Expression characterization and functional implication of the collagen-modifying Leprecan proteins in mouse gonadal tissue and mature sperm.

The Leprecan protein family which includes the prolyl 3-hydroxylase enzymes (P3H1, P3H2, and P3H3), the closely related cartilage-associated protein (CRTAP), and SC65 (Synaptonemal complex 65, aka P3H4, LEPREL4), is involved in the post-translational modification of fibrillar collagens. Mutations in CRTAP, P3H1 and P3H2 cause human genetic diseases. We recently showed that SC65 forms a stable complex in the endoplasmic reticulum with P3H3 and lysyl hydroxylase 1 and that loss of this complex leads to defective collagen lysyl hydroxylation and causes low bone mass and skin fragility. Interestingly, SC65 was initially described as a synaptonemal complex-associated protein, suggesting a potential additional role in germline cells. In the present study, we describe the expression of SC65, CRTAP and other Leprecan proteins in postnatal mouse reproductive organs. We detect SC65 expression in peritubular cells of testis up to 4 weeks of age but not in cells within seminiferous tubules, while its expression is maintained in ovarian follicles until adulthood. Similar to bone and skin, SC65 and P3H3 are also tightly co-expressed in testis and ovary. Moreover, we show that CRTAP, a protein normally involved in collagen prolyl 3-hydroxylation, is highly expressed in follicles and stroma of the ovary and in testes interstitial cells at 4 weeks of age, germline cells and mature sperm. Importantly, CrtapKO mice have a mild but significant increase in morphologically abnormal mature sperm (17% increase compared to WT). These data suggest a role for the Leprecans in the post-translational modification of collagens expressed in the stroma of the reproductive organs. While we could not confirm that SC65 is part of the synaptonemal complex, the expression of CRTAP in the seminiferous tubules and in mature sperm suggest a role in the testis germ cell lineage and sperm morphogenesis.

PTHrP(12-48) Modulates the Bone Marrow Microenvironment and Suppresses Human Osteoclast Differentiation and Lifespan.

Bone is a common site for metastasis in breast cancer patients and is associated with a series of complications that significantly compromise patient survival, partially due to the advanced stage of disease at the time of detection. Currently, no clinically-approved biomarkers can identify or predict the development of bone metastasis. We recently identified a unique peptide fragment of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), PTHrP(12-48), as a validated serum biomarker in breast cancer patients that correlates with and predicts the presence of bone metastases. In this study, the biological activity and mode of action of PTHrP(12-48) was investigated. Sequence-based and structure-based bioinformatics techniques predicted that the PTHrP(12-48) fragment formed an alpha helical core followed by an unstructured region after residue 40 or 42. Thereafter, detailed structure alignment and molecular docking simulations predicted a lack of interaction between PTHrP(12-48) and the cognate PTH1 receptor (PTHR1). The in silico prediction was confirmed by the lack of PTHrP(12-48)-stimulated cAMP accumulation in PTHR1-expressing human SaOS2 cells. Using a specific human PTHrP(12-48) antibody that we developed, PTHrP(12-48) was immunolocalized in primary and bone metastatic human breast cancer cells, as well as within human osteoclasts (OCLs) in bone metastasis biopsies, with little or no localization in other resident bone or bone marrow cells. In vitro, PTHrP(12-48) was internalized into cultured primary human OCLs and their precursors within 60 min. Interestingly, PTHrP(12-48) treatment dose-dependently suppressed osteoclastogenesis, via the induction of apoptosis in both OCL precursors as well as in mature OCLs, as measured by the activation of cleaved caspase 3. Collectively, these data suggest that PTHrP(12-48) is a bioactive breast cancer-derived peptide that locally regulates the differentiation of hematopoietic cells and the activity of osteoclasts within the tumor-bone marrow microenvironment, perhaps to facilitate tumor control of bone. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Sc65-Null Mice Provide Evidence for a Novel Endoplasmic Reticulum Complex Regulating Collagen Lysyl Hydroxylation.

Collagen is a major component of the extracellular matrix and its integrity is essential for connective tissue and organ function. The importance of proteins involved in intracellular collagen post-translational modification, folding and transport was recently highlighted from studies on recessive forms of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Here we describe the critical role of SC65 (Synaptonemal Complex 65, P3H4), a leprecan-family member, as part of an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) complex with prolyl 3-hydroxylase 3. This complex affects the activity of lysyl-hydroxylase 1 potentially through interactions with the enzyme and/or cyclophilin B. Loss of Sc65 in the mouse results in instability of this complex, altered collagen lysine hydroxylation and cross-linking leading to connective tissue defects that include low bone mass and skin fragility. This is the first indication of a prolyl-hydroxylase complex in the ER controlling lysyl-hydroxylase activity during collagen synthesis.

Circulating interleukin-8 levels explain breast cancer osteolysis in mice and humans.

Skeletal metastases of breast cancer and subsequent osteolysis connote a dramatic change in the prognosis for the patient and significantly increase the morbidity associated with disease. The cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8/CXCL8) is able to directly stimulate osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in mouse models of breast cancer bone metastasis. In this study, we determined whether circulating levels of IL-8 were associated with increased bone resorption and breast cancer bone metastasis in patients and investigated IL-8 action in vitro and in vivo in mice. Using breast cancer patient plasma (36 patients), we identified significantly elevated IL-8 levels in bone metastasis patients compared with patients lacking bone metastasis (p<0.05), as well as a correlation between plasma IL-8 and increased bone resorption (p<0.05), as measured by NTx levels. In a total of 22 ER+ and 15 ER- primary invasive ductal carcinomas, all cases examined stained positive for IL-8 expression. In vitro, human MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MET breast cancer cell lines secrete two distinct IL-8 isoforms, both of which were found to stimulate osteoclastogenesis. However, the more osteolytic MDA-MET-derived full length IL-8(1-77) had significantly higher potency than the non-osteolytic MDA-MB-231-derived IL-8(6-77), via the CXCR1 receptor. MDA-MET breast cancer cells were injected into the tibia of nude mice and 7days later treated daily with a neutralizing IL-8 monoclonal antibody. All tumor-injected mice receiving no antibody developed large osteolytic bone tumors, whereas 83% of the IL-8 antibody-treated mice had no evidence of tumor at the end of 28days and had significantly increased survival. The pro-osteoclastogenic activity of IL-8 in vivo was confirmed when transgenic mice expressing human IL-8 were examined and found to have a profound osteopenic phenotype, with elevated bone resorption and inherently low bone mass. Collectively, these data suggest that IL-8 plays an important role in breast cancer osteolysis and that anti-IL-8 therapy may be useful in the treatment of the skeletal related events associated with breast cancer.

Sc65 is a novel endoplasmic reticulum protein that regulates bone mass homeostasis.

Members of the Leprecan family of proteins include enzymes, prolyl 3-hydroxylase 1 (P3h1), P3h2, and P3h3, and nonenzymatic proteins, Crtap and Sc65. Mutations in CRTAP and LEPRE1 (encoding P3H1) have been associated with human disease such as recessive osteogenesis imperfecta; however, the function of Sc65, which is closely related and highly homologous to Crtap, is unknown. Sc65 has been described as a synaptonemal complex protein, a nucleolar protein, and a cytoplasmic adapter protein. In light of its high sequence similarity with Crtap, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein, and the importance of post-translational modifications such as collagen prolyl 3-hydroxylation in bone metabolism, we hypothesized that Sc65 was an ER-resident protein that would have an important role in bone homeostasis. In this study, we demonstrate that Sc65 is a previously unrecognized ER protein and that it does not localize in the nucleus of somatic cells. Moreover, Sc65 is expressed and functional during skeletal development because loss of Sc65 results in a progressive osteopenia that affects both trabecular and cortical bone. Bone loss is the result of increased bone resorption mediated by a non-cell-autonomous effect on osteoclasts. Therefore, Sc65, like its related family member Crtap, is an important modulator of bone homeostasis, acting as a negative regulator of osteoclastogenesis.

Low bone turnover and low BMD in Down syndrome: effect of intermittent PTH treatment.

Trisomy 21 affects virtually every organ system and results in the complex clinical presentation of Down syndrome (DS). Patterns of differences are now being recognized as patients' age and these patterns bring about new opportunities for disease prevention and treatment. Low bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported in many studies of males and females with DS yet the specific effects of trisomy 21 on the skeleton remain poorly defined. Therefore we determined the bone phenotype and measured bone turnover markers in the murine DS model Ts65Dn. Male Ts65Dn DS mice are infertile and display a profound low bone mass phenotype that deteriorates with age. The low bone mass was correlated with significantly decreased osteoblast and osteoclast development, decreased bone biochemical markers, a diminished bone formation rate and reduced mechanical strength. The low bone mass observed in 3 month old Ts65Dn mice was significantly increased after 4 weeks of intermittent PTH treatment. These studies provide novel insight into the cause of the profound bone fragility in DS and identify PTH as a potential anabolic agent in the adult low bone mass DS population.

Inhibin A enhances bone formation during distraction osteogenesis.

Given the aging population and the increased incidence of fracture in the elderly population, the need exists for agents that can enhance bone healing, particularly in situations of delayed fracture healing and/or non-union. Our previous studies demonstrated that overexpression of the gonadal peptide, human inhibin A (hInhA), in transgenic mice enhances bone formation and strength via increased osteoblast activity. We tested the hypothesis that hInhA can also exert anabolic effects in a murine model of distraction osteogenesis (DO), using both transgenic hInhA overexpression and administration of normal physiological levels of hInhA in adult male Swiss-Webster mice. Tibial osteotomies and external ring fixation were performed, followed by a 3-day latency period, 14-day distraction, and sacrifice on day 18. Supraphysiological levels of hInhA in transgenic mice, but not normal physiological levels of hInhA, significantly increased endosteal bone formation and mineralized bone area in the distraction gap, as determined by radiographic and µCT analysis. Significantly, increased PCNA and osteocalcin expression in the primary matrix front suggested that hInhA increased osteoblast proliferation. This mechanism is consistent with the effects of other agents and pathologies that modulate bone formation during DO, and demonstrates the potential of hInhA to enhance bone repair and regeneration.

Repression of multiple myeloma growth and preservation of bone with combined radiotherapy and anti-angiogenic agent.

The effects of ionizing radiation, with or without the anti-angiogenic agent anginex (Ax), on multiple myeloma growth were tested in a SCID-rab mouse model. Mice carrying human multiple myeloma cell-containing pre-implanted bone grafts were treated weekly with various regimens for 8 weeks. Rapid multiple myeloma growth, assessed by bioluminescence intensity (IVIS), human lambda Ig light chain level in serum (ELISA), and the volume of bone grafts (caliper), was observed in untreated mice. Tumor burden in mice receiving combined therapy was reduced to 59% (by caliper), 43% (by ELISA), and 2% (by IVIS) of baseline values after 8 weeks of treatment. Ax or radiation alone slowed but did not stop tumor growth. Four weeks after the withdrawal of the treatments, tumor burden remained minimal in mice given Ax + radiation but increased noticeably in the other three groups. Multiple myeloma suppression by Ax + radiation was accompanied by a marked decrease in the number and activity of osteoclasts in bone grafts assessed by histology. Bone graft integrity was preserved by Ax + radiation but was lost in the other three groups, as assessed by microCT imaging and radiography. These results suggest that radiotherapy, when primed by anti-angiogenic agents, may be a potent therapy for focal multiple myeloma.

Indian Hedgehog produced by postnatal chondrocytes is essential for maintaining a growth plate and trabecular bone.

Indian hedgehog (Ihh) is essential for chondrocyte and osteoblast proliferation/differentiation during prenatal endochondral bone formation. The early lethality of various Ihh-ablated mutant mice, however, prevented further analysis of its role in postnatal bone growth and development. In this study, we describe the generation and characterization of a mouse model in which the Ihh gene was successfully ablated from postnatal chondrocytes in a temporal/spatial-specific manner; postnatal deletion of Ihh resulted in loss of columnar structure, premature vascular invasion, and formation of ectopic hypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plate. Furthermore, destruction of the articular surface in long bones and premature fusion of growth plates of various endochondral bones was evident, resulting in dwarfism in mutant mice. More importantly, these mutant mice exhibited continuous loss of trabecular bone over time, which was accompanied by reduced Wnt signaling in the osteoblastic cells. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that postnatal chondrocyte-derived Ihh is essential for maintaining the growth plate and articular surface and is required for sustaining trabecular bone and skeletal growth.

Rosiglitazone induces decreases in bone mass and strength that are reminiscent of aged bone.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) regulates both glucose metabolism and bone mass. Recent evidence suggests that the therapeutic modulation of PPARgamma activity with antidiabetic thiazolidinediones elicits unwanted effects on bone. In this study, the effects of rosiglitazone on the skeleton of growing (1 month), adult (6 month), and aged (24 month) C57BL/6 mice were determined. Aging was identified as a confounding factor for rosiglitazone-induced bone loss that correlated with the increased expression of PPARgamma in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The bone of young growing mice was least affected, although a significant decrease in bone formation rate was noted. In both adult and aged animals, bone volume was significantly decreased by rosiglitazone. In adult animals, bone loss correlated with attenuated bone formation, whereas in aged animals, bone loss was associated with increased osteoclastogenesis, mediated by increased receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) expression. PPARgamma activation led to changes in marrow structure and function such as a decrease in osteoblast number, an increase in marrow fat cells, an increase in osteoclast number, and a loss of the multipotential character of marrow mesenchymal stem cells. In conclusion, rosiglitazone induces changes in bone reminiscent of aged bone and appears to induce bone loss by altering the phenotype of marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Inhibin A is an endocrine stimulator of bone mass and strength.

Gonadal function plays a major role in bone homeostasis. It is widely held that the skeletal consequences of hypogonadism are solely due to a loss of sex steroids; however, increases in bone turnover begin during perimenopause before decreases in serum estradiol levels. These data and our demonstration that inhibins acutely regulate bone cell differentiation in vitro led us to test whether inhibin A (InhA) regulates bone mass in vivo. Using a transgenic model of inducible human InhA expression, InhA increased total body bone mineral density, increased bone volume, and improved biomechanical properties at the proximal tibia in intact mice and also prevented the loss of BMD and bone volume and strength associated with gonadectomy at both the spine and proximal tibia. In addition, InhA increased mineral apposition rate, double-labeled surface, and serum osteocalcin levels in vivo and osteoblastogenesis ex vivo without affecting osteoclast number or activity. Together these results demonstrate novel stimulatory effects of InhA on the skeleton in vivo. These studies provide in vivo evidence demonstrating that gonadal factors other than sex steroids play an important role in regulating bone mass and strength and, combined with our previous clinical data, suggest that gonadal InhA may be a component of the normal endocrine repertoire that regulates bone quality in both the axial and appendicular skeleton.