Identification of small molecules as novel anti-adipogenic compounds based on Connectivity Map

Several physiological and pathological conditions such as aging, obesity, diabetes, anorexia nervosa are associated with increased adipogenesis in the bone marrow. A lack of effective drugs hinder the improved treatment for aberrant accumulation of bone marrow adipocytes. Given the higher costs, longer duration and sometimes lack of efficacy in drug discovery, computational and experimental strategies have been used to identify previously approved drugs for the treatment of diseases, also known as drug repurposing. Here, we describe the method of small molecule-prioritization by employing adipocyte-specific genes using the connectivity map (CMap). We then generated transcriptomic profiles using human mesenchymal stromal cells under adipogenic differentiation with the treatment of prioritized compounds, and identified emetine and kinetin-riboside to have a potent inhibitory effect on adipogenesis. Overall, we demonstrated a proof-of-concept method to identify repurposable drugs capable of inhibiting adipogenesis, using the Connectivity Map

Protein arginine methyltransferases PRMT1, PRMT4/CARM1 and PRMT5 have distinct functions in control of osteoblast differentiation

Osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal cells is controlled by epigenetic enzymes that regulate post-translational modifications of histones. Compared to acetyl or methyltransferases, the physiological functions of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) in osteoblast differentiation remain minimally understood. Therefore, we surveyed the expression and function of all nine mammalian PRMT members during osteoblast differentiation. RNA-seq gene expression profiling shows that Prmt1, Prmt4/Carm1 and Prmt5 represent the most prominently expressed PRMT subtypes in mouse calvarial bone and MC3T3 osteoblasts as well as human musculoskeletal tissues and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Based on effects of siRNA depletion, it appears that PRMT members have different functional effects: (i) loss of Prmt1 stimulates and (ii) loss of Prmt5 decreases calcium deposition of mouse MC3T3 osteoblasts, while (iii) loss of Carm1 is inconsequential for calcium deposition. Decreased Prmt5 suppresses expression of multiple genes involved in mineralization (e.g., Alpl, Ibsp, Phospho1) consistent with a positive role in osteogenesis. Depletion of Prmt1, Carm1 and Prmt5 has intricate but modest time-dependent effects on the expression of a panel of osteoblast differentiation and proliferation markers but does not change mRNA levels for select epigenetic regulators (e.g., Ezh1, Ezh2, Brd2 and Brd4). Treatment with the Class I PRMT inhibitor GSK715 enhances extracellular matrix mineralization of MC3T3 cells, while blocking formation of H3R17me2a but not H4R3me2a marks. In sum, Prmt1, Carm1 and Prmt5 have distinct biological roles during osteoblast differentiation, and different types histone H3 and H4 arginine methylation may contribute to the chromatin landscape during osteoblast differentiation.</p

Simultaneous induction of apoptosis, collagen type I expression and mineralization in the developing coronal suture following FGF4 and FGF2 application

This study aimed to evaluate the disturbances in normal coronal suture development resulting in craniosynostosis, a congenital disorder in which the calvarial sutures close prematurely. Craniosynostosis syndromes can be caused by mutations in the genes encoding for the fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) 1, 2, and 3. These gain-of-function mutations cause the transcribed receptor to be constitutively activated. To mimic this genetic defect, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 or 4 was administered near the developing coronal suture in normal mouse embryos through ex utero surgery. The effect on apoptosis and bone differentiation, as collagen type I expression and mineralization, within the FGF-exposed coronal suture was investigated through (immuno)histochemical staining. An increase in the number of apoptotic cells together with ectopic collagen type I expression within the suture and accelerated mineralization followed FGF application. Macroscopically, this presented as a synostotic coronal suture. These results suggest that both apoptosis and differentiation are two processes that are simultaneously implicated in synostosis of the coronal suture in case of a FGFR-related craniosynostosis

Parathyroid hormone‐induced ornithine decarboxylase activity in fetal rat osteoblasts

Induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, E.C. 4.1.1.17) activity by parathyroid hormone (PTH) in cultured fetal rat osteoblasts was studied. PTH induced ODC activity and stimulated cAMP production in a dose‐dependent manner, the ED50 for cAMP being five times as high as that for ODC. Induction of ODC activity by PTH was partly inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, with 40 and 55% inhibition, respectively. PTH increased the intracellular ionized calcium concentration ([Ca2+]1), which was absent in a Ca2+‐free medium. Blocking calcium influx, lowering the extracellular calcium concentration, and adding trifluoperazine inhibited both induction of ODC activity and stimulation of cAMP production by PTH. A23187 (100 nM and 1 μM), combined with a low dose of PTH (4 nM), resulted in a synergistic induction of ODC activity and an inhibition of cAMP production. A23187 inhibited induction of ODC activity as well as stimulation of cAMP production by the dose of PTH (20 nM) maximally effective in inducing ODC activity. Forskolin together with this maximal dose of PTH resulted in an additive effect on ODC activity and a synergistic stimulation of cAMP production. The current results show similarities and differences with respect to results obtained with osteoblasts from other species and osteoblast cell lines. The present data indicate that (1) PTH stimulates ODC activity and this is partly due to new enzyme synthesis; (2) calcium is involved in induction of ODC activity and stimulation of cAMP production by PTH; furthermore, it is suggestive that calmodulin and/or protein kinase C are involved; and (3) stimulation of cAMP production by PTH depends on an optimal intracellular calcium concentration range

Modulation of responsiveness to cAMP stimulating agonists by phorbol ester in fetal rat osteoblasts

We studied the effect of activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by a phorbol ester on cAMP accumulation in fetal rat osteoblasts. Activation of PKC by phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) caused a potentiation of cAMP accumulation induced by parathyroid hormone (PTH), forskolin, and cholera toxin. The results suggest that the potentiating effect of PMA on PTH‐induced cAMP accumulation was not due to an effect on the PTH‐receptor nor to an effect on cAMP degradation, as the effect of PMA persisted in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin did not prevent the action of PMA, indicating that PMA does not act via the inhibitory G‐protein. PMA had a biphasic effect on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)‐induced cAMP accumulation; i.e., at concentrations ⩾ 10−6 M, PMA potentiated the PGE2‐induced cAMP response but PMA attenuated cAMP accumulation induced by concentrations of PGE2 ⩽ 5.10−7 M. From our data we conclude that PKC can interact with a stimulated cAMP pathway in a stimulatory and inhibitory manner. Potentiation of cAMP accumulation is probably due to modification of the adenylate cyclase complex, whereas attenuation of stimulated cAMP accumulation appears to be due to an effect on a different site of the cAMP generating pathway, which may be specific to PGE2‐induced cAMP accumulation

Role of calcium and cAMP in heterologous up-regulation of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor in an osteoblast cell line

To understand further the mechanism of action of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the stimulation of the number of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) binding sites in UMR 106-01 cells we studied the role of cAMP and calcium. In addition to PTH other agents known to act via the cAMP signal pathway, prostaglandin E2, forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP, caused an increase in 1,25(OH)2D3 binding. Addition of the adenylate cyclase inhibitor 9-(tetrahydro-2-furyl)adenine resulted in a marked decrease of PTH-stimulated cAMP production but this was not followed by a reduction of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor up-regulation by PTH. Increasing the intracellular calcium concentration by Bay K 8644 and A23817 independent of an activation of the cAMP signal pathway did not result in an increased 1,25(OH)2D3 binding. The calcium channel blockers nitrendipine and verapamil and chelating extracellular calcium with EGTA all reduced cAMP-mediated stimulation of 1,25(OH)2D3 binding. This reduction was not due to a reduced cAMP production as verapamil even potentiated PTH- and forskolin-stimulated cAMP production in a dose-dependent manner. The present study provides evidence for an interrelated action of calcium and cAMP in the heterologous up-regulation of the 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor. The current data show an interaction between the cAMP and calcium signal pathway at (1) the level of cAMP generation/degradation, and (2) a level located distal in the cascade leading to 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor up-regulation

Role of protein kinase C (PKC) in bone resorption: Effect of the specific PKC inhibitor 1-alkyl-2-methylglycerol

The specific inhibitor of protein kinase C, 1-O-alkyl-2-O-methylglycerol (AMG), was studied for its effect on bone resorption, measured as 45Ca-release, in fetal mouse calvariae. AMG (1 to 50 μM) had no effect on basal bone resorption. AMG inhibited parathyroid hormone (40 nM) induced bone resorption in a dose-dependent manner. Resorption induced by 1,25 (OH)2-vitamin D3 (10 nM) or prostaglandin E2 (5 μM) was also inhibited by AMG. The release of β-glucuronidase activity paralled the course of the 45Ca-release. The production of interleukin 6, induced by parathyroid hormone, in fetal rat calvarial osteoblasts was not affected by AMG. AMG (1 to 50 μM) had no cytotoxic effects on cells or calvariae. From these results it is concluded that protein kinase C may have an important role in the regulation of bone resorption