Osteocalcin promotes proliferation, differentiation, and survival of PC12 cells

Involvement of the bone matrix protein osteocalcin (OC) in the development of learning and memory, and the prevention of anxiety-like behaviors in mice. However, the direct effects of OC on neurons are still unknown comparing to the mechanism how OC affects systemic energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the effect of OC on proliferation, differentiation, and survival of neurons using the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12. RT-PCR analysis for OC receptor candidates revealed that Gpr158, but not Gprc6a, mRNA was expressed in PC12 cells. The growth of PC12 cells cultured in the presence of 5–50 ng/mL of either uncarboxylated (GluOC) or carboxylated (GlaOC) OC was increased compared to cells cultured in the absence of OC. In addition, NGF-induced neurite outgrowth was enhanced by OC, and H 2 O 2 -induced cell death was suppressed by pretreatment with OC. All of these results were observed for both GluOC and GlaOC at comparable levels, suggesting that OC may directly affect cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival by binding to its candidate receptor, GPR158. • PC12 cells expresses GPR158 but not GPRC6A as a candidate OC receptor. • OC stimulated ERK signaling in PC12 cells. • OC promoted cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival of PC12 cells. • PC12 could be a beneficial tool to investigate the action of OC on neurons in detail.