DIPQUO is an activator of bone marker alkaline phosphatase (ALP). DIPQUO promotes the differentiation of mouse and human osteoblasts by activating p38MAPK-β. The EC50 in C2C12 cells was 6.27 μM.
Osteocalcin (1-49) is a non-collagenous peptide that is secreted by osteoblasts and odontoblasts and comprises 1-2% of the total protein in bone. Secretion of osteocalcin (1-49) is stimulated by 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D and plasma levels increase in diseases that induce dysregulated bone turnover such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and primary hyperparathyroidism. Osteocalcin (1-49) is positively correlated with insulin sensitivity and negatively correlated with high blood glucose levels in women. In vitro, osteocalcin induces chemotaxis of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, human peripheral blood monocytes, and rat osteosarcoma cells with osteoblast-like characteristics. It is also expressed by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) displaying an osteoblast-like phenotype and has been positively associated with calcification of aortic tissue and heart valves in humans.
The prostaglandin E receptor 4 (EP4) is one of four G protein-coupled receptors that mediate the actions of prostaglandin E2 . Binding of PGE2 to the EP4 receptor causes an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP, which plays important roles in bone formation and resorption, cancer, and atherosclerosis. KMN-80 is a substituted γ-lactam (pyrrolidinone) derivative of PGE1 that acts as a selective and potent agonist of EP4 with an IC50 value of 3 nM (IC50 = 1.4 μM for EP3 and > 10 μM for all other prostanoid receptors). In functional assays it has been shown to stimulate secreted alkaline phosphatase gene reporter activity in EP4-transfected HEK293 cells with an EC50 value of 0.19 nM, demonstrating >5,000 and 50,000-fold selectivity against EP2 and TP, respectively. KMN-80 can induce the differentiation of bone marrow stem cells from both young and aged rats into osteoblasts in vitro (EC50s = 20 and 153 nM, respectively) and exhibits favorable tolerability up to at least 10 μM, whereas the EP4 agonist L-902,688 is highly cytotoxic at similar concentrations in these cells. KMN-80 has been used to repair calvarial defects in an in vivo rat craniomaxillofacial reconstruction model (rate of reduction in defect size equivalent to BMP-2 treated rats) and to promote bone formation in a rat incisor tooth socket model.
Dentonin (AC-100) is a synthetic fragment derived from MEPE that enhances osteogenesis by promoting osteoprogenitor adhesion and facilitating the survival of immature adherent cells. It does not have a significant effect on mature osteoblasts. Dentonin is useful for research on phosphate homeostasis and bone metabolism.
Bullatantriol has a stimulative effect on significantly proliferation and differentiation of culture osteoblasts. It may have weak antibacterial activities.