor, under the control of the neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter show both markedly increased bone formation and decreased adipogenesis. To determine whether the two phenotypes were linked, we targeted overexpression of DeltaFosB in mice t...

Pigment epithelial-derived factor (PEDF) is known as a widely expressed multifunctional secreted glycoprotein whose biological actions are cell-type dependent. Recent studies demonstrated that PEDF displays cytoprotective activity in several cell types. However, it remains unknown whether PEDF is involved in glucocorticoid-induced osteoblast death. The aim of this study was to examine the role ...

Bone formation is indirectly influenced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) through the stimulation of calcium uptake in the intestine and re-absorption in the kidneys. Direct effects on osteoblasts and bone formation have also been established. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed in osteoblasts and 1,25D3 modifies gene expression of various osteoblast differentiation and mineralization-...

Decreased bone formation contributes to the development of bone lesions in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. In this study, we have investigated the effects of myeloma cells on osteoblast formation and differentiation and the potential role of the critical osteoblast transcription factor RUNX2/CBFA1 (Runt-related transcription factor 2/core-binding factor Runt domain alpha subunit 1) in the inhib...

The complex pathogenesis of mineralization defects seen in inherited and/or acquired hypophosphatemic disorders suggests that local inorganic phosphate (P(i)) regulation by osteoblasts may be a rate-limiting step in physiological bone mineralization. To test whether an osteoblast autonomous phosphate regulatory system regulates mineralization, we manipulated well-established in vivo and in vitr...

Although both osteoblasts and adipocytes have a common origin, i.e., mesenchymal cells, the molecular mechanisms that define the direction of two different lineages are presently unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of a transcription factor, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta), and its isoform in the regulation of balance between osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation...

Physical exercise is able to improve skeletal health. However, the mechanisms are poorly known. Irisin, a novel exercise-induced myokine, secreted by skeletal muscle in response to exercise, have been shown to mediate beneficial effects of exercise in many disorders. In the current study, we demonstrated that irisin promotes osteoblast proliferation, and increases the expression of osteoblastic...