E proteins regulate osteoclast maturation and survival

Authors

Courtney L. Long, William L. Berry, Ying Zhao, Xiao-Hong Sun, Mary Beth Humphrey

Abstract

Osteoclasts are bone specific polykarons derived from myeloid precursors under the stimulation of MCSF and RANKL. E proteins are basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors that modulate lymphoid versus myeloid cell fate decisions. To study the role of E proteins in osteoclasts, myeloid specific E protein gain-of-function transgenic mice were generated. These mice have high bone mass due to decreased osteoclast numbers and increased osteoclast apoptosis leading to overall reductions in resorptive capacity. The molecular mechanism of decreased osteoclast numbers and resorption is due, in part, to elevated expression of CD38, a regulator of intracellular calcium pools with known anti-osteoclastogenic properties, which increases sensitivity to apoptosis. In vivo, exogenous RANKL stimulation can overcome this inhibition to drive osteoclastogenesis and bone loss. In vitro derived ET2 osteoclasts are more spread and more numerous with increases in RANK, TREM2, and NFATc1 compared to wild type. However, their resorptive capacity does not increase accordingly. Thus, E proteins participate in osteoclast maturation and survival in homeostatic bone remodeling.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.1707

HGFK1 inhibits bone metastasis in breast cancer through the TAK1/p38 MAPK signaling pathway

Authors

Y Yao, Z-P Fang, H Chen, L Yue, D-l Min, L-N Tang, W-X Yu, H F Kung,M C Lin and Z Shen

Abstract

Breast cancer metastasis to bone represents a devastating complication of advanced breast cancer, frequently resulting in significant increases in morbidity and mortality. An understanding of the mechanisms that govern breast cancer metastasis at the molecular level should lead to more effective therapies. Recently, the kringle 1 domain of human hepatocyte growth factor (HGFK1) was identified as a candidate metastasis suppressor gene. Here, we investigated whether HGFK1 is a key regulator of breast cancer bone metastasis. Of the 193 human breast carcinoma tissue samples examined, HGFK1 expression was relative higher in 82 (42.4%) by western blot and in 84 (43.5%) by quantitative real-time PCR. The higher expression of HGFK1 was significantly associated with a better prognostic value (P<0.001) and inversely correlated with bone metastasis (P=0.003). The efficacy of adeno-associated virus carrying HGFK1 (AAV-HGFK1) in osteolytic bone metastasis was then evaluated using an in vivo bone metastasis model. AAV-HGFK1 significantly inhibited osteolytic bone metastasis and prolonged the survival of mice in this model (P<0.01). In vitro, HGFK1 expression resulted in significant anti-invasion effects, enhanced the phosphorylation of TAK1 (transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1), p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and MAPKAPK2 (MAPK-activated protein kinase 2) and decreased the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), which was abrogated by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. This study shows for the first time that HGFK1 significantly inhibits the metastasis of breast cancer to bone by activating the TAK1/p38 MAPK signaling pathway and inhibiting RANK expression. Thus, AAV-HGFK1 treatment represents a potential therapy for bone metastasis in breast cancer.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/cgt.2012.38

T-Lymphocytes Enable Osteoblast Maturation via IL-17F during the Early Phase of Fracture Repair

Authors

Diane Nam, Elaine Mau, Yufa Wang, David Wright, David Silkstone, Heather Whetstone, Cari Whyne, Benjamin Alman

Abstract

While it is well known that the presence of lymphocytes and cytokines are important for fracture healing, the exact role of the various cytokines expressed by cells of the immune system on osteoblast biology remains unclear. To study the role of inflammatory cytokines in fracture repair, we studied tibial bone healing in wild-type and Rag1−/− mice. Histological analysis, µCT stereology, biomechanical testing, calcein staining and quantitative RNA gene expression studies were performed on healing tibial fractures. These data provide support for Rag1−/− mice as a model of impaired fracture healing compared to wild-type. Moreover, the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-17F, was found to be a key mediator in the cellular response of the immune system in osteogenesis. In vitro studies showed that IL-17F alone stimulated osteoblast maturation. We propose a model in which the Th17 subset of T-lymphocytes produces IL-17F to stimulate bone healing. This is a pivotal link in advancing our current understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of fracture healing, which in turn may aid in optimizing fracture management and in the treatment of impaired bone healing.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0040044

Bisphosphonates improve trabecular bone mass and normalize cortical thickness in ovariectomized, osteoblast connexin43 deficient mice

Authors

Marcus P. Watkins, Jin Yi Norris, Susan K. Grimston, Xiaown Zhang, Roger J. Phipps, Frank H. Ebetino, Roberto Civitelli

Abstract

The gap junction protein, connexin43 (Cx43) controls both bone formation and osteoclastogenesis via osteoblasts and/or osteocytes. Cx43 has also been proposed to mediate an anti-apoptotic effect of bisphosphonates, potent inhibitors of bone resorption. We studied whether bisphosphonates are effective in protecting mice with a conditional Cx43 gene deletion in osteoblasts and osteocytes (cKO) from the consequences of ovariectomy on bone mass and strength. Ovariectomy resulted in rapid loss of trabecular bone followed by a slight recovery in wild type (WT) mice, and a similar degree of trabecular bone loss, albeit slightly delayed, occurred in cKO mice. Treatment with either risedronate (20 μg/kg) or alendronate (40 μg/kg) prevented ovariectomy-induced bone loss in both genotypes. In basal conditions, bones of cKO mice have larger marrow area, higher endocortical osteoclast number, and lower cortical thickness and strength relative to WT. Ovariectomy increased endocortical osteoclast number in WT but not in cKO mice. Both bisphosphonates prevented these increases in WT mice, and normalized endocortical osteoclast number, cortical thickness and bone strength in cKO mice. Thus, lack of osteoblast/osteocyte Cx43 does not alter bisphosphonate action on bone mass and strength in estrogen deficiency. These results support the notion that one of the main functions of Cx43 in cortical bone is to restrain osteoblast and/or osteocytes from inducing osteoclastogenesis at the endocortical surface.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2012.06.018

Wntless functions in mature osteoblasts to regulate bone mass

Authors

Zhendong Zhong, Cassandra R. Zylstra-Diegel, Cassie A. Schumacher, Jacob J. Baker, April C. Carpenter, Sujata Rao, Wei Yao, Min Guan, Jill A. Helms, Nancy E. Lane, Richard A. Lang, and Bart O. Williams

Abstract

Recent genome-wide association studies of individuals of Asian and European descent have found that SNPs located within the genomic region (1p31.3) encoding the Wntless (Wls)/Gpr177 protein are associated significantly with reduced bone mineral density. Wls/Gpr177 is a newly identified chaperone protein that specifically escorts Wnt ligands for secretion. Given the strong functional association between the Wnt signaling pathways and bone development and homeostasis, we generated osteoblast-specific Wls-deficient (Ocn-Cre;Wls-flox) mice. Homozygous conditional knockout animals were born at a normal Mendelian frequency. Whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning revealed that bone-mass accrual was significantly inhibited in homozygotes as early as 20 d of age. These homozygotes had spontaneous fractures and a high frequency of premature lethality at around 2 mo of age. Microcomputed tomography analysis and histomorphometric data revealed a dramatic reduction of both trabecular and cortical bone mass in homozygous mutants. Bone formation in homozygotes was severely impaired, but no obvious phenotypic change was observed in mice heterozygous for the conditional deletion. In vitro studies showed that Wls-deficient osteoblasts had a defect in differentiation and mineralization, with significant reductions in the expression of key osteoblast differentiation regulators. In summary, these results reveal a surprising and crucial role of osteoblast-secreted Wnt ligands in bone-mass accrual.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1120407109

An Age-Dependent Interaction with Leptin Unmasks Ghrelin's Bone-Protective Effects

Authors

Martijn van der Velde, Bram C.J. van der Eerden, Yuxiang Sun, Julia M.M. Almering, Aart-Jan van der Lely, Patric J.D. Delhanty, Roy G. Smith and Johannes P.T.M. van Leeuwen

Abstract

The mutual interplay between energy homeostasis and bone metabolism is an important emerging concept. Ghrelin and leptin antagonize each other in regulating energy balance, but the role of this interaction in bone metabolism is unknown. Using ghrelin receptor and leptin-deficient mice, we show that ghrelin has dual effects on osteoclastogenesis, inhibiting osteoclast progenitors directly and stimulating osteoclastogenesis via a more potent systemic/central pathway. Using mice with combined ghrelin receptor and leptin deficiency, we find that this systemic osteoclastogenic activity is suppressed by leptin, thus balancing the two counterregulatory ghrelin pathways and leading to an unchanged bone structure. With aging, this osteoclastogenic ghrelin pathway is lost, unmasking the direct protective effect of ghrelin on bone structure. In conclusion, we identify a novel regulatory network linking orexigenic and anorectic metabolic factors with bone metabolism that is age dependent.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2012-1277