Osterix (Osx) is an osteoblast-specific transcription factor required for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Osx knock-out mice lack bone completely. Recent findings that Osx inhibits Wnt signaling provide a feedback control mechanism involved in bone formation. Mechanisms of Osx inhibition on Wnt signaling are not fully understood. Our results in this study revealed that the expression of a Wnt antagonist Sclerostin (Sost) was downregulated in Osx-null calvaria. Overexpression of Osx in stable C2C12 mesenchymal cell line resulted in Sost upregulation. Transient transfection assay showed that Osx activated 1 kb Sost promoter reporter activity in a dose-dependent manner. To define Sost promoter activated by Osx, we made a series of deletion mutants of Sost constructs, and narrowed down the minimal region to the proximal 260 bp. Gel shift assay indicated that Osx bound to GC-rich site within this minimal region, and that point mutations of this binding site disrupted Osx binding. Moreover, the same point mutations in 260 bp Sost promoter reporter disrupted the promoter activation by Osx, suggesting that the GC-rich binding site was responsible for Sost promoter activation by Osx. To further examine physical association of Osx with Sost promoter in vivo, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed using primary osteoblasts from mouse calvaria. Osx was found to associate with endogenous Sost promoter. Taken together, these findings support our hypothesis that Sost is a direct target of Osx. This provides a new additional mechanism through which Osx inhibits Wnt signaling during bone formation.

Objective-To discover genes differentially expressed in the perichondrium of the mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC) that might enhance regenerative medicine or orthopedic therapies directed at the tissues of the temporomandibular joint Design-We used targeted gene arrays (osteogenesis, stem cell) to identify genes preferentially expressed in the perichondrium (PC) and the cartilaginous (C) portions of the MCC in 2 day-old mice

Transforming growth factors ␤ (Tgf-␤s) act by means of Smad signaling pathways and may also interact with the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The hypothesis was tested that Erk1/2 signaling is required for Tgf-␤2-induced suture closure, by culturing embryonic mouse calvariae in the presence of Tgf-␤2 with or without Erk1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (PD). Suture widths were measured daily, and microdissected sutures and bones were homogenized and protein analyzed by Western blots. Tgf-␤2 induced narrowing of the sutures after 72 hr, an effect inhibited by treatment with PD. Erk1/2 and Egf but not Smad2/3 protein expression was up-regulated by Tgf-␤2 calvarial tissues at 72 hr. PD inhibited endogenous and Tgf-␤2-stimulated Erk1/2 protein as well as Tgf-␤2-stimulated Egf, but increased Smad2/3 protein expression. In tissues harvested 0, 15, and 30 min after exposure to Tgf-␤2, Erk1/2 phosphorylation was up-regulated after 15 min, an effect abrogated by the simultaneous addition of PD. In summary, Tgf-␤2 stimulated Erk1/2 phosphorylation and induced Egf and Erk1/2 expression, associated with suture closure after 72 hr. Blocking Erk1/2 activity with PD inhibited these effects but increased Smad2/3 expression. We postulate that Tgf-␤2 regulates suture closure directly by means of phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and indirectly by up-regulating Erk1/2, a substrate for Fgf receptor signaling required for Fgf induction of premature suture obliteration.

Objective The objectives of this study were to examine if Twist and Notch 1 are present in the mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC) and whether their gene expression can be altered by exogenous FGF-2 and TGF-β2. Design Half-heads from CD-1 mice pups harvested at embryonic day 17 (E17) were fixed, decalcified, and sectioned in the sagittal plane for immunohistochemical detection of Notch and Twist using confocal microscopy. Other mandibular condyles and adjacent ramus from E17 mice were cultured in serum-free DMEM containing 0, 3, or 30 ng/mL of FGF-2 (10–12 condyles per treatment group). This experimental design was repeated with medium containing 0, 3, or 30 ng/mL of TGF-β2. After 3 days of culture, the pooled RNA from each group was extracted for examination of Notch and Twist gene expression using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Results Immunohistochemical examination revealed that Notch and Twist were localized to the prechondroblastic and upper chondroblastic layers of the cartilage. Exogenous FGF-2 up-regulated Notch1, Twist1 and Twist2 gene expression in MCC explants from E17 mice, while TGF-β2 had the opposite effect. Conclusions The gene expression data demonstrate that MCC explants are sensitive to growth factors known to affect Notch and Twist in other tissues. The subset of cells in which Twist and Notch immunoreactivity was found is suggestive of a role for FGF-2 and TGF-β2 as regulators of cell differentiation of the bipotent MCC cell population, consistent with the role of Notch and Twist as downstream mediators of these growth factors in other tissues.

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