Non-canonical Wnt induces chondrocyte de-differentiation through Frizzled 6 and DVL-2/B-raf/CaMKIIα/syndecan 4 axis

Cell Death Differ. 2018 Aug;25(8):1442-1456. doi: 10.1038/s41418-017-0050-y. Epub 2018 Jan 19.

Abstract

Dysregulation of Wnt signaling has been implicated in developmental defects and in the pathogenesis of many diseases such as osteoarthritis; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we report that non-canonical Wnt signaling induced loss of chondrocyte phenotype through activation of Fz-6/DVL-2/SYND4/CaMKIIα/B-raf/ERK1/2 cascade. We show that in response to Wnt-3a, Frizzled 6 (Fz-6) triggers the docking of CaMKIIα to syndecan 4 (SYND4) and that of B-raf to DVL-2, leading to the phosphorylation of B-raf by CaMKIIα and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) signaling, which leads to chondrocyte de-differentiation. We demonstrate that CaMKIIα associates and phosphorylates B-raf in vitro and in vivo. Our study reveals the mechanism by which non-canonical Wnt activates ERK1/2 signaling that induces loss of chondrocyte phenotype, and demonstrates a direct functional relationship between CaMKIIα and B-raf during chondrocyte de-differentiation. The identification of Fz-6, SYND4, and B-raf as novel physiological regulators of chondrocyte phenotype may provide new potential anti-osteoarthritic targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Cell Dedifferentiation*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chondrocytes / cytology
  • Chondrocytes / metabolism
  • Dishevelled Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Dishevelled Proteins / genetics
  • Dishevelled Proteins / metabolism*
  • Frizzled Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Frizzled Receptors / genetics
  • Frizzled Receptors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System
  • Osteoarthritis / metabolism
  • Osteoarthritis / pathology
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Syndecan-4 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Syndecan-4 / genetics
  • Syndecan-4 / metabolism*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • DVL2 protein, human
  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Syndecan-4
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2