24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 cooperates with a stable, fluoromethylene LPA receptor agonist to secure human (MG63) osteoblast maturation

• Non-calcaemic vitamin D receptor agonists are desirable agents for bone repair.
• Pro-anabolic 24,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (24,25D) could fulfill this role.
• Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) co-operates with 24,25D to secure osteoblast maturation.
• Stable LPA agonists and 24,25D could therefore act to bolster bone regeneration.

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonists supporting human osteoblast (hOB) differentiation in the absence of bone resorption are attractive agents in a bone regenerative setting. One potential candidate fulfilling these roles is 24,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (24,25D). Over forty years ago it was reported that supraphysiological levels of 24,25D could stimulate intestinal calcium uptake and aid bone repair without causing bone calcium mobilisation. VDR agonists co-operate with certain growth factors to enhance hOB differentiation but whether 24,25D might act similarly in promoting cellular maturation has not been described. Given our discovery that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) co-operated with VDR agonists to enhance hOB maturation, we co-treated MG63 hOBs with 24,25D and a phosphatase-resistant LPA analog. In isolation 24,25D inhibited proliferation and stimulated osteocalcin expression. When co-administered with the LPA analog there were synergistic increases in alkaline phosphatase (ALP). These are encouraging findings which may help realise the future application of 24,25D in promoting osseous repair.