Histone Acetyltransferase GCN5 Regulates Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Inhibiting NF-κB.

As the most well-studied histone acetyltransferase (HAT) in yeast and mammals, general control nonderepressible 5 (GCN5) was documented to play essential roles in various developmental processes. However, little is known about its role in osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Here, we detected the critical function of GCN5 in osteogenic commitment of MSCs. In this role, the HAT activity of GCN5 was not required. Mechanistically, GCN5 repressed nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent transcription and inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway. The impaired osteogenic differentiation by GCN5 knockdown was blocked by inhibition of NF-κB. Most importantly, the expression of GCN5 was decreased significantly in the bone tissue sections of ovariectomized mice or aged mice. Collectively, these results may point to the GCN5-NF-κB pathway as a novel potential molecular target for stem cell mediated regenerative medicine and the treatment of metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis.