Ctdnep1 phosphatase is required for negative regulation of RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 cells.

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells with bone resorption activity. Excessive osteoclast activity has been implicated in osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and bone destruction due to bone metastases from cancer, making osteoclasts essential target cells in bone and joint diseases. C-terminal domain nuclear envelope phosphatase 1 (Ctdnep1, formerly Dullard) is a negative regulator of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß superfamily signaling and regulates endochondral ossification in mesenchymal cells during skeletal development. In this study, we investigated the role of Ctdnep1 in the Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced RAW264.7 osteoclast differentiation. Expression of Ctdnep1 did not change during osteoclast differentiation; Ctdnep1 protein localized to the cytoplasm before and after osteoclast differentiation. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of Ctdnep1 increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated osteoclasts and the expression of osteoclast marker genes, including Acp5, Ctsk, and Nfatc1. Interestingly, the knockdown of Ctdnep1 increased the protein level of Nfatc1 in cells unstimulated with RANKL. Knockdown of Ctdnep1 also enhanced calcium-resorbing activity. Mechanistically, the knockdown of Ctdnep1 increased the phosphorylation of RANKL signaling components. These results suggest that Ctdnep1 negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation by suppressing the RANKL signaling pathway.

Gprc5a is a novel parathyroid hormone-inducible gene and negatively regulates osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.

Teriparatide is a peptide derived from a parathyroid hormone (PTH) and an osteoporosis therapeutic drug with potent bone formation-promoting activity. To identify novel druggable genes that act downstream of PTH signaling and are potentially involved in bone formation, we screened PTH target genes in mouse osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. Here we show that Gprc5a, encoding an orphan G protein-coupled receptor, is a novel PTH-inducible gene and negatively regulates osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. PTH treatment induced Gprc5a expression in MC3T3-E1 cells, rat osteosarcoma ROS17/2.8 cells, and mouse femurs. Induction of Gprc5a expression by PTH occurred in the absence of protein synthesis and was mediated primarily via the cAMP pathway, suggesting that Gprc5a is a direct target of PTH signaling. Interestingly, Gprc5a expression was induced additively by co-treatment with PTH and 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), or retinoic acid in MC3T3-E1 cells. Reporter analysis of a 1 kb fragment of human GPRC5A promoter revealed that the promoter fragment showed responsiveness to PTH via the cAMP response element, suggesting that GPRC5A is also a PTH-inducible gene in humans. Gprc5a knockdown promoted cell viability and proliferation, as demonstrated by MTT and BrdU assays. Gprc5a knockdown also promoted osteoblast differentiation, as indicated by gene expression analysis and mineralization assay. Mechanistic studies showed that Gprc5a interacted with BMPR1A and suppressed BMP signaling induced by BMP-2 and constitutively active BMP receptors, ALK2 (ACVR1) Q207D and ALK3 (BMPR1A) Q233D. Thus, our results suggest that Gprc5a is a novel gene induced by PTH that acts in an inhibitory manner on both cell proliferation and osteoblast differentiation and is a candidate for drug targets for osteoporosis.

The RNA-binding protein Cpeb4 regulates splicing of the Id2 gene in osteoclast differentiation.

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 4 (Cpeb4) is an RNA-binding protein that regulates posttranscriptional regulation, such as regulation of messenger RNA stability and translation. In the previous study, we reported that Cpeb4 localizes to nuclear bodies upon induction of osteoclast differentiation by RANKL. However, the mechanisms of the localization of Cpeb4 and osteoclastogenesis by Cpeb4 remain unknown. Here, we show that Cpeb4 localizes to the nuclear bodies by its RNA-binding ability and partially regulates normal splicing during osteoclast differentiation. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis with Phos-tag® revealed that the phosphorylation levels of Cpeb4 were already high in the RAW264.7 cells and were not altered by RANKL treatment. Immunofluorescence showed that exogenous Cpeb4 in HEK293T cells without RANKL stimulation localized to the same foci as shown in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, when nuclear export was inhibited by leptomycin B treatment, Cpeb4 accumulated throughout the nucleus. Importantly, RNA recognition motif (RRM) 7 of Cpeb4 was essential for the localization. In contrast, the intrinsically disordered region, RRM1, and zinc finger domain CEBP_ZZ were not necessary for the localization. The mechanistic study showed that Cpeb4 co-localized and interacted with the splicing factors serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 5 (SRSF5) and SRSF6, suggesting that Cpeb4 may be involved in the splicing reaction. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that the expression of genes related to cell proliferation processes, such as mitotic cell cycle and regulation of cell cycle processes, was elevated in osteoclasts depleted of Cpeb4. Interestingly, the splicing pattern of the inhibitor of DNA binding 2 (Id2) gene, which suppresses osteoclast differentiation, was altered by the depletion of Cpeb4. These results provide new insight into the role of Cpeb4 as a player of normal splicing of Id2 in osteoclast differentiation.

Identification of a Biallelic Missense Variant in Gasdermin D (c.823G > C, p.Asp275His) in a Patient of Atypical Gorham-Stout Disease in a Consanguineous Family.

Gorham-Stout disease (GSD), also called vanishing bone disease, is a rare osteolytic disease, frequently associated with lymphangiomatous tissue proliferation. The causative genetic background has not been noted except for a case with a somatic mutation in KRAS. However, in the present study, we encountered a case of GSD from a consanguineous family member. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis focusing on rare recessive variants with zero homozygotes in population databases identified a homozygous missense variant (c.823G > C, p.Asp275His) in gasdermin D (GSDMD) in the patient and heterozygous in his unaffected brother. Because this variant affects the Asp275 residue that is involved in proteolytic cleavage by caspase-11 (as well as -4 and -5) to generate an activating p30 fragment required for pyroptotic cell death and proinflammation, we confirmed the absence of this cleavage product in peripheral monocytic fractions from the patient. A recent study indicated that a shorter p20 fragment, generated by further cleavage at Asp88, has a cell-autonomous function to suppress the maturation of osteoclasts to resorb bone matrix. Thus, the present study suggests for the first time the existence of hereditary GSD cases or novel GSD-like diseases caused by GSDMD deficiency. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

The RNA-binding protein Cpeb4 is a novel positive regulator of osteoclast differentiation.

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) proteins are RNA-binding proteins involved in translational regulation of the specific target mRNAs and control function of various organs including brain, liver and hematopoietic system. However, the role of CPEB proteins during osteoclast differentiation remains unclear. Here we show that Cpeb4 is required for RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in mouse macrophage-derived RAW264.7 cell line. Cpeb4 mRNA and protein levels are upregulated at the late stage of osteoclast differentiation. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that Cpeb4 is translocated from cytoplasm to nuclear bodies in response to RANKL stimulation. Inhibition of PI3K-Akt signaling or calcium-NFAT pathways using chemical inhibitors suppressed nuclear localization of Cpeb4. Loss-of-function analysis showed that shRNA-mediated Cpeb4 depletion strongly impaired TRAP-positive osteoclast formation and expression of key differentiation markers including Acp5, Ctsk, Nfatc1 and Dcstamp. These results suggest that Cpeb4 is a positive regulator in osteoclastogenesis downstream of RANKL signaling.

Generation of two human induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from two juvenile nephronophthisis patients with NPHP1 deletion.

Juvenile nephronophthisis is an inherited renal ciliopathy, causing cystic kidney disease, renal fibrosis, and end-stage renal failure. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines, derived from two Juvenile nephronophthisis patients, were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by episomal plasmid vectors. Generated hiPSC lines showed self-renewal and pluripotency and carried a large deletion in NPHP1 (Nephrocystin 1) gene. Since the molecular pathogenesis caused by NPHP1 dysfunction remains unclear, these cell resources provide useful tools to establish disease models and to develop new therapies for juvenile nephronophthisis.

Dok-3 and Dok-1/-2 adaptors play distinctive roles in cell fusion and proliferation during osteoclastogenesis and cooperatively protect mice from osteopenia.

Bone mass is determined by coordinated acts of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which control bone formation and resorption, respectively. Osteoclasts are multinucleated, macrophage/monocyte lineage cells from bone marrow. The Dok-family adaptors Dok-1, Dok-2 and Dok-3 are expressed in the macrophage/monocyte lineage and negatively regulate many signaling pathways, implying roles in osteoclastogenesis. Indeed, mice lacking Dok-1 and Dok-2, the closest homologues with redundant functions, develop osteopenia with increased osteoclast counts compared to the wild-type controls. Here, we demonstrate that Dok-3 knockout (KO) mice also develop osteopenia. However, Dok-3 KO, but not Dok-1/-2 double-KO (DKO), mice develop larger osteoclasts within the normal cell-count range, suggesting a distinctive role for Dok-3. Indeed, Dok-3 KO, but not Dok-1/-2 DKO, bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) generated larger osteoclasts with more nuclei due to augmented cell-to-cell fusion in vitro. In addition, while Dok-1/-2 DKO BMDCs generated more osteoclasts, Dok-1/-2/-3 triple-KO (TKO) BMDCs generated osteoclasts increased in both number and size. Furthermore, Dok-1/-2/-3 TKO mice showed the combined effects of Dok-3 and Dok-1/-2 deficiency: severe osteopenia with more and larger osteoclasts. Together, our findings demonstrate that Dok-3 and Dok-1/-2 play distinctive but cooperative roles in osteoclastogenesis and protect mice from osteopenia, providing physiological and pathophysiological insight into bone homeostasis.

Dullard deficiency causes hemorrhage in the adult ovarian follicles.

In mammals, the ovarian follicles are regulated at least in part by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family members. Dullard (also known as Ctdnep1) gene encodes a phosphatase that suppresses BMP signaling by inactivating or degrading BMP receptors. Here we report that the Col1a1-Cre-induced Dullard mutant mice displayed hemorrhagic ovarian cysts, with red blood cells accumulated in the follicles, resulting in infertility. Cells expressing Cre driven by Col1a1 2.3-kb promoter and their descendants were found in granulosa cells in the ovary and in Sertoli cells in the testis. DullardmRNA was localized to granulosa cells in the ovary. Genes involved in steroid hormone genesis including Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1 and Star were reduced, whereas expression of Smad6 and Smad7, BMP-inducible inhibitory Smads, was up-regulated in the Dullard mutant ovaries. Tamoxifen-inducible Dullard deletion in the whole body using Rosa26-CreER mice also resulted in hemorrhagic ovarian cysts in 2 weeks, which was rescued by administration of LDN-193189, a chemical inhibitor of BMP receptor kinase, suggesting that the hemorrhage in the Dullard-deficient ovarian follicles might be caused by increased BMP signaling. Thus, we conclude that Dullard is essential for ovarian homeostasis at least in part via suppression of BMP signaling.

Mice Deficient in CIZ/NMP4 Develop an Attenuated Form of K/BxN-Serum Induced Arthritis.

CIZ/NMP4 (Cas interacting zinc finger protein, Nmp4, Zfp384) is a transcription factor that is known to regulate matrix related-proteins. To explore the possible pathophysiological role of CIZ/NMP4 in arthritis, we examined CIZ/NMP4 expression in articular cartilage in arthritis model. CIZ/NMP4 was expressed in the articular chondrocytes of mice at low levels while its expression was enhanced when arthritis was induced. Arthritis induction increased clinical score in wild type mice. In contrast, CIZ/NMP4 deficiency suppressed such rise in the levels of arthritis score and swelling of soft tissue. CIZ/NMP4 deficiency also reduced invasion of inflammatory cells in joint tissue. Quantitative PCR analyses of mRNA from joints revealed that arthritis-induced increase in expressions of IL-1ß was suppressed by CIZ/NMP4 deficiency. CIZ/NMP4 bound to IL-1ß promoter and activated its transcription. The increase in CIZ/NMP4 in arthritis was also associated with enhancement in bone resorption and cartilage matrix degradation. In fact, RANKL, a signaling molecule prerequisite for osteoclastogenesis and, MMP-3, a clinical marker for arthritis were increased in joints upon arthritis induction. In contrast, CIZ/NMP4 deficiency suppressed the arthritis-induced increase in bone resorption, expression of RANKL and MMP-3 mRNA. Thus, CIZ/NMP4 plays a role in the development of arthritis at least in part through regulation of key molecules related to the arthritis.

Nck influences preosteoblastic/osteoblastic migration and bone mass.

Migration of the cells in osteoblastic lineage, including preosteoblasts and osteoblasts, has been postulated to influence bone formation. However, the molecular bases that link preosteoblastic/osteoblastic cell migration and bone formation are incompletely understood. Nck (noncatalytic region of tyrosine kinase; collectively referred to Nck1 and Nck2) is a member of the signaling adaptors that regulate cell migration and cytoskeletal structures, but its function in cells in the osteoblastic lineage is not known. Therefore, we examined the role of Nck in migration of these cells. Nck is expressed in preosteoblasts/osteoblasts, and its knockdown suppresses migration as well as cell spreading and attachment to substrates. In contrast, Nck1 overexpression enhances spreading and increases migration and attachment. As for signaling, Nck double knockdown suppresses migration toward IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor 1). In these cells, Nck1 binds to IRS-1 (insulin receptor substrate 1) based on immunoprecipitation experiments using anti-Nck and anti-IRS-1 antibodies. In vivo, Nck knockdown suppresses enlargement of the pellet of DiI-labeled preosteoblasts/osteoblasts placed in the calvarial defects. Genetic experiments indicate that conditional double deletion of both Nck1 and Nck2 specifically in osteoblasts causes osteopenia. In these mice, Nck double deficiency suppresses the levels of bone-formation parameters such as bone formation rate in vivo. Interestingly, bone-resorption parameters are not affected. Finally, Nck deficiency suppresses repair of bone injury after bone marrow ablation. These results reveal that Nck regulates preosteoblastic/osteoblastic migration and bone mass.

TGF-ß Suppresses Ift88 Expression in Chondrocytic ATDC5 Cells.

Ift88 is an intraflagella transport protein, critical for the cilium, and has been shown to be required for the maintenance of chondrocytes and cartilage. However, how Ift88 is controlled by cytokines that play a role in osteoarthritis is not well understood. Therefore, we examined the effects of TGF-ß on the expression of Ift88. We used ATDC5 cells as chondrocytes and analyzed the effects of TGF-ß on gene expression. TGF-ß treatment suppresses the levels of Ift88 mRNA in a dose-dependent manner starting from as low as 0.5 ng/mL and reaching the nadir at around 2 ng/mL. TGF-ß treatment also suppresses the protein levels of Ift88. TGF-ß suppression of Ift88 is still observed when the cells are cultured in the presence of a transcriptional inhibitor while the TGF-ß suppression is weakened in the presence of a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. TGF-ß treatment suppresses the levels of Ift88 mRNA stability suggesting the presence of posttranscriptional regulation. TGF-ß treatment reduces the number of cilia positive cells and suppresses average length of cilia. Knockdown of Ift88 by siRNA enhances TGF-ß-induced increase in type II collagen mRNA expression in ATDC5 cells revealing the suppressive role of Ift88 on TGF-ß-induced regulation of extracellular matrix protein expression. TGF-ß also suppresses Ift88 mRNA expression in primary culture of rib chondrocytes. These data indicate that TGF-ß regulates Ift88 gene expression at least in part via posttrascriptional manner.

Dullard/Ctdnep1 regulates endochondral ossification via suppression of TGF-ß signaling.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß signaling plays critical roles during skeletal development and its excessive signaling causes genetic diseases of connective tissues including Marfan syndrome and acromelic dysplasia. However, the mechanisms underlying prevention of excessive TGF-ß signaling in skeletogenesis remain unclear. We previously reported that Dullard/Ctdnep1 encoding a small phosphatase is required for nephron maintenance after birth through suppression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. Unexpectedly, we found that Dullard is involved in suppression of TGF-ß signaling during endochondral ossification. Conditional Dullard-deficient mice in the limb and sternum mesenchyme by Prx1-Cre displayed the impaired growth and ossification of skeletal elements leading to postnatal lethality. Dullard was expressed in early cartilage condensations and later in growth plate chondrocytes. The tibia growth plate of newborn Dullard mutant mice showed reduction of the proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocyte layers. The sternum showed deformity of cartilage primordia and delayed hypertrophy. Micromass culture experiments revealed that Dullard deficiency enhanced early cartilage condensation and differentiation, but suppressed mineralized hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation, which was reversed by treatment with TGF-ß type I receptor kinase blocker LY-364947. Dullard deficiency induced upregulation of protein levels of both phospho-Smad2/3 and total Smad2/3 in micromass cultures without increase of Smad2/3 mRNA levels, suggesting that Dullard may affect Smad2/3 protein stability. The phospho-Smad2/3 level was also upregulated in perichondrium and hypertrophic chondrocytes in Dullard-deficient embryos. Response to TGF-ß signaling was enhanced in Dullard-deficient primary chondrocyte cultures at late, but not early, time point. Moreover, perinatal administration of LY-364947 ameliorated the sternum deformity in vivo. Thus, we identified Dullard as a new negative regulator of TGF-ß signaling in endochondral ossification.

PTH regulates ß2-adrenergic receptor expression in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells.

As the aged population is soaring, prevalence of osteoporosis is increasing. However, the molecular basis underlying the regulation of bone mass is still incompletely understood. Sympathetic tone acts via beta2 adrenergic receptors in bone and regulates the mass of bone which is the target organ of parathyroid hormone (PTH). However, whether beta2 adrenergic receptor is regulated by PTH in bone cells is not known. We therefore investigated the effects of PTH on beta2 adrenergic receptor gene expression in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. PTH treatment immediately suppressed the expression levels of beta2 adrenergic receptor mRNA. This PTH effect was dose-dependent starting as low as 1 nM. PTH action on beta2 adrenergic receptor gene expression was inhibited by a transcriptional inhibitor, DRB, but not by a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide suggesting direct transcription control. Knockdown of beta2 adrenergic receptor promoted PTH-induced expression of c-fos, an immediate early response gene. With respect to molecular basis for this phenomenon, knockdown of beta2 adrenergic receptor enhanced PTH-induced transcriptional activity of cyclic AMP response element-luciferase construct in osteoblasts. Knockdown of beta2 adrenergic receptors also enhanced forskolin-induced luciferase expression, revealing that adenylate cyclase activity is influenced by beta2 adrenergic receptor. As for phosphorylation of transcription factor, knockdown of beta2 adrenergic receptor enhanced PTH-induced phosphorylation of cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB). These data reveal that beta2 adrenergic receptor is one of the targets of PTH and acts as a suppressor of PTH action in osteoblasts.

Hindlimb-unloading suppresses B cell population in the bone marrow and peripheral circulation associated with OPN expression in circulating blood cells.

Rodent hindlimb unloading (HU) by tail-suspension is a model to investigate disuse-induced bone loss in vivo. Previously, we have shown that osteopontin (OPN, also known as Spp1) is required for unloading-induced bone loss. However, how unloading affects OPN expression in the body is not fully understood. Here, we examined OPN expression in peripheral blood of mice subjected to HU. Real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated that OPN expression is increased in circulating peripheral blood cells. This HU-induced increase in OPN mRNA expression was specific in circulating peripheral blood cells, as OPN was not increased in the blood cells in bone marrow. HU-induced enhancement in OPN expression in peripheral blood cells was associated with an increase in the fraction of monocyte/macrophage lineage cells in the peripheral blood. In contrast, HU decreased the fraction size of B-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. We further examined if B-lymphogenesis is affected in the mice deficient for osteopontin subjected to HU. In bone marrow, HU decreased the population of the B-lymphocyte lineage cells significantly, whereas it did not alter the population of monocyte/macrophage lineage cells. HU also increased the cells in T-lymphocyte lineage in bone marrow. Interestingly, these changes were observed similarly both in OPN-deficient and wild-type mice. These results indicate for the first time that HU increases OPN expression in circulating cells and suppresses bone marrow B-lymphogenesis.

Stability of mRNA influences osteoporotic bone mass via CNOT3.

Osteoclastogenesis is under the control of posttranscriptional and transcriptional events. However, posttranscriptional regulation of osteoclastogenesis is incompletely understood. CNOT3 is a component of the CCR4 family that regulates mRNA stability, but its function in bone is not known. Here, we show that Cnot3 deficiency by deletion of a single allele induces osteoporosis. Cnot3 deficiency causes an enhancement in bone resorption in association with an elevation in bone formation, resulting in high-turnover type bone loss. At the cellular level, Cnot3 deficiency enhances receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) effects on osteoclastogenesis in a cell-autonomous manner. Conversely, Cnot3 deficiency does not affect osteoblasts directly. Cnot3 deficiency does not alter RANKL expression but enhances receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) mRNA expression in bone in vivo. Cnot3 deficiency promotes RANK mRNA stability about twofold in bone marrow cells of mice. Cnot3 knockdown also increases RANK mRNA expression in the precursor cell line for osteoclasts. Anti-CNOT3 antibody immunoprecipitates RANK mRNA. Cnot3 deficiency stabilizes luciferase reporter expression linked to the 3'-UTR fragment of RANK mRNA. In contrast, Cnot3 overexpression destabilizes the luciferase reporter linked to RANK 3'-UTR. In aged mice that exhibit severe osteoporosis, Cnot3 expression levels in bone are reduced about threefold in vivo. Surprisingly, Cnot3 deficiency in these aged mice further exacerbates osteoporosis, which also occurs via enhancement of osteoclastic activity. Our results reveal that CNOT3 is a critical regulator of bone mass acting on bone resorption through posttranscriptional down-regulation of RANK mRNA stability, at least in part, even in aging-induced osteoporosis.

Nck1 deficiency accelerates unloading-induced bone loss.

Mechanical stress is an important signal to determine the levels of bone mass. Unloading-induced osteoporosis is a critical issue in bed-ridden patients and astronauts. Many molecules have been suggested to be involved in sensing mechanical stress in bone, though the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are not fully understood. Nck1 is an adaptor protein known to mediate signaling from plasma membrane-activated receptors to cytosolic effectors regulating actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Nck1 has also been implicated in cellular responses to endoplasmic reticulum stress. In vitro, in case of cell stress the actin cytoskeleton is disrupted and in such cases Nck1 has been reported to enter the nucleus of the cells to mediate the nuclear actin polymerization. However, the role of Nck1 in vivo during the bone response to mechanical stimuli is unknown. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of Nck1 in unloading-induced bone loss in vivo. Sciatic and femoral nerve resection was conducted. Neurectomy-based unloading enhanced Nck1 gene expression in bone about twofold. Using the Nck1 deficient mice and control Nck1+/+, effects of neurectomy-based unloading on bone structure were examined. Unloading reduced bone volume in wild type mice by 30% whereas the levels in bone loss were exacerbated to 50% in Nck1 deficient mice due to neurectomy after 4 weeks. These data demonstrate that Nck1 gene deficiency accelerates the mechanical unloading-induced bone loss suggesting Nck1 to be a crucial molecule in mechanical stress mediated regulation in bone metabolism.

Profilin1 regulates sternum development and endochondral bone formation.

Bone development is a dynamic process that requires cell motility and morphological adaptation under the control of actin cytoskeleton. This actin cytoskeleton system is regulated by critical modulators including actin-binding proteins. Among them, profilin1 (Pfn1) is a key player to control actin fiber structure, and it is involved in a number of cellular activities such as migration. During the early phase of body development, skeletal stem cells and osteoblastic progenitor cells migrate to form initial rudiments for future skeletons. During this migration, these cells extend their process based on actin cytoskeletal rearrangement to locate themselves in an appropriate location within microenvironment. However, the role of Pfn1 in regulation of mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) during skeletal development is incompletely understood. Here we examined the role of Pfn1 in skeletal development using a genetic ablation of Pfn1 in MPCs by using Prx1-Cre recombinase. We found that Pfn1 deficiency in MPCs caused complete cleft sternum. Notably, Pfn1-deficient mice exhibited an absence of trabecular bone in the marrow space of appendicular long bone. This phenotype is location-specific, as Pfn1 deficiency did not largely affect osteoblasts in cortical bone. Pfn1 deficiency also suppressed longitudinal growth of long bone. In vitro, Pfn1 deficiency induced retardation of osteoblastic cell migration. These observations revealed that Pfn1 is a critical molecule for the skeletal development, and this could be at least in part associated with the retardation of cell migration.

CIZ/NMP4 is expressed in B16 melanoma and forms a positive feedback loop with RANKL to promote migration of the melanoma cells.

Tumor metastasis to bone is a serious pathological situation that causes severe pain, and deterioration in locomoter function. However, the mechanisms underlying tumor metastasis is still incompletely understood. CIZ/NMP4 is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein and its roles in tumor cells have not been known. We, therefore, hypothesized the role of CIZ/NMP4 in B16 melanoma cells that metastasize to bone. CIZ/NMP4 is expressed in B16 cells. The CIZ/NMP4 expression levels are correlated to the metastatic activity in divergent types of melanoma cells. Overexpression of CIZ/NMP4 increased B16 cell migration in Trans-well assay. Conversely, siRNA-based knockdown of CIZ/NMP4 suppressed migratory activity of these cells. As RANKL promotes metastasis of tumor cells in bone, we tested its effect on CIZ in melanoma cells. RANKL treatment enhanced CIZ/NMP4 expression. This increase of CIZ by RANKL promoted migration. Conversely, we identified CIZ/NMP4 binding site in the promoter of RANKL. Furthermore, luciferase assay indicated that CIZ/NMP4 overexpression enhanced RANKL promoter activities, revealing a positive feedback loop of CIZ/NMP4 and RANKL in melanoma. These observations indicate that CIZ/NMP4 is critical regulator of metastasis of melanoma cells.

Constitutively active PTH/PTHrP receptor specifically expressed in osteoblasts enhances bone formation induced by bone marrow ablation.

Bone is maintained by continuous bone formation by osteoblasts provided by proliferation and differentiation of osteoprogenitors. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) activates bone formation, but because of the complexity of cells in the osteoblast lineage, how these osteoprogenitors are regulated by PTH in vivo is incompletely understood. To elucidate how signals by PTH in differentiated osteoblasts regulate osteoprogenitors in vivo, we conducted bone marrow ablation using Col1a1-constitutively active PTH/PTHrP receptor (caPPR) transgenic mice. These mice express caPPR specifically in osteoblasts by using 2.3 kb Col1a1 promoter and showed higher trabecular bone volume under steady-state conditions. In contrast, after bone marrow ablation, stromal cells recruited from bone surface extensively proliferated in the marrow cavity in transgenic mice, compared to limited proliferation in wild-type mice. Whereas de novo bone formation was restricted to the ablated area in wild-type mice, the entire marrow cavity, including not only ablated area but also outside the ablated area, was filled with newly formed bone in transgenic mice. Bone mineral density was significantly increased after ablation in transgenic mice. Bone marrow cell culture in osteogenic medium revealed that alkaline phosphatase-positive area was markedly increased in the cells obtained from transgenic mice. Furthermore, mRNA expression of Wnt-signaling molecules such as LRP5, Wnt7b, and Wnt10b were upregulated after marrow ablation in bone marrow cells of transgenic mice. These results indicate that constitutive activation of PTH/PTHrP receptor in differentiated osteoblasts enhances bone marrow ablation-induced recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation of osteoprogenitors.

Sympathetic control of bone mass regulated by osteopontin.

The sympathetic nervous system suppresses bone mass by mechanisms that remain incompletely elucidated. Using cell-based and murine genetics approaches, we show that this activity of the sympathetic nervous system requires osteopontin (OPN), a cytokine and one of the major members of the noncollagenous extracellular matrix proteins of bone. In this work, we found that the stimulation of the sympathetic tone by isoproterenol increased the level of OPN expression in the plasma and bone and that mice lacking OPN (OPN-KO) suppressed the isoproterenol-induced bone loss by preventing reduced osteoblastic and enhanced osteoclastic activities. In addition, we found that OPN is necessary for changes in the expression of genes related to bone resorption and bone formation that are induced by activation of the sympathetic tone. At the cellular level, we showed that intracellular OPN modulated the capacity of the ß2-adrenergic receptor to generate cAMP with a corresponding modulation of cAMP-response element binding (CREB) phosphorylation and associated transcriptional events inside the cell. Our results indicate that OPN plays a critical role in sympathetic tone regulation of bone mass and that this OPN regulation is taking place through modulation of the ß2-adrenergic receptor/cAMP signaling system.