In this study, we examine the role of the gap junction protein, connexin43 (Cx43), in the transcriptional response of osteocalcin to fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in MC3T3 osteoblasts. By luciferase reporter assays, we identify that the osteocalcin transcriptional response to FGF2 is markedly increased by overexpression of Cx43, an effect that is mediated by Runx2 via its OSE2 cognate element, but not by a previously identified connexin-responsive Sp1/Sp3-binding element. Furthermore, disruption of Cx43 function with Cx43 siRNAs or overexpression of connexin45 markedly attenuates the response to FGF2. Inhibition of protein kinase C delta (PKC␦) with rottlerin or siRNA-mediated knockdown abrogates the osteocalcin response to FGF2. Additionally, we show that upon treatment with FGF2, PKC␦ translocates to the nucleus, PKC␦ and Runx2 are phosphorylated and these events are enhanced by Cx43 overexpression, suggesting that the degree of activation is enhanced by increased Cx43 levels. Indeed, chromatin immunoprecipitations of the osteocalcin proximal promoter with antibodies against Runx2 demonstrate that the recruitment of Runx2 to the osteocalcin promoter in response to FGF2 treatment is dramatically enhanced by Cx43 overexpression. Thus, Cx43 plays a critical role in regulating the ability of osteoblasts to respond to FGF2 by impacting PKC␦ and Runx2 function. INTRODUCTIONBone formation and remodeling is a tightly organized and dynamic process that requires the coordinated action of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts to maintain bone homeostasis. It is hypothesized that osteoblasts and osteocytes coordinate their activities, at least in part, through direct cell-to-cell communication through gap junctions. Gap junctions are composed of connexins, a family of transmembrane proteins that constitute the intercellular gap junction channels (Beyer et al., 1990). Six connexins assemble to make up the gap junction hemichannel on the plasma membrane of one cell, which docks with a hemichannel on an adjacent cell to form an aqueous gap junction channel. The resultant gap junctions provide direct conduits for the passage of ions and other low molecular weight molecules, including second messengers, among cells.The gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) is abundantly expressed in both osteoblasts and osteocytes, where it has been hypothesized to transmit hormonal signals, mechanical load, and growth factor cues among cells in order to coordinate the synthesis of new bone (reviewed in Stains and Civitelli, 2005a;Jiang et al., 2007). Genetic ablation of gja1, the gene encoding Cx43, in mice leads to a severe delay in the ossification of both intramembranous and endochondral derived skeletal elements during embryonic development (Lecanda et al., 2000). The bones of these animals are remarkably brittle, and the osteoblasts isolated from the Cx43 null animals are dysfunctional, with reduced osteogenic and mineralizing capacity (Lecanda et al., 2000). These Cx43-deficient mice die at birth because of a defect in cardiac f...

Background: HMGA2 expression has been shown to be associated with enhanced selective chemosensitivity towards the topoisomerase (topo) II inhibitor, doxorubicin, in cancer cells. Although the roles of signaling cascades and proteins as regulatory factors in development, neoplasia and adaptation to the environment are becoming well established, evidence for the involvement of regulatory small RNA molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) as important regulators of both transcriptional and posttranscriptional gene silencing is presently mounting.

The gap junction protein, connexin43 (Cx43), plays an important role in skeletal biology. Previously, we have shown that Cx43 can enhance the signaling and transcriptional response to fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in osteoblasts by increasing protein kinase C-␦ (PKC␦) activation to affect Runx2 activity. In the present study, we show by luciferase reporter assays that the ERK signaling cascade acts in parallel to PKC␦ to modulate Runx2 activity downstream of the Cx43-dependent amplification of FGF2 signaling. The PKC␦-independent activation of ERK by FGF2 was confirmed by Western blotting, as was the Cx43-dependent enhancement of ERK activation. Consistent with our prior observations for PKC␦, flow cytometry analyses show that Cx43 overexpression enhances the percentage of phospho-ERK-positive cells in response to FGF2, supporting the notion that shared signals among gap junction-coupled cells result in the enhanced response to FGF2. Western blots and luciferase reporter assays performed on osteoblasts cultured under low-density and high-density conditions revealed that cell-cell contacts are required for Cx43 to amplify ERK activation and gene transcription. Similarly, inhibition of gap junctional communication with the channel blocker 18␤-glycyrrhetinic acid attenuates the Cx43-dependent enhancement of Runx2-transcriptional activity. In total, these data underscore the importance of cell-cell communication and activation of the ERK and PKC␦ pathways in the coordination of the osteoblast response to FGF2 among populations of osteoblasts. gap junctions; osteoblast; signal transduction; fibroblast growth factor; protein kinase C THE GAP JUNCTION PROTEIN connexin43 (Cx43) is abundantly expressed in osteoblasts and osteocytes and has been shown to be fundamentally important to skeletal function (5,22,41). Mutations in Gja1, the gene encoding Cx43, cause the pleiotropic disorder oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) (35, 36), which has several skeletal manifestations. While the bone mass phenotype of patients with ODDD has not been reported, two mouse models of ODDD have markedly reduced bone mass (7,9). Similarly, genetic ablation of Cx43 in mouse models leads to delayed ossification, markedly reduced peak bone mass, insensitivity to osteoanabolic interventions, such as intermittent parathyroid hormone administration and mechanical load, and a generalized reduction in osteoblast differentiation and mineralizing capacity (4,15,27,48). Conversely, overexpression of Cx43 in cultured osteoblasts enhances osteogenic capacity and responsiveness to extracellular cues (14,26,28,39), suggesting that the degree of Cx43 expression regulates the full elaboration of the osteoblast phenotype. In addition, Cx43 has been implicated in the mechanosensing and signaling by osteocytes in vitro (3,12,19,37,40,45,49). Despite the relevance of Cx43 to bone, the complex molecular mechanisms by which Cx43 regulates skeletal function and osteoblast/ osteocyte biology are only beginning to emerge.Previously, we have shown that modulation of...

In skeletal tissue, loss or mutation of the gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43, also known as GJA1) in cells of the osteoblast lineage leads to a profound cortical bone phenotype and defective tissue remodeling. There is mounting evidence in bone cells that the C-terminus (CT) of Cx43 is a docking platform for signaling effectors and is required for efficient downstream signaling. Here, we examined this function, using a mouse model of Cx43 CT-truncation (Gja1 K258Stop). Relative to Gja1 +/− controls, male Gja1 −/K258Stop mice have a cortical bone phenotype that is remarkably similar to those reported for deletion of the entire Cx43 gene in osteoblasts. Furthermore, we show that the Cx43 CT binds several signaling proteins that are required for optimal osteoblast function, including PKCδ, ERK1 and ERK2 (ERK1/2, also known as MAPK3 and MAPK1, respectively) and β-catenin. Deletion of the Cx43 CT domain affects these signaling cascades, impacting osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and collagen processing and organization. These data imply that, at least in bone, Cx43 gap junctions not only exchange signals, but also recruit the appropriate effector molecules to the Cx43 CT in order to efficiently activate signaling cascades that affect cell function and bone acquisition.