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Protein kinase C inhibitor H-7 blocks effects of tumor necrosis factor on bone cells

T M Wu1, J P Zhang, Z L Hu

  • 1Research Laboratory of Natural and Synthetic Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.

Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao = Acta Pharmacologica Sinica
|November 1, 1995
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) affects neonatal mouse osteoblasts, inhibiting proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) while stimulating tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). A protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor blocked these TNF effects.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a key inflammatory cytokine with known roles in bone metabolism.
  • Osteoblasts are crucial cells responsible for bone formation.
  • The signaling pathways through which TNF influences osteoblasts are not fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of TNF on neonatal mouse osteoblast-enriched calvarial cells.
  • To determine the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in mediating TNF's effects on these cells.
  • To examine the influence of the PKC inhibitor H-7 on TNF-induced cellular responses.

Main Methods:

  • Cell proliferation was assessed using [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) uptake.
  • Cellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measured spectrophotometrically.
  • Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity was determined spectrophotometrically.

Main Results:

  • TNF significantly inhibited osteoblast proliferation and ALP activity in a dose-dependent manner.
  • TNF stimulated TRAP activity in the osteoblast cultures.
  • The PKC inhibitor H-7 effectively blocked all TNF-induced effects on proliferation, ALP, and TRAP activity.

Conclusions:

  • TNF exerts potent effects on neonatal mouse osteoblasts, influencing both proliferation and differentiation markers.
  • The findings strongly suggest that TNF mediates its actions on osteoblasts via the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway.
  • Inhibition of PKC by H-7 demonstrates a critical role for this kinase in TNF's osteoblast modulation.

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