Exercise to Mend Aged-tissue Crosstalk in Bone Targeting Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis.

Aging induces alterations in bone structure and strength through a multitude of processes, exacerbating common aging- related diseases like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Cellular hallmarks of aging are examined, as related to bone and the marrow microenvironment, and ways in which these might contribute to a variety of age-related perturbations in osteoblasts, osteocytes, marrow adipocytes, chondrocytes, osteoclasts, and their respective progenitors. Cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic and intracellular communication changes are central pathways and recognized as associated and potentially causal in aging. We focus on these in musculoskeletal system and highlight knowledge gaps in the literature regarding cellular and tissue crosstalk in bone, cartilage, and the bone marrow niche. While senolytics have been utilized to target aging pathways, here we propose non-pharmacologic, exercise-based interventions as prospective "senolytics" against aging effects on the skeleton. Increased bone mass and delayed onset or progression of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are some of the recognized benefits of regular exercise across the lifespan. Further investigation is needed to delineate how cellular indicators of aging manifest in bone and the marrow niche and how altered cellular and tissue crosstalk impact disease progression, as well as consideration of exercise as a therapeutic modality, as a means to enhance discovery of bone-targeted therapies.

Mechanically Induced Nuclear Shuttling of ß-Catenin Requires Co-transfer of Actin.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) respond to environmental forces with both cytoskeletal re-structuring and activation of protein chaperones of mechanical information, ß-catenin, and yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1). To function, MSCs must differentiate between dynamic forces such as cyclic strains of extracellular matrix due to physical activity and static strains due to ECM stiffening. To delineate how MSCs recognize and respond differently to both force types, we compared effects of dynamic (200 cycles × 2%) and static (1 × 2% hold) strain on nuclear translocation of ß-catenin and YAP1 at 3 hours after force application. Dynamic strain induced nuclear accumulation of ß-catenin, and increased cytoskeletal actin structure and cell stiffness, but had no effect on nuclear YAP1 levels. Critically, both nuclear actin and nuclear stiffness increased along with dynamic strain-induced ß-catenin transport. Augmentation of cytoskeletal structure using either static strain or lysophosphatidic acid did not increase nuclear content of ß-catenin or actin, but induced robust nuclear increase in YAP1. As actin binds ß-catenin, we considered whether ß-catenin, which lacks a nuclear localization signal, was dependent on actin to gain entry to the nucleus. Knockdown of cofilin-1 (Cfl1) or importin-9 (Ipo9), which co-mediate nuclear transfer of G-actin, prevented dynamic strain-mediated nuclear transfer of both ß-catenin and actin. In sum, dynamic strain induction of actin re-structuring promotes nuclear transport of G-actin, concurrently supporting nuclear access of ß-catenin via mechanisms used for actin transport. Thus, dynamic and static strain activate alternative mechanoresponses reflected by differences in the cellular distributions of actin, ß-catenin, and YAP1.

Knockdown of formin mDia2 alters lamin B1 levels and increases osteogenesis in stem cells.

Nuclear actin plays a critical role in mediating mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) fate commitment. In marrow-derived MSCs, the principal diaphanous-related formin Diaph3 (mDia2) is present in the nucleus and regulates intranuclear actin polymerization, whereas Diaph1 (mDia1) is localized to the cytoplasm and controls cytoplasmic actin polymerization. We here show that mDia2 can be used as a tool to query actin-lamin nucleoskeletal structure. Silencing mDia2 affected the nucleoskeletal lamin scaffold, altering nuclear morphology without affecting cytoplasmic actin cytoskeleton, and promoted MSC differentiation. Attempting to target intranuclear actin polymerization by silencing mDia2 led to a profound loss in lamin B1 nuclear envelope structure and integrity, increased nuclear height, and reduced nuclear stiffness without compensatory changes in other actin nucleation factors. Loss of mDia2 with the associated loss in lamin B1 promoted Runx2 transcription and robust osteogenic differentiation and suppressed adipogenic differentiation. Hence, mDia2 is a potent tool to query intranuclear actin-lamin nucleoskeletal structure, and its presence serves to retain multipotent stromal cells in an undifferentiated state.

Lamin A/C Is Dispensable to Mechanical Repression of Adipogenesis.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) maintain the musculoskeletal system by differentiating into multiple lineages, including osteoblasts and adipocytes. Mechanical signals, including strain and low-intensity vibration (LIV), are important regulators of MSC differentiation via control exerted through the cell structure. Lamin A/C is a protein vital to the nuclear architecture that supports chromatin organization and differentiation and contributes to the mechanical integrity of the nucleus. We investigated whether lamin A/C and mechanoresponsiveness are functionally coupled during adipogenesis in MSCs. siRNA depletion of lamin A/C increased the nuclear area, height, and volume and decreased the circularity and stiffness. Lamin A/C depletion significantly decreased markers of adipogenesis (adiponectin, cellular lipid content) as did LIV treatment despite depletion of lamin A/C. Phosphorylation of focal adhesions in response to mechanical challenge was also preserved during loss of lamin A/C. RNA-seq showed no major adipogenic transcriptome changes resulting from LIV treatment, suggesting that LIV regulation of adipogenesis may not occur at the transcriptional level. We observed that during both lamin A/C depletion and LIV, interferon signaling was downregulated, suggesting potentially shared regulatory mechanism elements that could regulate protein translation. We conclude that the mechanoregulation of adipogenesis and the mechanical activation of focal adhesions function independently from those of lamin A/C.

Evaluation of zoledronate, cytochalasin-D, and desferrioxamine on osseointegration in an intra-medullary femoral implant model.

OBJECTIVE: The rise in primary and revision surgeries utilizing joint replacement implants suggest the need for more reliable means of promoting implant fixation. Zoledronate-(Zol), cytochalasin-D-(cytoD), and desferrioxamine-(DFO) have been shown to enhance mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation into osteoblasts promoting bone formation. The objective was to determine whether Zol, cytoD, and DFO can improve fixation strength and enhance peri-implant bone volume about intra-medullary femoral implants. METHODS: 48 Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomized into four treatments, saline-control or experimental: Zol-(0.8 µg/µL), cytoD-(0.05 µg/µL), DFO-(0.4 µg/µL). Implants were placed bilaterally in the femoral canals following injection of treatment solution and followed for 28 days. Mechanical push-out testing and micro-CT were our primary evaluations, measuring load to failure and bone volume. Qualitative evaluation included histological assessment. Data was analyzed with a one-way ANOVA with Holm-Sidak mean comparison testing. RESULTS: Significant results included pushout tests showing an increase in maximum energy for Zol (124%) and cytoD (82%); Zol showed an increase in maximum load by 48%; Zol micro-CT showed increase in BV/TV by 35%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that locally applied Zol and cytoD enhance implant mechanical stability. Bisphosphonates and actin regulators, like cytoD, might be further investigated as a new strategy for improving osseointegration.

Effects of Iron Isomaltoside vs Ferric Carboxymaltose on Hypophosphatemia in Iron-Deficiency Anemia: Two Randomized Clinical Trials.

Importance: Intravenous iron enables rapid correction of iron-deficiency anemia, but certain formulations induce fibroblast growth factor 23-mediated hypophosphatemia. Objective: To compare risks of hypophosphatemia and effects on biomarkers of mineral and bone homeostasis of intravenous iron isomaltoside (now known as ferric derisomaltose) vs ferric carboxymaltose. Design, Setting, and Participants: Between October 2017 and June 2018, 245 patients aged 18 years and older with iron-deficiency anemia (hemoglobin level ≤11 g/dL; serum ferritin level ≤100 ng/mL) and intolerance or unresponsiveness to 1 month or more of oral iron were recruited from 30 outpatient clinic sites in the United States into 2 identically designed, open-label, randomized clinical trials. Patients with reduced kidney function were excluded. Serum phosphate and 12 additional biomarkers of mineral and bone homeostasis were measured on days 0, 1, 7, 8, 14, 21, and 35. The date of final follow-up was June 19, 2018, for trial A and May 29, 2018, for trial B. Interventions: Intravenous administration of iron isomaltoside, 1000 mg, on day 0 or ferric carboxymaltose, 750 mg, infused on days 0 and 7. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was the incidence of hypophosphatemia (serum phosphate level <2.0 mg/dL) between baseline and day 35. Results: In trial A, 123 patients were randomized (mean [SD] age, 45.1 [11.0] years; 95.9% women), including 62 to iron isomaltoside and 61 to ferric carboxymaltose; 95.1% completed the trial. In trial B, 122 patients were randomized (mean [SD] age, 42.6 [12.2] years; 94.1% women), including 61 to iron isomaltoside and 61 to ferric carboxymaltose; 93.4% completed the trial. The incidence of hypophosphatemia was significantly lower following iron isomaltoside vs ferric carboxymaltose (trial A: 7.9% vs 75.0% [adjusted rate difference, -67.0% {95% CI, -77.4% to -51.5%}], P < .001; trial B: 8.1% vs 73.7% [adjusted rate difference, -65.8% {95% CI, -76.6% to -49.8%}], P < .001). Beyond hypophosphatemia and increased parathyroid hormone, the most common adverse drug reactions (No./total No.) were nausea (iron isomaltoside: 1/125; ferric carboxymaltose: 8/117) and headache (iron isomaltoside: 4/125; ferric carboxymaltose: 5/117). Conclusions and Relevance: In 2 randomized trials of patients with iron-deficiency anemia who were intolerant of or unresponsive to oral iron, iron isomaltoside (now called ferric derisomaltose), compared with ferric carboxymaltose, resulted in lower incidence of hypophosphatemia over 35 days. However, further research is needed to determine the clinical importance of this difference. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT03238911 and NCT03237065.

Intranuclear Actin Structure Modulates Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation.

Actin structure contributes to physiologic events within the nucleus to control mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) differentiation. Continuous cytochalasin D (Cyto D) disruption of the MSC actin cytoskeleton leads to osteogenic or adipogenic differentiation, both requiring mass transfer of actin into the nucleus. Cyto D remains extranuclear, thus intranuclear actin polymerization is potentiated by actin transfer: we asked whether actin structure affects differentiation. We show that secondary actin filament branching via the Arp2/3 complex is required for osteogenesis and that preventing actin branching stimulates adipogenesis, as shown by expression profiling of osteogenic and adipogenic biomarkers and unbiased RNA-seq analysis. Mechanistically, Cyto D activates osteoblast master regulators (e.g., Runx2, Sp7, Dlx5) and novel coregulated genes (e.g., Atoh8, Nr4a3, Slfn5). Formin-induced primary actin filament formation is critical for Arp2/3 complex recruitment: osteogenesis is prevented by silencing of the formin mDia1, but not its paralog mDia2. Furthermore, while inhibition of actin, branching is a potent adipogenic stimulus, silencing of either mDia1 or mDia2 blocks adipogenic gene expression. We propose that mDia1, which localizes in the cytoplasm of multipotential MSCs and traffics into the nucleus after cytoskeletal disruption, joins intranuclear mDia2 to facilitate primary filament formation before mediating subsequent branching via Arp2/3 complex recruitment. The resulting intranuclear branched actin network specifies osteogenic differentiation, while actin polymerization in the absence of Arp2/3 complex-mediated secondary branching causes adipogenic differentiation. Stem Cells 2017;35:1624-1635.

Physical Signals May Affect Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation via Epigenetic Controls.

Marrow mesenchymal stem cells supply bone osteoblasts and adipocytes. Exercise effects to increase bone and decrease fat involve transfer of signals from the cytoplasm into the nucleus to regulate gene expression. We propose that exercise control of stem cell fate relies on structural connections that terminate in the nucleus and involve intranuclear actin structures that regulate epigenetic gene expression.

Marrow Adiposity and Hematopoiesis in Aging and Obesity: Exercise as an Intervention.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Changes in the bone marrow microenvironment, which accompany aging and obesity, including increased marrow adiposity, can compromise hematopoiesis. Here, we review deleterious shifts in molecular, cellular, and tissue activity and consider the potential of exercise to slow degenerative changes associated with aging and obesity. RECENT FINDINGS: While bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are increased in frequency and myeloid-biased with age, the effect of obesity on HSC proliferation and differentiation remains controversial. HSC from both aged and obese environment have reduced hematopoietic reconstitution capacity following bone marrow transplant. Increased marrow adiposity affects HSC function, causing upregulation of myelopoiesis and downregulation of lymphopoiesis. Exercise, in contrast, can reduce marrow adiposity and restore hematopoiesis. The impact of marrow adiposity on hematopoiesis is determined mainly through correlations. Mechanistic studies are needed to determine a causative relationship between marrow adiposity and declines in hematopoiesis, which could aid in developing treatments for conditions that arise from disruptions in the marrow microenvironment.

Epigenetic Plasticity Drives Adipogenic and Osteogenic Differentiation of Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Terminal differentiation of multipotent stem cells is achieved through a coordinated cascade of activated transcription factors and epigenetic modifications that drive gene transcription responsible for unique cell fate. Within the mesenchymal lineage, factors such as RUNX2 and PPARγ are indispensable for osteogenesis and adipogenesis, respectively. We therefore investigated genomic binding of transcription factors and accompanying epigenetic modifications that occur during osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). As assessed by ChIP-sequencing and RNA-sequencing analyses, we found that genes vital for osteogenic identity were linked to RUNX2, C/EBPß, retinoid X receptor, and vitamin D receptor binding sites, whereas adipocyte differentiation favored PPARγ, retinoid X receptor, C/EBPα, and C/EBPß binding sites. Epigenetic marks were clear predictors of active differentiation loci as well as enhancer activities and selective gene expression. These marrow-derived MSCs displayed an epigenetic pattern that suggested a default preference for the osteogenic pathway; however, these patterns were rapidly altered near the Adipoq, Cidec, Fabp4, Lipe, Plin1, Pparg, and Cebpa genes during adipogenic differentiation. Surprisingly, we found that these cells also exhibited an epigenetic plasticity that enabled them to trans-differentiate from adipocytes to osteoblasts (and vice versa) after commitment, as assessed by staining, gene expression, and ChIP-quantitative PCR analysis. The osteogenic default pathway may be subverted during pathological conditions, leading to skeletal fragility and increased marrow adiposity during aging, estrogen deficiency, and skeletal unloading. Taken together, our data provide an increased mechanistic understanding of the epigenetic programs necessary for multipotent differentiation of MSCs that may prove beneficial in the development of therapeutic strategies.

Concise Review: Plasma and Nuclear Membranes Convey Mechanical Information to Regulate Mesenchymal Stem Cell Lineage.

Numerous factors including chemical, hormonal, spatial, and physical cues determine stem cell fate. While the regulation of stem cell differentiation by soluble factors is well-characterized, the role of mechanical force in the determination of lineage fate is just beginning to be understood. Investigation of the role of force on cell function has largely focused on "outside-in" signaling, initiated at the plasma membrane. When interfaced with the extracellular matrix, the cell uses integral membrane proteins, such as those found in focal adhesion complexes to translate force into biochemical signals. Akin to these outside-in connections, the internal cytoskeleton is physically linked to the nucleus, via proteins that span the nuclear membrane. Although structurally and biochemically distinct, these two forms of mechanical coupling influence stem cell lineage fate and, when disrupted, often lead to disease. Here we provide an overview of how mechanical coupling occurs at the plasma and nuclear membranes. We also discuss the role of force on stem cell differentiation, with focus on the biochemical signals generated at the cell membrane and the nucleus, and how those signals influence various diseases. While the interaction of stem cells with their physical environment and how they respond to force is complex, an understanding of the mechanical regulation of these cells is critical in the design of novel therapeutics to combat diseases associated with aging, cancer, and osteoporosis. Stem Cells 2016;34:1455-1463.

Actin up in the Nucleus: Regulation of Actin Structures Modulates Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation.

Stem cells respond to environmental signals that induce their differentiation to cells that make up specialized tissues and organs. Our laboratory has focused on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that supply bone osteoblasts and marrow adipocytes, an output that appears to be reciprocal. Case in point: exercise promotes osteogenesis and bone formation, and inhibits marrow adipose accrual. A mechanically induced signal pathway concentrating on preserving ß-catenin also causes increased structure of the actin cytoskeleton, both of which inhibit adipogenesis. Recently we showed that intranuclear actin is as important to MSC lineage decisions as cytoplasmic actin. This opens up new areas for understanding gene expression in stem cells.

Intranuclear Actin Regulates Osteogenesis.

Depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton induces nuclear trafficking of regulatory proteins and global effects on gene transcription. We here show that in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), cytochalasin D treatment causes rapid cofilin-/importin-9-dependent transfer of G-actin into the nucleus. The continued presence of intranuclear actin, which forms rod-like structures that stain with phalloidin, is associated with induction of robust expression of the osteogenic genes osterix and osteocalcin in a Runx2-dependent manner, and leads to acquisition of osteogenic phenotype. Adipogenic differentiation also occurs, but to a lesser degree. Intranuclear actin leads to nuclear export of Yes-associated protein (YAP); maintenance of nuclear YAP inhibits Runx2 initiation of osteogenesis. Injection of cytochalasin into the tibial marrow space of live mice results in abundant bone formation within the space of 1 week. In sum, increased intranuclear actin forces MSC into osteogenic lineage through controlling Runx2 activity; this process may be useful for clinical objectives of forming bone.

Cell Mechanosensitivity to Extremely Low-Magnitude Signals Is Enabled by a LINCed Nucleus.

A cell's ability to recognize and adapt to the physical environment is central to its survival and function, but how mechanical cues are perceived and transduced into intracellular signals remains unclear. In mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), high-magnitude substrate strain (HMS, ≥2%) effectively suppresses adipogenesis via induction of focal adhesion (FA) kinase (FAK)/mTORC2/Akt signaling generated at FAs. Physiologic systems also rely on a persistent barrage of low-level signals to regulate behavior. Exposing MSC to extremely low-magnitude mechanical signals (LMS) suppresses adipocyte formation despite the virtual absence of substrate strain (<0.001%), suggesting that LMS-induced dynamic accelerations can generate force within the cell. Here, we show that MSC response to LMS is enabled through mechanical coupling between the cytoskeleton and the nucleus, in turn activating FAK and Akt signaling followed by FAK-dependent induction of RhoA. While LMS and HMS synergistically regulated FAK activity at the FAs, LMS-induced actin remodeling was concentrated at the perinuclear domain. Preventing nuclear-actin cytoskeleton mechanocoupling by disrupting linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes inhibited these LMS-induced signals as well as prevented LMS repression of adipogenic differentiation, highlighting that LINC connections are critical for sensing LMS. In contrast, FAK activation by HMS was unaffected by LINC decoupling, consistent with signal initiation at the FA mechanosome. These results indicate that the MSC responds to its dynamic physical environment not only with "outside-in" signaling initiated by substrate strain, but vibratory signals enacted through the LINC complex enable matrix independent "inside-inside" signaling.

Protein kinase inhibitor γ reciprocally regulates osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation by downregulating leukemia inhibitory factor.

The protein kinase inhibitor (Pki) gene family inactivates nuclear protein kinase A (PKA) and terminates PKA-induced gene expression. We previously showed that Pkig is the primary family member expressed in osteoblasts and that Pkig knockdown increases the effects of parathyroid hormone and isoproterenol on PKA activation, gene expression, and inhibition of apoptosis. Here, we determined whether endogenous levels of Pkig regulate osteoblast differentiation. Pkig is the primary family member in murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), murine marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and human mesenchymal stem cells. Pkig deletion increased forskolin-dependent nuclear PKA activation and gene expression and Pkig deletion or knockdown increased osteoblast differentiation. PKA signaling is known to stimulate adipogenesis; however, adipogenesis and osteogenesis are often reciprocally regulated. We found that the reciprocal regulation predominates over the direct effects of PKA since adipogenesis was decreased by Pkig deletion or knockdown. Pkig deletion or knockdown also simultaneously increased osteogenesis and decreased adipogenesis in mixed osteogenic/adipogenic medium. Pkig deletion increased PKA-induced expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (Lif) mRNA and LIF protein. LIF neutralizing antibodies inhibited the effects on osteogenesis and adipogenesis of either Pkig deletion in MEFs or PKIγ knockdown in both murine and human mesenchymal stem cells. Collectively, our results show that endogenous levels of Pkig reciprocally regulate osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation and that this reciprocal regulation is mediated in part by LIF. Stem Cells 2013;31:2789-2799.

Mechanically activated Fyn utilizes mTORC2 to regulate RhoA and adipogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells.

Mechanical strain provides an anti-adipogenic, pro-osteogenic stimulus to mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) through generating intracellular signals and via cytoskeletal restructuring. Recently, mTORC2 has been shown to be a novel mechanical target critical for the anti-adipogenic signal leading to preservation of ß-catenin. As mechanical activation of mTORC2 requires focal adhesions (FAs), we asked whether proximal signaling involved Src and FAK, which are early responders to integrin-FA engagement. Application of mechanical strain to marrow-derived MSCs was unable to activate mTORC2 when Src family kinases were inhibited. Fyn, but not Src, was specifically required for mechanical activation of mTORC2 and was recruited to FAs after strain. Activation of mTORC2 was further diminished following FAK inhibition, and as FAK phosphorylation (Tyr-397) required Fyn activity, provided evidence of Fyn/FAK cooperativity. Inhibition of Fyn also prevented mechanical activation of RhoA as well as mechanically induced actin stress fiber formation. We thus asked whether RhoA activation by strain was dependent on mTORC2 downstream of Fyn. Inhibition of mTORC2 or its downstream substrate, Akt, both prevented mechanical RhoA activation, indicating that Fyn/FAK affects cytoskeletal structure via mTORC2. We then sought to ascertain whether this Fyn-initiated signal pathway modulated MSC lineage decisions. siRNA knockdown of Fyn, but not Src, led to rapid attainment of adipogenic phenotype with significant increases in adipocyte protein 2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, adiponectin, and perilipin. As such, Fyn expression in mdMSCs contributes to basal cytoskeletal architecture and, when associated with FAs, functions as a proximal mechanical effector for environmental signals that influence MSC lineage allocation.

Nuclear actin structure regulates chromatin accessibility.

Polymerized ß-actin may provide a structural basis for chromatin accessibility and actin transport into the nucleus can guide mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation. Using MSC, we show that using CK666 to inhibit Arp2/3 directed secondary actin branching results in decreased nuclear actin structure, and significantly alters chromatin access measured with ATACseq at 24 h. The ATAC-seq results due to CK666 are distinct from those caused by cytochalasin D (CytoD), which enhances nuclear actin structure. In addition, nuclear visualization shows Arp2/3 inhibition decreases pericentric H3K9me3 marks. CytoD, alternatively, induces redistribution of H3K27me3 marks centrally. Such alterations in chromatin landscape are consistent with differential gene expression associated with distinctive differentiation patterns. Further, knockdown of the non-enzymatic monomeric actin binding protein, Arp4, leads to extensive chromatin unpacking, but only a modest increase in transcription, indicating an active role for actin-Arp4 in transcription. These data indicate that dynamic actin remodeling can regulate chromatin interactions.

Diet-Stimulated Marrow Adiposity Fails to Worsen Early, Age-Related Bone Loss.

INTRODUCTION: Longitudinal effect of diet-induced obesity on bone is uncertain. Prior work showed both no effect and a decrement in bone density or quality when obesity begins prior to skeletal maturity. We aimed to quantify long-term effects of obesity on bone and bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) in adulthood. METHODS: Skeletally mature, female C57BL/6 mice (n = 70) aged 12 weeks were randomly allocated to low-fat diet (LFD; 10% kcal fat; n = 30) or high-fat diet (HFD; 60% kcal fat; n = 30), with analyses at 12, 15, 18, and 24 weeks (n = 10/group). Tibial microarchitecture was analyzed by µCT, and volumetric BMAT was quantified via 9.4T MRI/advanced image analysis. Histomorphometry of adipocytes and osteoclasts, and qPCR were performed. RESULTS: Body weight and visceral white adipose tissue accumulated in response to HFD started in adulthood. Trabecular bone parameters declined with advancing experimental age. BV/TV declined 22% in LFD (p = 0.0001) and 17% in HFD (p = 0.0022) by 24 weeks. HFD failed to appreciably alter BV/TV and had negligible impact on other microarchitecture parameters. Both dietary intervention and age accounted for variance in BMAT, with regional differences: distal femoral BMAT was more responsive to diet, while proximal femoral BMAT was more attenuated by age. BMAT increased 60% in the distal metaphysis in HFD at 18 and 24 weeks (p = 0.0011). BMAT in the proximal femoral diaphysis, unchanged by diet, decreased 45% due to age (p = 0.0002). Marrow adipocyte size via histomorphometry supported MRI quantification. Osteoclast number did not differ between groups. Tibial qPCR showed attenuation of some adipose, metabolism, and bone genes. A regulator of fatty acid ß-oxidation, cytochrome C (CYCS), was 500% more abundant in HFD bone (p < 0.0001; diet effect). CYCS also increased due to age, but to a lesser extent. HFD mildly increased OCN, TRAP, and SOST. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term high fat feeding after skeletal maturity, despite upregulation of visceral adiposity, body weight, and BMAT, failed to attenuate bone microarchitecture. In adulthood, we found aging to be a more potent regulator of microarchitecture than diet-induced obesity.

Extensive Osteonecrosis After Glucocorticoids: Clinical Response to Bisphosphonate.

Osteonecrosis is a devastating complication of long-term glucocorticoid therapy that has been described in both malignant and nonmalignant diseases. Its incidence has been found to greater than 50% using magnetic resonance imaging in asymptomatic patients, thus osteonecrosis is likely underdiagnosed. Recent studies have suggested that treatment with bisphosphonates can improve pain and mobility and decrease bone marrow edema. We describe a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who presented with debilitating osteonecrosis after treatment with prednisone for a total cumulative dose of 5100 mg. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed extensive infarcts of her bilateral tibiae and femora and left humerus, talus, and calcaneus consistent with osteonecrosis that had persisted for more than 2 years. Her severe knee, shoulder, and ankle pain was treated with 1 dose zolendronic acid. Despite a prolonged acute phase reaction, the patient's symptoms improved with near total resolution of pain.

Data driven and cell specific determination of nuclei-associated actin structure.

Quantitative and volumetric assessment of filamentous actin fibers (F-actin) remains challenging due to their interconnected nature, leading researchers to utilize threshold based or qualitative measurement methods with poor reproducibility. Here we introduce a novel machine learning based methodology for accurate quantification and reconstruction of nuclei-associated F-actin. Utilizing a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), we segment actin filaments and nuclei from 3D confocal microscopy images and then reconstruct each fiber by connecting intersecting contours on cross-sectional slices. This allowed measurement of the total number of actin filaments and individual actin filament length and volume in a reproducible fashion. Focusing on the role of F-actin in supporting nucleocytoskeletal connectivity, we quantified apical F-actin, basal F-actin, and nuclear architecture in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) following the disruption of the Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) Complexes. Disabling LINC in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) generated F-actin disorganization at the nuclear envelope characterized by shorter length and volume of actin fibers contributing a less elongated nuclear shape. Our findings not only present a new tool for mechanobiology but introduce a novel pipeline for developing realistic computational models based on quantitative measures of F-actin.