FGF and ERK signaling coordinately regulate mineralization-related genes and play essential roles in osteocyte differentiation.

To examine the roles of FGF and ERK MAPK signaling in osteocyte differentiation and function, we performed microarray analyses using the osteocyte cell line MLO-Y4. This experiment identified a number of mineralization-related genes that were regulated by FGF2 in an ERK MAPK-dependent manner. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that FGF2 upregulates Ank, Enpp1, Mgp, Slc20a1, and Dmp1 in MLO-Y4 cells. Consistent with this observation, the selective FGF receptor inhibitor PD173074 decreased Ank, Enpp1, Slc20a1, and Dmp1 mRNA expression in mouse calvaria in organ culture. Since Dmp1 plays a central role in osteocyte differentiation and mineral homeostasis, we further analyzed FGF regulation of Dmp1. Similar to FGF2, FGF23 upregulated Dmp1 expression in MLO-Y4 cells in the presence of Klotho. Furthermore, increased extracellular phosphate levels partially inhibited FGF2-induced upregulation of Dmp1 mRNA expression, suggesting a coordinated regulation of Dmp1 expression by FGF signaling and extracellular phosphate. In MLO-Y4 osteocytes and in MC3T3E1 and primary calvaria osteoblasts, U0126 strongly inhibited both basal expression of Dmp1 mRNA and FGF2-induced upregulation. Consistent with the in vitro observations, real-time PCR and immunohistochemical analysis showed a strong decrease in Dmp1 expression in the skeletal elements of ERK1(-/-); ERK2(flox/flox); Prx1-Cre mice. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed that no osteocytes with characteristic dendritic processes develop in the limbs of ERK1(-/-); ERK2 (flox/flox); Prx1-Cre mice. Collectively, our observations indicate that FGF signaling coordinately regulates mineralization-related genes in the osteoblast lineage and that ERK signaling is essential for Dmp1 expression and osteocyte differentiation.