Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 1, 2025

Rapid Isolation of BMPR-IB+ Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells for Use in a Calvarial Defect Healing Model
Published on: February 24, 2017
A functional autophagy pathway is essential for BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells
Xia Zhao1,2, Bo Huang2,3, Hao Wang2,4
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Qingdao 266061, China.
Abstract:
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of differentiating into bone, cartilage and adipose tissues. We identified BMP9 as the most potent osteoinductive BMP although detailed mechanism underlying BMP9-regulated osteogenesis of MSCs is indeterminate. Emerging evidence indicates that autophagy plays a critical role in regulating bone homeostasis. We investigated the possible role of autophagy in osteogenic differentiation induced by BMP9. We showed that BMP9 upregulated the expression of multiple autophagy-related genes in MSCs. Autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) inhibited the osteogenic activity induced by BMP9 in MSCs. While overexpression of ATG5 or ATG7 did not enhance osteogenic activity induced by BMP9, silencing Atg5 expression in MSCs effectively diminished BMP9 osteogenic signaling activity and blocked the expression of the osteogenic regulator Runx2 and the late marker osteopontin induced by BMP9. Stem cell implantation study revealed that silencing Atg5 in MSCs profoundly inhibited ectopic bone regeneration and bone matrix mineralization induced by BMP9. Collectively, our results strongly suggest a functional autophagy pathway may play an essential role in regulating osteogenic differentiation induced by BMP9 in MSCs. Thus, restoration of dysregulated autophagic activity in MSCs may be exploited to treat fracture healing, bone defects or osteoporosis.
More Related Videos
08:35In Situ Immunofluorescent Staining of Autophagy in Muscle Stem Cells
Published on: June 12, 2017
10:32Author Spotlight: Simple Establishment of a Vascularized Osteogenic Bone Marrow Niche Using Pre-Cast Poly(Ethylene Glycol) (PEG) Hydrogels in an Imaging Microplate
Published on: May 19, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Autophagy
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
MAPK Signaling Cascades
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway