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Glucocorticoid Suppresses Connexin 43 Expression by Inhibiting the Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Osteoblasts

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An Erratum to this article was published on 25 March 2016

Abstract

The inhibition of proliferation or functional alteration of osteoblasts by glucocorticoids (GCs) has been recognized as an important etiology of GC-induced osteoporosis (GIO). Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most abundant connexin isoform in bone cells and plays important roles in bone remodeling. Despite the important role of Cx43 in bone homeostasis and the prevalence of GIO, the direct action of GCs on Cx43 expression in osteoblasts has been poorly described. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how GCs affect Cx43 expression in osteoblasts. Dexamethasone (Dex) treatment decreased expression of Cx43 RNA and protein in MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblastic cells. Reduction of Cx43 expression by Dex was dependent on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), as it was abolished by pretreatment with a GR blocker. Treatment with PTH (1–34), a medication used for GIO management, counteracted the suppression of Cx43 by Dex. Akt or mTOR signaling modulators revealed the involvement of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in Dex-induced reduction of Cx43 expression. Moreover, overexpression of Cx43 significantly attenuated Dex-inhibited cell viability and proliferation, as evidenced by MTT and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay of MC3T3-E1 cells. To account for possible species or cell type differences, human primary osteoblasts were treated with Dex and similar downregulation of Cx43 by Dex was observed. In addition, immunofluorescent staining for Cx43 further demonstrated an apparent decrease in Dex-treated human osteoblasts, while analysis of lucifer yellow propagation revealed reduced gap junction intercellular communication by Dex. Collectively, these findings indicate that GCs suppress Cx43 expression in osteoblasts via GR and the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and overexpression of Cx43 may, at least in part, rescue osteoblasts from GC-induced reductions in proliferation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by research funds from Chonbuk National University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Geonji-Ro 20, Deokjin-Gu, Jeonju, 561-712, Republic of Korea

    Chen Shen, Mi Ran Kim, Jeong Mi Noh, Su Jin Kim & Ji Hyun Park

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonju, Republic of Korea

    Sun-O Ka & Byung-Hyun Park

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea

    Ji Hye Kim

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Correspondence to Ji Hyun Park.

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Chen Shen, Mi Ran Kim, Jeong Mi Noh, Su Jin Kim, Sun-O Ka, Ji Hye Kim, Byung-Hyun Park, and Ji Hyun Park have no conflicts of interest to report.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This study was ethically approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Chonbuk National University and performed in accordance with the criteria defined by the rules of the committee.

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Shen, C., Kim, M.R., Noh, J.M. et al. Glucocorticoid Suppresses Connexin 43 Expression by Inhibiting the Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Osteoblasts. Calcif Tissue Int 99, 88–97 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-016-0121-y

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