In vivo effects of two novel ALN-EP4a conjugate drugs on bone in the ovariectomized rat model for reversing postmenopausal bone loss

Authors

S. Hu, C. C. Liu, G. Chen, T. Willett, R. N. Young, M. D. Grynpas

Abstract

Two alendronate-EP4 agonist (ALN-EP4a) conjugate drugs, C1 and C2, which differ in structure by a short linker molecule, were evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats for their anabolic effects. We showed that C1 led to significant anabolic effects on cortical and trabecular bone while anabolic effects associated with C2 were minimal.

EP4as were covalently linked to ALN to create ALN-EP4a conjugate anabolic bone drugs, C1 and C2, which differ in structure by a short linker molecule in C1. When administered systemically, C1 and C2 are delivered to bone through targeted binding of ALN, where local hydrolytic enzymes liberate EP4a from ALN to exert anabolic effects. Here, we compare effects of C1 to C2 in a curative in vivo study.

Three-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats were OVX or sham operated and allowed to lose bone for 3 months. Animals were then treated via tail vein injections for 3 months and sacrificed. Treatment groups were as follows: C1L (5 mg/kg biweekly), C1H (5 mg/kg weekly), C2L (15 mg/kg monthly), C2H (15 mg/kg biweekly), OVX and sham control (phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) biweekly), and ALN/EP4a-unconjugated mixture (0.75 mg/kg each biweekly).

MicroCT analysis showed that C1H treatment significantly increased vertebral bone mineral density (vBMD) and trabecular bone volume versus OVX controls while C2 treatments did not. Biomechanical testing showed that C1H treatment but not C2 treatments led to significant improvement in the load bearing abilities of the vertebrae compared to OVX controls. C1 stimulated endocortical bone formation and increased load bearing in femurs, while C2 did not.

We showed that C1 led to significant anabolic effects on cortical and trabecular bone while anabolic effects associated with C2 were minimal. These results led us to hypothesize a mode of action by which presence of a linker is crucial in facilitating the anabolic effects of EP4a when dosed as a prodrug with ALN.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00198-015-3284-x

IGF-1 Regulates Vertebral Bone Aging Through Sex-Specific and Time-Dependent Mechanisms

Authors

Nicole M Ashpole PhD, Jacquelyn C Herron MS, Matthew C Mitschelen, Julie A Farley, Sreemathi Logan PhD, Han Yan PhD, Zoltan Ungvari MD/PhD, Erik L. Hodges, Anna Csiszar MD/PhD, Yuji Ikeno MD/PhD, Mary Beth Humphrey PhD and William E Sonntag PhD

Abstract

Advanced aging is associated with increased risk of bone fracture, especially within the vertebrae, which exhibit significant reductions in trabecular bone structure. Aging is also associated with a reduction in circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). Studies have suggested that the reduction in IGF-1 compromises healthspan, while others report that loss of IGF-1 is beneficial as it increases healthspan and lifespan. To date, the effect of decreases in circulating IGF-1 on vertebral bone aging has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we delineate the consequences of a loss of circulating IGF-1 on vertebral bone aging in male and female Igff/f mice. IGF-1 was reduced at multiple specific time points during the mouse lifespan- early in postnatal development (crossing albumin-Cre mice with Igff/f mice), or early adulthood, and late adulthood using hepatic-specific viral vectors (AAV8-TBG-Cre). Vertebrae bone structure was analyzed at 27 months of age using microCT and quantitative bone histomorphometry. Consistent with previous studies, both male and female mice exhibited age-related reductions in vertebral bone structure. In male mice, reduction of circulating IGF-1 induced at any age did not diminish vertebral bone loss. Interestingly, early-life loss of IGF-1 in females resulted in a 67% increase in vertebral bone volume fraction, as well as increased connectivity density and increased trabecular number. The maintenance of bone structure in the early-life IGF-1-deficient females was associated with increased osteoblast surface and an increased ratio of osteoprotegerin/receptor-activator of NFkB-ligand levels in circulation. Within 3 months of a loss of IGF-1, there was a 2.2 fold increase in insulin receptor expression within the vertebral bones of our female mice, suggesting that local signaling may compensate for the loss of circulating IGF-1. Together, these data suggest the age-related loss of vertebral bone density in females can be reduced by modifying circulating IGF-1 levels early in life.

Link to Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.2689

A Histomorphometric Analysis of Radiation Damage in an Isogenic Murine Model of Distraction Osteogenesis

Authors

Alexander R. Zheutlin, BS, Sagar S. Deshpande, BS, Noah S. Nelson, BS, Yekaterina Polyatskaya, MD, Jose J. Rodriguez, MD, Alexis Donneys, MD, MS, Steven R. Buchman, MD

Abstract

Purpose The devastation radiation therapy (XRT) causes to endogenous tissue in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients can be a prohibitive obstacle in reconstruction of the mandible, demanding a better understanding of XRT-induced damage and options for reconstruction. Our study investigates the cellular damage caused by radiation in an isogenic murine model of mandibular distraction osteogenesis (DO). We posit that radiation will result in reduced osteocytes, with elevated empty lacunae and immature osteoid.

Methods Twenty Lewis rats were randomly assigned to two groups: DO (n=10) and XRT/DO (n=10). Both groups underwent an osteotomy and mandibular DO across a 5.1 mm gap. XRT was administered to the XRT/DO group at a fractionated, human equivalent dose of 35 Gy prior to surgery. Animals were sacrificed on postoperative day 40 and mandibles were harvested and sectioned for histological analysis.

Results Bone that underwent radiation revealed a significantly decreased osteocyte count and complementary increase in empty lacunae when compared to non-XRT bone (p=0.019, p=0.000). Additionally, XRT bone demonstrated increased immature osteoid and decreased mature woven bone when compared to non-radiated bone (p=0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). Furthermore, analysis of the ratio of immature osteoid to woven bone volume exhibited a significant increase in the XRT bone, further revealing the devastating damage brought by XRT (p=0.001).

Conclusion These results clearly demonstrate the cellular diminution that occurs as a result of radiation. This foundational study provides the groundwork upon which to investigate cellular therapies in an immunoprivileged model of mandibular DO.

Link To Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2015.08.002

NLRP12 provides a critical checkpoint for osteoclast differentiation

Authors

Jennifer L. Krauss, Rong Zeng, Cynthia L. Hickman-Brecks, Justin E. Wilson, Jenny P.-Y. Ting, and Deborah V. Novack

Abstract

The alternative or noncanonical nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway regulates the osteoclast (OC) response to receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and thus bone metabolism. Although several lines of evidence support the emerging concept that nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 12 (NLRP12) impedes alternative NF-κB activation in innate immune cells, a functional role for NLRP12 outside an inflammatory disease model has yet to be reported. Our study demonstrates that NLRP12 has a protective role in bone via suppression of alternative NF-κB–induced osteoclastogenesis and is down-modulated in response to osteoclastogenic stimuli. Here, we show that retroviral overexpression of NLRP12 suppressed RelB nuclear translocation and OC formation. Conversely, genetic ablation of NLRP12 promoted NIK stabilization, RelB nuclear translocation, and increased osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Using radiation chimeras, we demonstrated these in vitro observations dovetail with our in vivo findings that NLRP12 deficiency leads to enhanced OC numbers accompanied by a significant decline in bone mass under physiological conditions. Consistent with the basal bone phenotype, we also observed an enhanced osteolytic response following RANKL injection over the calvaria of NLRP12-deficient chimeric mice compared with wild-type control mice. Thus, modulation of NLRP12 levels controls alternative NF-κB signaling in OC precursors, altering bone homeostasis and osteolytic responses.

Link To Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1500196112

Osteoclast Deficiency Contributes to Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosed Bone Mass Formation

Authors

L.H. He, E. Xiao, D.H. Duan, Y.H. Gan, Y. Zhang

Abstract

Ankylosed bone mass in temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA) is an important factor affecting mouth-opening limitation. However, the mechanism underlying the occurrence of ankylosed bone mass remains unknown. Research has shown that osteoblasts and osteoclasts maintain balance in bone remodeling. Thus, we hypothesized that aberrant osteoclastogenesis and osteogenesis may be involved in the occurrence of ankylosed bone mass in TMJA. In this study, we characterized the osteogenesis of bone marrow stem cells and the osteoclastogenesis of myelomonocyte in clinical specimens of TMJA and normal controls. Results showed that, compared with control bone marrow stem cells, TMJA bone marrow stem cells had lower proliferative and osteogenic capacities. The number of osteoclasts in the ankylosed bone mass group dramatically decreased, and myelomonocyte osteoclastogenic potential was impaired. The RANKL/OPG ratio of the ankylosed bone mass group was lower than that of the control group. Thus, our study suggests that osteoclast deficiency may be an important factor affecting bone mass ankylosis.

Optimizing tamoxifen-inducible Cre/loxp system to reduce tamoxifen effect on bone turnover in long bones of young mice

Authors

Zhendong A. Zhong, Weihua Sun, Haiyan Chen, Hongliang Zhang, Yu-an E. Lay, Nancy E. Lane, Wei Yao

Abstract

Abstract For tamoxifen-dependent Cre recombinase, also known as CreER recombinase, tamoxifen (TAM) is used to activate the Cre to generate time- and tissue-specific mouse mutants. TAM is a potent CreER system inducer; however, TAM is also an active selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that can influence bone homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to optimize the TAM dose for Cre recombinase activation while minimizing the effects of TAM on bone turnover in young growing mice.

Methods To evaluate the effects of TAM on bone turnover and bone mass, 1-month-old male wild-type mice were intraperitoneally injected with TAM at 0, 1, 10 or 100 mg/kg/day for four consecutive days. The distal femurs were analyzed one month after the last TAM injection by microCT, mechanical test, and surface-based bone histomorphometry. Similar doses of TAM were used in Col1 (2.3 kb)-CreERT2; mT/mG reporter mice to evaluate the dose-dependent efficacy of Cre-ER activation in bone tissue.

Results A TAM dose of 100 mg/kg × 4 days significantly increased trabecular bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) of the distal femur, femur length, bone strength, and serum bone turnover markers compared to the 0 mg control group. In contrast, TAM doses ≤ 10 mg/kg did not significantly change any of these parameters compared to the 0 mg group, although a higher bone strength was observed in the 10 mg group. Surface-based histomorphometry revealed that the 100 mg/kg dose of TAM dose significantly increased trabecular bone formation and decreased periosteal bone formation at 1-week post-TAM treatment. Using the reporter mouse model Col1-CreERT2; mT/mG, we found that 10 mg/kg TAM induced Col1-CreERT2 activity in bone at a comparable level to the 100 mg/kg dose.

Conclusions TAM treatment at 100 mg/kg/day × 4 days significantly affects bone homeostasis, resulting in an anabolic bone effect on trabecular bone in 1-month-old male mice. However, a lower dose of TAM at 10 mg/kg/day × 4 days can yield similar Col1-CreERT2 induction efficacy with minimum effects on bone turnover in young male mice.

Link To Article

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2015.07.034