Semaphorin 3A enhances osteogenesis of MG63 cells through interaction with Schwann cells in vitro

Abstract

Bone remodeling is under the control of various signals and systems in the body, including the nervous system. Semaphorin (Sema) 3A is a chemorepellent protein which regulates bone mass. Schwann cells, having a pivotal role following nerve injury, interact with Sema3A under numerous circumstances. The present study established a co-culture system of MG63 and Schwann cells to investigate the role of the interaction between Sema3A and Schwann cells in osteogenesis. The results from the alkaline phosphatase assay, calcium nodule staining and the analysis of the osteogenic gene expression revealed that Sema3A inhibits osteogenic differentiation of MG63 cells in single-cell culture and promotes osteogenic differentiation of MG63 cells in co-culture with Schwann cells, in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that the presence of Schwann cells induces Sema3A-associated osteogenic differentiation in bone cells, and also reveals the pivotal role of Sema3A as a regulator in the skeletal and nervous systems, thus contributing to a better understanding of the interaction between these systems.