Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China | [b] Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Songtao Qi, Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guang Zhou Road 1838#, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. Tel.: +86 20 61641801; Fax: +86 20 61641806; E-mail:sjwkqisongtao@gmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The calcification of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) often creates
difficulties for surgical therapy. Nevertheless, the mechanism of ACP
calcification is unclear. Our previous studies demonstrated that
osteoblastic factors might play important roles in ACP calcification. OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of recombinant human Bmp2 on ACP cell
differentiation by testing osteoblastic proteins and calcium deposition. METHODS: The expression of osteoblastic factors including osteopontin (OPN), Runx2,
and osterix in Bmp2-treated ACP cells was examined by western blot and/or
real time PCR. ALP activity and calcium deposition after Bmp2 induction were
also tested. RESULTS: Bmp2 significantly amplified the expression of Runx2, Osterix and OPN, as
well as ALP activity. Both of these effects could be repressed by noggin
treatment. Bmp2 also significantly induced the calcification of ACP, and
noggin inhibited this calcium deposition. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated for the first time that ACP cells could differentiate
into an osteoblastic lineage via induction by Bmp2. The mechanism of ACP
calcification likely involves osteoblastic differentiation modulated by
Bmp2. Further studies targeting Bmp2 cascades could result in novel
therapeutic interventions for recurrent ACP.
