Identification of upregulators of BMP2 expression via high-throughput screening of a synthetic and natural compound library

J Biomol Screen. 2009 Dec;14(10):1251-6. doi: 10.1177/1087057109346446.

Abstract

Bone morphogenetic protein II (BMP2), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, is highly expressed in osteoblasts and is a crucial regulator of osteogenic differentiation. Many observations clearly indicate the high potency of BMP2 as an inducer of osteogenesis, and it may be a novel therapeutic target for diseases associated with bone loss, especially in menopausal and postmenopausal women. To discover new agents that enhance the expression of the mouse BMP2, the authors developed a high-throughput assay to screen a synthetic and natural compound library. The cell-based high-throughput screen was conducted in 96-well plates using the clonal murine calvarial MC3T3-E1 cells. These cells were stably transfected with mouse BMP2 promoter-luciferase and calibrated with the known antiosteoporosis compound genistein. Among 3192 compounds screened, 3 agents (daidzein, formononetin, and 2-Acetyldibenzothiophene) were picked up by the high-throughput screening assay, and those compounds were identified as upregulators of BMP2 expression by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry. Thus, it is demonstrated that this screening model is useful for identifying lead compounds to treat osteoporosis and maintain bone metabolism balance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Products / analysis*
  • Biological Products / pharmacology*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / genetics*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Genistein / chemistry
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods*
  • Humans
  • Isoflavones / chemistry
  • Isoflavones / pharmacology
  • Luminescence
  • Mice
  • Osteoblasts / drug effects
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Biological Products
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Isoflavones
  • RNA, Messenger
  • daidzein
  • Genistein