Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is known to induce osteoblastic differentiation and alkaline phosphatase activity in bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSCs). However, it has remained elusive whether this effect is mediated by CGRP receptors directly or whether other signaling pathways are involved. The present study assessed the possible involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the activation of CGRP signaling during the differentiation of BMSCs. First, the differentiation of BMSCs was induced in vitro and the expression of CGRP receptors was examined by western blot analysis. The effects of exogenous CGRP and LiCl, a stimulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, on the osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs were assessed; furthermore, the expression of mRNA and proteins involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was assessed using quantitative PCR and western blot analyses. The results revealed that CGRP receptors were expressed throughout the differentiation of BMSCs, at days 7 and 14. Incubation with CGRP and LiCl led to the upregulation of the expression of osteoblastic genes associated with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, including the mRNA of c-myc, cyclin D1, Lef1, Tcf7 and β-catenin as well as β-catenin protein. However, the upregulation of these genes and β-catenin protein was inhibited by CGRP receptor antagonist or secreted frizzled-related protein, an antagonist of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The results of the present study therefore suggested that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may be involved in CGRP- and LiCl-promoted osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs.

npg Histone acetyltransferases/deacetylases contribute to the activation or inactivation of transcription by modifying the structure of chromatin. Here we examined the effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs), trichostatin A, and sodium butyrate on hsp70 gene transcriptional regulation in Drosophila. The chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that HDI treatments induced the hyperacetylation of histone H3 at the promoter and the transcribing regions of hsp70 gene, increased the accessibility of heat-shock factor to target heat-shock element, and promoted the RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription. Moreover, the quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that the HDI-induced hyperacetylation of histone H3 enhanced both the basal and the inducible expression of hsp70 mRNA level. In addition, the acetylation level of histone H3 at the promoter exhibited a fluctuated change upon the time of heat shock. These experimental data implicated a causal link between histone acetylation and enhanced transcription initiation of hsp70 gene in Drosophila.