PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Tatsuya Furuichi

Publications and source records attributed to Tatsuya Furuichi.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Runx2 regulates FGF2-induced Bmp2 expression during cranial bone development.

Calvarial bone is formed by the intramembranous bone-forming process, which involves many signaling molecules. The constitutive activation of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathway accelerates osteoblast differentiation and results in premature cranial suture closure. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways, which involve the downstream transcription factors Dlx5 and Msx2, are also involved in the bone-forming processes. However, the relationships between these two main signaling cascades are still unclear. We found that FGF2 treatment of developing bone fronts stimulated Bmp2 gene expression but that BMP2 treatment could not induce Fgf2 expression. Moreover, the disruption of the Runx2 gene completely eliminated the expression of Bmp2 and its downstream genes Dlx5 and Msx2 in the developing primordium of bone, while the expression of Fgf2 was maintained. In addition, cultured Runx2-/- cells expressed very low baseline levels of Bmp2 that were up-regulated by transfection with a Runx2-expressing plasmid. These levels in turn were markedly elevated by FGF2 treatment. FGF2 treatment also strongly enhanced the Bmp2 expression in MC3T3-E1 cells, whose endogenous Runx2 gene is intact and which express Bmp2 at low baseline levels as well. These results indicate that Runx2 is an important mediator of the expression of Bmp2 in response to FGF stimulation in cranial bone development.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Runx2 and Runx3 are essential for chondrocyte maturation, and Runx2 regulates limb growth through induction of Indian hedgehog.

The differentiation of mesenchymal cells into chondrocytes and chondrocyte proliferation and maturation are fundamental steps in skeletal development. Runx2 is essential for osteoblast differentiation and is involved in chondrocyte maturation. Although chondrocyte maturation is delayed in Runx2-deficient (Runx2(-/-)) mice, terminal differentiation of chondrocytes does occur, indicating that additional factors are involved in chondrocyte maturation. We investigated the involvement of Runx3 in chondrocyte differentiation by generating Runx2-and-Runx3-deficient (Runx2(-/-)3(-/-)) mice. We found that chondrocyte differentiation was inhibited depending on the dosages of Runx2 and Runx3, and Runx2(-/-)3(-/-) mice showed a complete absence of chondrocyte maturation. Further, the length of the limbs was reduced depending on the dosages of Runx2 and Runx3, due to reduced and disorganized chondrocyte proliferation and reduced cell size in the diaphyses. Runx2(-/-)3(-/-) mice did not express Ihh, which regulates chondrocyte proliferation and maturation. Adenoviral introduction of Runx2 in Runx2(-/-) chondrocyte cultures strongly induced Ihh expression. Moreover, Runx2 directly bound to the promoter region of the Ihh gene and strongly induced expression of the reporter gene driven by the Ihh promoter. These findings demonstrate that Runx2 and Runx3 are essential for chondrocyte maturation and that Runx2 regulates limb growth by organizing chondrocyte maturation and proliferation through the induction of Ihh expression.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Runx2 deficiency in chondrocytes causes adipogenic changes in vitro.

Runx2 (runt-related transcription factor 2) is an important transcription factor for chondrocyte differentiation as well as for osteoblast differentiation. To investigate the function of Runx2 in chondrocytes, we isolated chondrocytes from the rib cartilage of Runx2-deficient (Runx2-/-) mice and examined the effect of Runx2 deficiency on chondrocyte function and behavior in culture for up to 12 days. At the beginning of the culture, Runx2-/- chondrocytes actively proliferated, had a polygonal shape and expressed type II collagen; these are all characteristics of chondrocytes. However, they gradually accumulated lipid droplets that stained with oil red O and resembled adipocytes. Northern blot analysis revealed that the expression of adipocyte-related differentiation marker genes including PPAR gamma (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma), aP2 and Glut4 increased over time in culture, whereas expression of type II collagen decreased. Furthermore, the expression of Pref-1, an important inhibitory gene of adipogenesis, was remarkably decreased. Adenoviral introduction of Runx2 or treatment with transforming growth factor-beta, retinoic acid, interleukin-1 beta, basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor or parathyroid hormone inhibited the adipogenic changes in Runx2-/- chondrocytes. Runx2 and transforming growth factor-beta synergistically upregulated interleukin-11 expression, and the addition of interleukin-11 to the culture medium reduced adipogenesis in Runx2-/- chondrocytes. These findings indicate that depletion of Runx2 resulted in the loss of the differentiated phenotype in chondrocytes and induced adipogenic differentiation in vitro, and show that Runx2 plays important roles in maintaining the chondrocyte phenotype and in inhibiting adipogenesis. Our findings suggest that these Runx2-dependent functions are mediated, at least in part, by interleukin-11.

Adaptor Protein Complex 2↗
PubMed2004

Evaluation of 9.4-T MR microimaging in assessing normal and defective fetal bone development: comparison of MR imaging and histological findings.

We evaluated 9.4-T magnetic resonance (MR) microimaging in assessing normal and defective bone development in mouse embryos. For this purpose, we performed 9.4-T MR microimaging on developing bones in normal embryos, and also in Runx2/Cbfa1-/- embryos with severely defective bone development. MR images were compared with the histological and histochemical features of these fetal bones. MR microimaging delineate successfully the normal long bone development in embryos. The T1- and T2-weighted MR microimaging demonstrated chondrocyte maturation in different regions of growing cartilage, such as epiphysis, physis, hypertrophic cartilage, and zone of provisional calcification. These developmental changes were detectable in as early as E14.5 embryos. The MR microimaging clearly demonstrated defective bone development in Runx2/Cbfa1-/- embryos. The femur from E18.5 homozygous Runx2/Cbfa1-/- embryos lacked MR signal intensity patterns including the hypertrophic cartilage, which are characteristic of the bone from the age-matched Runx2/Cbfa1+/+ embryos. Interestingly, however, the tibia from the same mutants was associated with MR signal patterns indicative of hypertrophic cartilage but not of the primary spongiosa and ossifying perichondrium, suggesting that bone development is differently regulated in these two long bones. On the other hand, the bones from heterozygous Runx2/Cbfa1+/- embryos exhibited an MR phenotype intermediate between the Runx2/Cbfa1+/+ and Runx2/Cbfa1-/- embryos; the primary spongiosa and ossifying perichondrium formation occurred normally even in the absence of preceding organized maturation of chondrocytes, a phenotype that was not detected by histological examinations. We concluded that MR microimaging is useful in assessing the bone development.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Induction of osteoclast differentiation by Runx2 through receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin regulation and partial rescue of osteoclastogenesis in Runx2-/- mice by RANKL transgene.

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and macrophage-colony stimulating factor play essential roles in the regulation of osteoclastogenesis. Runx2-deficient (Runx2-/-) mice showed a complete lack of bone formation because of maturational arrest of osteoblasts and disturbed chondrocyte maturation. Further, osteoclasts were absent in these mice, in which OPG and macrophage-colony stimulating factor were normally expressed, but RANKL expression was severely diminished. We investigated the function of Runx2 in osteoclast differentiation. A Runx2-/- calvaria-derived cell line (CA120-4), which expressed OPG strongly but RANKL barely, severely suppressed osteoclast differentiation from normal bone marrow cells in co-cultures. Adenoviral introduction of Runx2 into CA120-4 cells induced RANKL expression, suppressed OPG expression, and restored osteoclast differentiation from normal bone marrow cells, whereas the addition of OPG abolished the osteoclast differentiation induced by Runx2. Addition of soluble RANKL (sRANKL) also restored osteoclast differentiation in co-cultures. Forced expression of sRANKL in Runx2-/- livers increased the number and size of osteoclast-like cells around calcified cartilage, although vascular invasion into the cartilage was superficial because of incomplete osteoclast differentiation. These findings indicate that Runx2 promotes osteoclast differentiation by inducing RANKL and inhibiting OPG. As the introduction of sRANKL was insufficient for osteoclast differentiation in Runx2-/- mice, however, our findings also suggest that additional factor(s) or matrix protein(s), which are induced in terminally differentiated chondrocytes or osteoblasts by Runx2, are required for osteoclastogenesis in early skeletal development.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Core-binding factor beta interacts with Runx2 and is required for skeletal development.

Core-binding factor beta (CBFbeta, also called polyomavirus enhancer binding protein 2beta (PEBP2B)) is associated with an inversion of chromosome 16 and is associated with acute myeloid leukemia in humans. CBFbeta forms a heterodimer with RUNX1 (runt-related transcription factor 1), which has a DNA binding domain homologous to the pair-rule protein runt in Drosophila melanogaster. Both RUNX1 and CBFbeta are essential for hematopoiesis. Haploinsufficiency of another runt-related protein, RUNX2 (also called CBFA1), causes cleidocranial dysplasia in humans and is essential in skeletal development by regulating osteoblast differentiation and chondrocyte maturation. Mice deficient in Cbfb (Cbfb(-/-)) die at midgestation, so the function of Cbfbeta in skeletal development has yet to be ascertained. To investigate this issue, we rescued hematopoiesis of Cbfb(-/-) mice by introducing Cbfb using the Gata1 promoter. The rescued Cbfb(-/-) mice recapitulated fetal liver hematopoiesis in erythroid and megakaryocytic lineages and survived until birth, but showed severely delayed bone formation. Although mesenchymal cells differentiated into immature osteoblasts, intramembranous bones were poorly formed. The maturation of chondrocytes into hypertrophic cells was markedly delayed, and no endochondral bones were formed. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and reporter assays showed that Cbfbeta was necessary for the efficient DNA binding of Runx2 and for Runx2-dependent transcriptional activation. These findings indicate that Cbfbeta is required for the function of Runx2 in skeletal development.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Effects of i.v. and oral 1,25-dihydroxy-22-oxavitamin D(3) on secondary hyperparathyroidism in dogs with chronic renal failure.

BACKGROUND: 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3), calcitriol) has been used for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (2HPT) associated with chronic renal failure (CRF). However, hypercalcaemia frequently precludes the administration of ideal doses of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). 1,25-Dihydroxy-22-oxavitamin D(3) (22-oxacalcitriol, OCT) is an analogue of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) with less calcaemic activity. Several investigators have reported the effect of this analogue on suppressing parathyroid hormone (PTH) in vitro and in vivo in rats and dogs. METHODS AND RESULTS: The first experiments were designed to compare the relative potency of an i.v. injection of OCT and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (i.v. OCT vs i.v. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) on serum PTH and ionized calcium (ICa). A single dose of OCT (5 microg/kg) to uraemic dogs suppressed PTH by 81% without a statistical significant change in serum ICa. On the other hand, any of the effective doses of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) on PTH suppression were hypercalcaemic. The intermittent administration of OCT (0.1 microg/kg) or 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (0.025 microg/kg), three times per week i.v. suppressed serum PTH by 89 or 77%, respectively without hypercalcaemia. To evaluate OCT as an oral drug, it was given intermittently (three times per week) to a group of six dogs for a period of 4 weeks. Subsequently, it was changed to a daily administration (0.05 microg/kg) for a period of 2 weeks. Finally the dose was reduced to 0.025 microg/kg. Daily OCT 0.05 microg/kg suppressed serum PTH by 67%. Subsequently, 0.025 microg/kg maintained serum PTH within the normal range without hypercalcaemia for 4 weeks. The time course of serum OCT concentrations following a single i.v. or oral OCT dose to uraemic dogs showed that oral OCT was rapidly absorbed and reached maximum plasma concentration and its disappearance from blood was similar to that of i.v. injection. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results suggest that OCT is a useful vitamin D(3) analogue, with a potentially larger therapeutic window than that of i.v. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and which is available for i.v./oral, in the management of 2HPT.

Administration, Oral↗