Potential involvement of Twist2 and Erk in the regulation of osteoblastogenesis by HB-EGF-EGFR signaling.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) family members play important roles in the skeletal system. In this study, we examined the role of EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling in osteoblastogenesis in vitro. The expression of HB-EGF and epiregulin (EPR) was transiently induced within 24 h after osteogenic stimulation, but when preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were incubated with HB-EGF or EPR, osteoblast differentiation was inhibited. These effects were Ras-dependent, and ERK modulated Runx2 activity through the localization of Smad1 and the induction of Twist2. PI3-kinase was also required for the induction of Twist2. However, the inhibition of individual signaling pathways was not sufficient to overcome HB-EGF-mediated inhibition of osteoblast differentiation. Additionally, HB-EGF treatment promoted the proliferation of preosteoblasts, and this was associated with the downregulation of p27 at the protein level. These results suggest that HB-EGF-EGFR signaling inhibits the differentiation of osteoblasts by suppression of Runx2 transcriptional activity and enhances proliferation of preosteoblasts by downregulation of expression of p27.