The HSPG Glypican Regulates Experience-Dependent Synaptic and Behavioral Plasticity by Modulating the Non-Canonical BMP Pathway

Why is there so much variation in insect behavior? This chapter will address the sources of behavioral variability, with a particular focus on phenotypic plasticity. Variation in social, nutritional, and seasonal environmental contexts during development and adulthood can give rise to phenotypic plasticity. To delve into mechanism underlying behavioral flexibility in insects, examples of polyphenisms, a type of phenotypic plasticity, will be discussed. Selected examples reveal that environmental change can affect gene expression, which in turn can affect behavioral plasticity. These changes in gene expression together with gene-by-environment interactions are discussed to illuminate our understanding of insect behavioral plasticity.

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The Role of BMP Signaling in Osteoclast Regulation

Journal of Developmental Biology ◽

10.3390/jdb9030024 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 24

Author(s):

Brian Heubel ◽

Anja Nohe

Keyword(s):

Bone Formation ◽

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ◽

Bone Diseases ◽

Bmp Signaling ◽

Bone Homeostasis ◽

Direct Stimulation ◽

Federal Drug Administration ◽

Bmp Pathway ◽

Stimulation Of

The osteogenic effects of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) were delineated in 1965 when Urist et al. showed that BMPs could induce ectopic bone formation. In subsequent decades, the effects of BMPs on bone formation and maintenance were established. BMPs induce proliferation in osteoprogenitor cells and increase mineralization activity in osteoblasts. The role of BMPs in bone homeostasis and repair led to the approval of BMP2 by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) to increase the bone formation in the treated area. However, the use of BMP2 for treatment of degenerative bone diseases such as osteoporosis is still uncertain as patients treated with BMP2 results in the stimulation of not only osteoblast mineralization, but also osteoclast absorption, leading to early bone graft subsidence. The increase in absorption activity is the result of direct stimulation of osteoclasts by BMP2 working synergistically with the RANK signaling pathway. The dual effect of BMPs on bone resorption and mineralization highlights the essential role of BMP-signaling in bone homeostasis, making it a putative therapeutic target for diseases like osteoporosis. Before the BMP pathway can be utilized in the treatment of osteoporosis a better understanding of how BMP-signaling regulates osteoclasts must be established.

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EGR2, IGF1 and IL6 Expression Are Elevated in the Intervertebral Disc of Patients Suffering from Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) Compared to Degenerative or Trauma Discs

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11094072 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 4072

Author(s):

Benjamin Gantenbein ◽

Rahel D. May ◽

Paola Bermudez-Lekerika ◽

Katharina A. C. Oswald ◽

Lorin M. Benneker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Nucleus Pulposus ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽

Intervertebral Discs ◽

Serum Marker ◽

Ectopic Ossification ◽

Disc Cells ◽

Bmp Pathway

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is characterised by ectopic ossification along the anterior spine and the outer intervertebral discs (IVD). However, the centre of the IVD, i.e., the nucleus pulposus, always remains unaffected, which could be due to the inhibition of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome for the BMP pathway of DISH-IVD cells versus disc cells of traumatic or degenerative discs. The disc cells originated from nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF) and from cartilaginous endplate (CEP) tissue. Here, ninety genes of the transforming growth factor β-BMP signalling pathway were screened by qPCR. Furthermore, the protein expression of genes of interest was further investigated by immune-staining and semi-quantitative microscopy. IVDs of three DISH patients were tested against three control patients (same disc level and similar age). Early Growth Response 2 (EGR2) and Interleukin 6 (IL6) were both significantly up-regulated in DISH-IVD cells compared to controls (12.8 ± 7.6-fold and 54.0 ± 46.5-fold, respectively, means ± SEM). Furthermore, Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) tended to be up-regulated in DISH-IVD donors, i.e., 174.13 ± 120.6-fold. IGF1 was already known as a serum marker for DISH and other rheumatoid diseases and is confirmed here to play a possible key role in DISH-IVD.

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