Effects of thyroxine exposure on osteogenesis in mouse calvarial pre-osteoblasts

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 23;8(7):e69067. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069067. Print 2013.

Abstract

The incidence of craniosynostosis is one in every 1,800-2500 births. The gene-environment model proposes that if a genetic predisposition is coupled with environmental exposures, the effects can be multiplicative resulting in severely abnormal phenotypes. At present, very little is known about the role of gene-environment interactions in modulating craniosynostosis phenotypes, but prior evidence suggests a role for endocrine factors. Here we provide a report of the effects of thyroid hormone exposure on murine calvaria cells. Murine derived calvaria cells were exposed to critical doses of pharmaceutical thyroxine and analyzed after 3 and 7 days of treatment. Endpoint assays were designed to determine the effects of the hormone exposure on markers of osteogenesis and included, proliferation assay, quantitative ALP activity assay, targeted qPCR for mRNA expression of Runx2, Alp, Ocn, and Twist1, genechip array for 28,853 targets, and targeted osteogenic microarray with qPCR confirmations. Exposure to thyroxine stimulated the cells to express ALP in a dose dependent manner. There were no patterns of difference observed for proliferation. Targeted RNA expression data confirmed expression increases for Alp and Ocn at 7 days in culture. The genechip array suggests substantive expression differences for 46 gene targets and the targeted osteogenesis microarray indicated 23 targets with substantive differences. 11 gene targets were chosen for qPCR confirmation because of their known association with bone or craniosynostosis (Col2a1, Dmp1, Fgf1, 2, Igf1, Mmp9, Phex, Tnf, Htra1, Por, and Dcn). We confirmed substantive increases in mRNA for Phex, FGF1, 2, Tnf, Dmp1, Htra1, Por, Igf1 and Mmp9, and substantive decreases for Dcn. It appears thyroid hormone may exert its effects through increasing osteogenesis. Targets isolated suggest a possible interaction for those gene products associated with calvarial suture growth and homeostasis as well as craniosynostosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Osteoblasts / cytology*
  • Osteoblasts / drug effects
  • Osteoblasts / enzymology
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects*
  • Osteogenesis / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Skull / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Thyroxine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Thyroxine

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the American Cleft Palate–Cleft/Craniofacial Anomalies Grant Award, Cleft Palate Foundation, www.cleftline.org. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.