Neuropeptide substance P improves osteoblastic and angiogenic differentiation capacity of bone marrow stem cells in vitro

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:596023. doi: 10.1155/2014/596023. Epub 2014 Jun 23.

Abstract

Our previous work showed that implanting a sensory nerve or vascular bundle when constructing vascularized and neurotized bone could promote bone osteogenesis in tissue engineering. This phenomenon could be explained by the regulatory function of neuropeptides. Neuropeptide substance P (SP) has been demonstrated to contribute to bone growth by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs). However, there have been no prior studies on the association between Wnt signaling and the mechanism of SP in the context of BMSC differentiation. Our results have shown that SP could enhance the differentiation of BMSCs by activating gene and protein expression via the Wnt pathway and by translocating β-catenin, which can be inhibited by Wnt signaling blocker treatment or by the NK-1 antagonist. SP could also increase the growth factor level of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Additionally, SP could enhance the migration ability of BMSCs, and the promotion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression by SP has been studied. In conclusion, SP could induce osteoblastic differentiation via the Wnt pathway and promote the angiogenic ability of BMSCs. These results indicate that a vascularized and neurotized tissue-engineered construct could be feasible for use in bone tissue engineering strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / genetics
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects*
  • Osteoblasts / cytology*
  • Osteoblasts / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Substance P / pharmacology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / genetics

Substances

  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Substance P
  • Alkaline Phosphatase