Abstract
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the major mediator of calcium homeostasis and bone remodeling and is now known to be an effective drug for osteoporosis treatment. Yet the mechanisms responsible for its functions in bone are largely unknown. Here we report that the expression of amphiregulin (AR), a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, is rapidly and highly up-regulated by PTH in several osteoblastic cell lines and bone tissues. Other osteotropic hormones (1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and prostaglandin E2) also strongly stimulate AR expression. We found all EGF-like ligands and their receptors are expressed in osteoblasts, but AR is the only member that is highly regulated by PTH. Functional studies demonstrated that although AR is a potent growth factor for preosteoblasts, it completely inhibits further differentiation. AR also strongly and quickly stimulated Akt and ERK phosphorylation and c-fos and c-jun expression in an EGF receptor-dependent manner. Moreover, AR null mice displayed significantly less tibial trabecular bone than wild-type mice. Taken together, we have identified a novel growth factor that is PTH-regulated and appears to have an important role in bone metabolism.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amphiregulin
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Animals
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Bone Development / physiology*
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Bone and Bones / metabolism
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Calcification, Physiologic / drug effects
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Calcification, Physiologic / physiology
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Cell Division / drug effects
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Cell Division / physiology
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Cell Line
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EGF Family of Proteins
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Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism
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ErbB Receptors / metabolism
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Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
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Glycoproteins / genetics*
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Glycoproteins / metabolism*
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In Vitro Techniques
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
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Ligands
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Mutant Strains
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Osteoblasts / cytology
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Osteoblasts / drug effects
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Osteoblasts / metabolism*
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Parathyroid Hormone / pharmacology*
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Phosphorylation / drug effects
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / metabolism
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Signal Transduction / physiology
Substances
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Amphiregulin
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Areg protein, mouse
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Areg protein, rat
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EGF Family of Proteins
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Glycoproteins
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Ligands
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Parathyroid Hormone
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun
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Epidermal Growth Factor
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ErbB Receptors
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Akt1 protein, rat
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases