Does semaphorin regulate differentiation and network among cells in osteocyte?

Research Project

Project/Area Number	20791544
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Surgical dentistry
Research Institution	Saitama Medical University
Principal Investigator	SATO Tsuyoshi Saitama Medical University, 医学部, 助教 (60406494)
Project Period (FY)	2008 – 2010
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2010)
Budget Amount *help	¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000) Fiscal Year 2010: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000) Fiscal Year 2009: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000) Fiscal Year 2008: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Keywords	semaphorin / 細胞間ネットワーク / 骨細胞 / 分化 / semaphorinファミリー / 骨芽細胞 / plexinファミリー
Research Abstract	We have found that osteocytes express plexin A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, C1 and both plexin A1 and plexin A2 increase mRNA expression sequentially. Osteocytes produce semaphorin 3A protein. Semaphorin 3A induces the expression of E11, connexin 43 and DMP1 in osteocyte. Using soft x-ray analysis, we detected high bone mineral in mice whose femur effected with hydrogel with semaphorin 3A in comparison with the control. Taken together, we discovered that semaphorin 3A regulates differentiation and dendrite extension on osteocytes in vitro and also promotes maturation of bone in vivo.