The p38 MAPK pathway is essential for skeletogenesis and bone homeostasis in mice
Greenblatt, Matthew B. ; Shim, Jae-Hyuck ; Zou, Weiguo ; Sitara, Despina ; Schweitzer, Michelle ; Hu, Dorothy ; Lotinun, Sutada ; Sano, Yasuyo ; Baron, Roland ; Park, Jin Mo ... show 7 more
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Keywords
CREB-Binding Protein
Cell Differentiation
Humans
MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
MAP Kinase Signaling System
Mice
Mice, Transgenic
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
Osteoblasts
Osteogenesis
Phosphorylation
Proto-Oncogene Proteins
Transforming Growth Factor beta
p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Developmental Biology
Molecular Biology
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Abstract
Nearly every extracellular ligand that has been found to play a role in regulating bone biology acts, at least in part, through MAPK pathways. Nevertheless, much remains to be learned about the contribution of MAPKs to osteoblast biology in vivo. Here we report that the p38 MAPK pathway is required for normal skeletogenesis in mice, as mice with deletion of any of the MAPK pathway member-encoding genes MAPK kinase 3 (Mkk3), Mkk6, p38a, or p38b displayed profoundly reduced bone mass secondary to defective osteoblast differentiation. Among the MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K) family, we identified TGF-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1; also known as MAP3K7) as the critical activator upstream of p38 in osteoblasts. Osteoblast-specific deletion of Tak1 resulted in clavicular hypoplasia and delayed fontanelle fusion, a phenotype similar to the cleidocranial dysplasia observed in humans haploinsufficient for the transcription factor runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2). Mechanistic analysis revealed that the TAK1-MKK3/6-p38 MAPK axis phosphorylated Runx2, promoting its association with the coactivator CREB-binding protein (CBP), which was required to regulate osteoblast genetic programs. These findings reveal an in vivo function for p38beta and establish that MAPK signaling is essential for bone formation in vivo. These results also suggest that selective p38beta agonists may represent attractive therapeutic agents to prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis and aging.
Source
J Clin Invest. 2010 Jul;120(7):2457-73. doi: 10.1172/JCI42285. Epub 2010 Jun 14. Link to article on publisher's site