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Src is a major signaling component for CTGF induction by TGF‐β1 in osteoblasts

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) is induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) where it acts as a downstream mediator of TGF‐β1 induced matrix production in osteoblasts. We have shown the requirement of Src, Erk, and Smad signaling for CTGF induction by TGF‐β1 in osteoblasts; however, the potential interaction among these signaling pathways remains undetermined. In this study we demonstrate that TGF‐β1 activates Src kinase in ROS17/2.8 cells and that treatment with the Src family kinase inhibitor PP2 prevents Src activation and CTGF induction by TGF‐β1. Additionally, inhibiting Src activation prevented Erk activation, Smads 2 and 3 activation and nuclear translocation by TGF‐β1, demonstrating that Src is an essential upstream signaling partner of both Erk and Smads in osteoblasts. MAPKs such as Erk can modulate the Smad pathway directly by mediating the phosphorylation of Smads or indirectly through activation/inactivation of required nuclear co‐activators that mediate Smad DNA binding. When we treated cells with the Erk inhibitor, PD98059, it inhibited TGF‐β1‐induced CTGF protein expression but had no effect on Src activation, Smad activation or Smad nuclear translocation. However PD98059 impaired transcriptional complex formation on the Smad binding element (SBE) of the CTGF promoter, demonstrating that Erk activation was required for SBE transactivation. These data demonstrate that Src is an essential upstream signaling transducer of Erk and Smad signaling with respect to TGF‐β1 in osteoblasts and that Smads and Erk function independently but are both essential for forming a transcriptionally active complex on the CTGF promoter in osteoblasts. J. Cell. Physiol. 224: 691–701, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.