The role of the mTORC1 signaling pathway during osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal cells under tension stress

To investigate the expression of the mTORC1 signaling pathway during the osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal cells (BMMSCs) under cyclic uniaxial tension and explore its possible role.

The BMMSCs of mice were affected by uniaxial dynamic tensile force. Western blot was used to detect the expression changes of major molecules (mTOR, Raptor, S6K) in the endogenous mTORC1 signaling pathway at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours after stretching. Chemical colorimetry, ELISA and PCR were used to detect alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN) and Runx2 mRNA, respectively. Then, inhibition, activation and control groups were established by administration of the drugs PP242, MHY1485 and PBS, respectively. Two hours after the stress, the expression of S6K was detected by western blot, and the expression of the osteogenic signal was continuously detected by the above methods.

Western blot analysis showed that the main molecules of the mTORC1 signaling pathway were all expressed within 8 hours after traction, and the highest expression was 2 hours after the stress. Compared with those in the control group, the ALP activity and OCN expression decreased and the Runx2 mRNA levels increased after the mTORC1 signal pathway was inhibited (P < 0.001); ALP activity and OCN expression increased after the mTORC1 signal pathway was activated, while the Runx2 mRNA levels decreased (P < 0.001).

The mTORC1 signaling pathway participates in the osteogenic differentiation of mouse BMMSCs under tension. The osteogenesis of BMMSCs under cyclic uniaxial tension would be enhanced if the mTORC1 signaling pathway was activated.