ERK signaling pathways regulate the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells on collagen I and vitronectin

Adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins collagen I and vitronectin is sufficient to drive human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into an osteogenic differentiation pathway, but the mechanisms underlying this stimulation are not well understood. We found that addition of beta(1) and alpha(v)beta(3) integrin blocking antibodies inhibited ECM-induced ERK activation, while addition of the MEK inhibitor PD98059 blocked ERK activation, serine phosphorylation of the osteogenic transcription factor runx2/cbfa-1, osteogenic gene expression, and calcium deposition. These results suggest that ERK plays an important role in driving the ECM-induced osteogenic differentiation of hMSC.