Overexpression of fibroblast growth factor 23 suppresses osteoblast differentiation and matrix mineralization in vitro

Introduction: Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF)23 is produced primarily in bone and acts on kidney as a systemic phosphaturic factor; high levels result in rickets and osteomalacia. However, it remains unclear whether FGF23 acts locally and directly on bone formation.

Materials and methods: We overexpressed human FGF23 in a stage-specific manner during osteoblast development in fetal rat calvaria (RC) cell cultures by using the adenoviral overexpression system and analyzed its effects on osteoprogenitor proliferation, osteoid nodule formation, and mineralization. Bone formation was also measured by calcein labeling in parietal bone organ cultures. Finally, we addressed the role of tyrosine phosphorylation of FGF receptor (FGFR) in mineralized nodule formation.

Results: Nodule formation and mineralization, but not osteoprogenitor proliferation, were independently suppressed by overexpression of FGF23 in RC cells. Increased FGF23 levels also suppressed bone formation in the parietal bone organ culture model. FGF23 overexpression enhanced phosphorylation of FGFR, whereas the impairment of mineralized nodule formation by FGF23 overexpression was abrogated by SU5402, an inhibitor of FGFR1 tyrosine kinase activity.

Conclusions: These studies suggest that FGF23 overexpression suppresses not only osteoblast differentiation but also matrix mineralization independently of its systemic effects on Pi homeostasis.