Mineralization of three-dimensional osteoblast cultures is enhanced by the interaction of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and BMP2 via two specific vitamin D receptors.

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3] and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) are both used to stimulate osteoblastic differentiation. 1α,25(OH)2D3 regulates osteoblasts through classical steroid hormone receptor mechanisms and through rapid responses that are mediated by two receptors, the traditional vitamin D receptor (VDR) and protein disulphide isomerase family A member 3 (Pdia3). The interaction between 1α,25(OH)2D3 and BMP2, especially in three-dimensional (3D) culture, and the roles of the two vitamin D receptors in this interaction are not well understood. We treated wild-type (WT), Pdia3-silenced (Sh-Pdia3) and VDR-silenced (Sh-VDR) pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells with either 1α,25(OH)2D3, or BMP2, or with 1α,25(OH)2D3 and BMP2 together, and measured osteoblast marker expression in 2D culture and mineralization in a 3D poly(ε-caprolactone)-collagen scaffold model. Quantitative PCR showed that silencing Pdia3 or VDR had a differential effect on baseline expression of osteoblast markers. 1α,25(OH)2D3 + BMP2 caused a synergistic increase in osteoblast marker expression in WT cells, while silencing either Pdia3 or VDR attenuated this effect. 1α,25(OH)2D3 + BMP2 also caused a synergistic increase in Dlx5 in both silenced cell lines. Micro-computed tomography (μCT) showed that the mineralized volume of untreated Sh-Pdia3 and Sh-VDR 3D cultures was greater than that of WT. 1α,25(OH)2D3 reduced mineral in WT and Sh-VDR cultures; BMP2 increased mineralization; and 1α,25(OH)2D3 + BMP2 caused a synergistic increase, but only in WT cultures. SEM showed that mineralized matrix morphology in 3D cultures differed for silenced cells compared to WT cells. These data indicate a synergistic crosstalk between 1α,25(OH)2D3 and BMP2 toward osteogenesis and mineral deposition, involving both VDR and Pdia3.