Mapk7 enhances osteogenesis and suppresses adipogenesis by activating Lrp6/β-catenin signaling axis in mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract The lineage commitment and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in bone homeostasis. MAPK7 (Mitogen-activated protein kinase 7), a member of MAPK family, controls cell differentiation, proliferation and survival. However, the specific role of Mapk7 in regulat...

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Main Authors: Chuan Li, Jiahui Long, Shuqing Chen, Liru Tian, Ya Xiao, Shulin Chen, Deying Su, Baolin Zhang, Peiqiang Su, Liao Zhiheng, Caixia Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07765-x
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author Chuan Li
Jiahui Long
Shuqing Chen
Liru Tian
Ya Xiao
Shulin Chen
Deying Su
Baolin Zhang
Peiqiang Su
Liao Zhiheng
Caixia Xu
author_facet Chuan Li
Jiahui Long
Shuqing Chen
Liru Tian
Ya Xiao
Shulin Chen
Deying Su
Baolin Zhang
Peiqiang Su
Liao Zhiheng
Caixia Xu
author_sort Chuan Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The lineage commitment and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in bone homeostasis. MAPK7 (Mitogen-activated protein kinase 7), a member of MAPK family, controls cell differentiation, proliferation and survival. However, the specific role of Mapk7 in regulating osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of MSCs remains to be determined. In this study, depletion of Mapk7 in MSCs by crossing Prx1-Cre mice to Mapk7 flox/flox resulted in severe low bone mass and accumulation of fat in bone marrow exhibiting osteoporosis (OP) in mice. Mapk7 promoted osteogenic differentiation and inhibited adipogenic differentiation of MSCs after knocking out and over-expressing Mapk7 in vitro. Mechanistically, Mapk7 activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling by phosphorylating Lrp6 at Ser1490, which ultimately enhanced osteogenesis and suppressed adipogenesis of MSCs. This is of great clinical and scientific significance for understanding biological function of Mapk7 and developing potential therapeutic targets for treatment of MSCs differentiation imbalance related bone diseases, such as, osteoporosis.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2399-3642
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Communications Biology
spelling doaj-art-1b8fcf944e3f4850acefae2398d970ec2025-08-20T03:03:38ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-02-018111510.1038/s42003-025-07765-xMapk7 enhances osteogenesis and suppresses adipogenesis by activating Lrp6/β-catenin signaling axis in mesenchymal stem cellsChuan Li0Jiahui Long1Shuqing Chen2Liru Tian3Ya Xiao4Shulin Chen5Deying Su6Baolin Zhang7Peiqiang Su8Liao Zhiheng9Caixia Xu10Research Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityResearch Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityResearch Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityResearch Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityResearch Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityResearch Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityResearch Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract The lineage commitment and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in bone homeostasis. MAPK7 (Mitogen-activated protein kinase 7), a member of MAPK family, controls cell differentiation, proliferation and survival. However, the specific role of Mapk7 in regulating osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of MSCs remains to be determined. In this study, depletion of Mapk7 in MSCs by crossing Prx1-Cre mice to Mapk7 flox/flox resulted in severe low bone mass and accumulation of fat in bone marrow exhibiting osteoporosis (OP) in mice. Mapk7 promoted osteogenic differentiation and inhibited adipogenic differentiation of MSCs after knocking out and over-expressing Mapk7 in vitro. Mechanistically, Mapk7 activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling by phosphorylating Lrp6 at Ser1490, which ultimately enhanced osteogenesis and suppressed adipogenesis of MSCs. This is of great clinical and scientific significance for understanding biological function of Mapk7 and developing potential therapeutic targets for treatment of MSCs differentiation imbalance related bone diseases, such as, osteoporosis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07765-x
spellingShingle Chuan Li
Jiahui Long
Shuqing Chen
Liru Tian
Ya Xiao
Shulin Chen
Deying Su
Baolin Zhang
Peiqiang Su
Liao Zhiheng
Caixia Xu
Mapk7 enhances osteogenesis and suppresses adipogenesis by activating Lrp6/β-catenin signaling axis in mesenchymal stem cells
Communications Biology
title Mapk7 enhances osteogenesis and suppresses adipogenesis by activating Lrp6/β-catenin signaling axis in mesenchymal stem cells
title_full Mapk7 enhances osteogenesis and suppresses adipogenesis by activating Lrp6/β-catenin signaling axis in mesenchymal stem cells
title_fullStr Mapk7 enhances osteogenesis and suppresses adipogenesis by activating Lrp6/β-catenin signaling axis in mesenchymal stem cells
title_full_unstemmed Mapk7 enhances osteogenesis and suppresses adipogenesis by activating Lrp6/β-catenin signaling axis in mesenchymal stem cells
title_short Mapk7 enhances osteogenesis and suppresses adipogenesis by activating Lrp6/β-catenin signaling axis in mesenchymal stem cells
title_sort mapk7 enhances osteogenesis and suppresses adipogenesis by activating lrp6 β catenin signaling axis in mesenchymal stem cells
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07765-x
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