Collaboration between a cis-interacting natural killer cell receptor and membrane sphingolipid is critical for the phagocyte function.

Inhibitory natural killer (NK) cell receptors recognize MHC class I (MHC-I) in trans on target cells and suppress cytotoxicity. Some NK cell receptors recognize MHC-I in cis, but the role of this interaction is uncertain. Ly49Q, an atypical Ly49 receptor expressed in non-NK cells, binds MHC-I in cis and mediates chemotaxis of neutrophils and type I interferon production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells. We identified a lipid-binding motif in the juxtamembrane region of Ly49Q and found that Ly49Q organized functional membrane domains comprising sphingolipids via sulfatide binding. Ly49Q recruited actin-remodeling molecules to an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif, which enabled the sphingolipid-enriched membrane domain to mediate complicated actin remodeling at the lamellipodia and phagosome membranes during phagocytosis. Thus, Ly49Q facilitates integrative regulation of proteins and lipid species to construct a cell type-specific membrane platform. Other Ly49 members possess lipid binding motifs; therefore, membrane platform organization may be a primary role of some NK cell receptors.

The Regulatory Roles of Cerebellar Glycosphingolipid Microdomains/Lipid Rafts.

Lipid rafts are dynamic assemblies of glycosphingolipids, sphingomyelin, cholesterol, and specific proteins which are stabilized into platforms involved in the regulation of vital cellular processes. Cerebellar lipid rafts are cell surface ganglioside microdomains for the attachment of GPI-anchored neural adhesion molecules and downstream signaling molecules such as Src-family kinases and heterotrimeric G proteins. In this review, we summarize our recent findings on signaling in ganglioside GD3 rafts of cerebellar granule cells and several findings by other groups on the roles of lipid rafts in the cerebellum. TAG-1, of the contactin group of immunoglobulin superfamily cell adhesion molecules, is a phosphacan receptor. Phosphacan regulates the radial migration signaling of cerebellar granule cells, via Src-family kinase Lyn, by binding to TAG-1 on ganglioside GD3 rafts. Chemokine SDF-1α, which induces the tangential migration of cerebellar granule cells, causes heterotrimeric G protein Goα translocation to GD3 rafts. Furthermore, the functional roles of cerebellar raft-binding proteins including cell adhesion molecule L1, heterotrimeric G protein Gsα, and L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels are discussed.

Hepatic phosphatidylcholine catabolism driven by PNPLA7 and PNPLA8 supplies endogenous choline to replenish the methionine cycle with methyl groups.

Choline supplies methyl groups for regeneration of methionine and the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine in the liver. Here, we report that the catabolism of membrane phosphatidylcholine (PC) into water-soluble glycerophosphocholine (GPC) by the phospholipase/lysophospholipase PNPLA8-PNPLA7 axis enables endogenous choline stored in hepatic PC to be utilized in methyl metabolism. PNPLA7-deficient mice show marked decreases in hepatic GPC, choline, and several metabolites related to the methionine cycle, accompanied by various signs of methionine insufficiency, including growth retardation, hypoglycemia, hypolipidemia, increased energy consumption, reduced adiposity, increased fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), and an altered histone/DNA methylation landscape. Moreover, PNPLA8-deficient mice recapitulate most of these phenotypes. In contrast to wild-type mice fed a methionine/choline-deficient diet, both knockout strains display decreased hepatic triglyceride, likely via reductions of lipogenesis and GPC-derived glycerol flux. Collectively, our findings highlight the biological importance of phospholipid catabolism driven by PNPLA8/PNPLA7 in methyl group flux and triglyceride synthesis in the liver.

Integrin-Dependent Transient Density Increase in Detergent-Resistant Membrane Rafts in Platelets Activated by Thrombin.

Platelet lipid rafts are critical membrane domains for adhesion, aggregation, and clot retraction. Lipid rafts are isolated as a detergent-resistant membrane fraction via sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The platelet detergent-resistant membrane shifted to a higher density on the sucrose density gradient upon thrombin stimulation. The shift peaked at 1 min and returned to the control level at 60 min. During this time, platelets underwent clot retraction and spreading on a fibronectin-coated glass strip. Thrombin induced the transient tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in the detergent-resistant membrane raft fraction and the transient translocation of fibrin and myosin to the detergent-resistant membrane raft fraction. The level of phosphatidylserine (36:1) was increased and the level of phosphatidylserine (38:4) was decreased in the detergent-resistant membrane raft fraction via the thrombin stimulation. Furthermore, Glanzmann's thrombasthenia integrin αIIbß3-deficient platelets underwent no detergent-resistant membrane shift to a higher density upon thrombin stimulation. As the phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain on Ser19 was at a high level in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia resting platelets, thrombin caused no further phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain on Ser19 or clot retraction. These observations suggest that the fibrin-integrin αIIbß3-myosin axis and compositional change of phosphatidylserine species may be required for the platelet detergent-resistant membrane shift to a higher density upon stimulation with thrombin.

Phosphacan acts as a repulsive cue in murine and rat cerebellar granule cells in a TAG-1/GD3 rafts-dependent manner.

Phosphacan, a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, is a repulsive cue of cerebellar granule cells. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanism. The glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored neural adhesion molecule TAG-1 is a binding partner of phosphacan, suggesting that the repulsive effect of phosphacan is possibly because of its interaction with TAG-1. The repulsive effect was greatly reduced on primary cerebellar granule cells of TAG-1-deficient mice. Surface plasmon resonance analysis confirmed the direct interaction of TAG-1 with chondroitin sulfate C. On postnatal days 1, 4, 7, 11, 15, and 20 and in adulthood, phosphacan was present in the molecular layer and internal granular layer, but not in the external granular layer. In contrast, transient TAG-1 expression was observed exclusively within the premigratory zone of the external granular layer on postnatal days 1, 4, 7, and 11. Boyden chamber cell migration assay demonstrated that phosphacan exerted its repulsive effect on the spontaneous and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-induced migration of cerebellar granule cells. The BDNF-induced migration was inhibited by MK-2206, an Akt inhibitor. The pre-treatment with a raft-disrupting agent, methyl-ß-cyclodextrin, also inhibited the BDNF-induced migration, suggesting that lipid rafts are involved in the migration of cerebellar granule cells. In primary cerebellar granule cells obtained on postnatal day 7 and cultured for 7 days, the ganglioside GD3 and TAG-1 preferentially localized in the cell body, whereas the ganglioside GD1b and NB-3 localized in not only the cell body but also neurites. Pre-treatment with the anti-GD3 antibody R24, but not the anti-GD1b antibody GGR12, inhibited the spontaneous and BDNF-induced migration, and attenuated BDNF-induced Akt activation. These findings suggest that phosphacan is responsible for the repulsion of TAG-1-expressing cerebellar granule cells via GD3 rafts to attenuate BDNF-induced migration signaling.

Function of Platelet Glycosphingolipid Microdomains/Lipid Rafts.

Lipid rafts are dynamic assemblies of glycosphingolipids, sphingomyelin, cholesterol, and specific proteins which are stabilized into platforms involved in the regulation of vital cellular processes. The rafts at the cell surface play important functions in signal transduction. Recent reports have demonstrated that lipid rafts are spatially and compositionally heterogeneous in the single-cell membrane. In this review, we summarize our recent data on living platelets using two specific probes of raft components: lysenin as a probe of sphingomyelin-rich rafts and BCθ as a probe of cholesterol-rich rafts. Sphingomyelin-rich rafts that are spatially and functionally distinct from the cholesterol-rich rafts were found at spreading platelets. Fibrin is translocated to sphingomyelin-rich rafts and platelet sphingomyelin-rich rafts act as platforms where extracellular fibrin and intracellular actomyosin join to promote clot retraction. On the other hand, the collagen receptor glycoprotein VI is known to be translocated to cholesterol-rich rafts during platelet adhesion to collagen. Furthermore, the functional roles of platelet glycosphingolipids and platelet raft-binding proteins including G protein-coupled receptors, stomatin, prohibitin, flotillin, and HflK/C-domain protein family, tetraspanin family, and calcium channels are discussed.

Amyloid precursor protein 770 is specifically expressed and released from platelets.

Platelets not only play an essential role in hemostasis after vascular injury but are also involved in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular lesions. Patients with CAD and cerebral ischemia are recommended to undergo antiplatelet therapy, but they have an increased incidence of major bleeding complications. Both assessment of the platelet activation status and response to antiplatelet therapy in each patient are highly desired. ß-Amyloid precursor protein (APP) 770 is expressed in vascular endothelial cells, and its extracellular region, a soluble form of APP770 (sAPP770, also called nexin-2), is proteolytically cleaved for shedding. Abundant sAPP770 is also released from activated platelets. In this study, we used peripheral blood samples from patients with CAD and control subjects and evaluated sAPP770 as a specific biomarker for platelet activation. First, the plasma levels of sAPP770 correlated well with those of the soluble form CD40 ligand (CD40L), an established biomarker for platelet activation. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis using peripheral blood cells showed that CD40L expression is up-regulated in activated T cells, whereas APP770 expression is negligible in all blood cell types except platelets. Following stimulation with collagen or ADP, aggregating platelets immediately released sAPP770. Finally, patients with dual antiplatelet therapy showed significantly lower levels of plasma sAPP770 than those with no therapy. Taken together, our data show that plasma sAPP770 could be a promising biomarker for platelet activation.

SDF-1α/CXCR4 Signaling in Lipid Rafts Induces Platelet Aggregation via PI3 Kinase-Dependent Akt Phosphorylation.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)-induced platelet aggregation is mediated through its G protein-coupled receptor CXCR4 and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K). Here, we demonstrate that SDF-1α induces phosphorylation of Akt at Thr308 and Ser473 in human platelets. SDF-1α-induced platelet aggregation and Akt phosphorylation are inhibited by pretreatment with the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 or the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. SDF-1α also induces the phosphorylation of PDK1 at Ser241 (an upstream activator of Akt), GSK3ß at Ser9 (a downstream substrate of Akt), and myosin light chain at Ser19 (a downstream element of the Akt signaling pathway). SDF-1α-induced platelet aggregation is inhibited by pretreatment with the Akt inhibitor MK-2206 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, SDF-1α-induced platelet aggregation and Akt phosphorylation are inhibited by pretreatment with the raft-disrupting agent methyl-ß-cyclodextrin. Sucrose density gradient analysis shows that 35% of CXCR4, 93% of the heterotrimeric G proteins Gαi-1, 91% of Gαi-2, 50% of Gß and 4.0% of PI3Kß, and 4.5% of Akt2 are localized in the detergent-resistant membrane raft fraction. These findings suggest that SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling in lipid rafts induces platelet aggregation via PI3K-dependent Akt phosphorylation.

Efficient production of platelets from mouse embryonic stem cells by enforced expression of Gata2 in late hemogenic endothelial cells.

Platelets are essential for blood circulation and coagulation. Previous study indicated that overexpression of Gata2 in differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) resulted in robust induction of megakaryocytes (Mks). To evaluate platelet production capacity of the Gata2-induced ESC-derived Mks, we generated iGata2-ESC line carrying the doxycycline-inducible Gata2 expression cassette. When doxycycline was added to day 5 hemogenic endothelial cells in the in vitro differentiation culture of iGata2-ESCs, c-Kit(-)Tie2(-)CD41(+) Mks were predominantly generated. These iGata2-ESC-derived Mks efficiently produced CD41(+)CD42b(+)CD61(+) platelets and adhered to fibrinogen-coated glass coverslips in response to thrombin stimulation. Transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that the iGata2-ESC-derived platelets were discoid-shaped with α-granules and an open canalicular system, but were larger than peripheral blood platelets in size. These results demonstrated that an enforced expression of Gata2 in late HECs of differentiated ESCs efficiently promotes megakaryopoiesis followed by platelet production. This study provides valuable information for ex vivo platelet production from human pluripotent stem cells in future.

Transbilayer distribution of lipids at nano scale.

There is a limited number of methods to examine transbilayer lipid distribution in biomembranes. We employed freeze-fracture replica-labelling immunoelectron microscopy in combination with lipid-binding proteins and a peptide to examine both transbilayer distribution and lateral distribution of various phospholipids in mammalian cells. Our results indicate that phospholipids are exclusively distributed either in the outer or inner leaflet of human red blood cell (RBC) membranes. In contrast, in nucleated cells, such as human skin fibroblasts and neutrophils, sphingomyelin was distributed in both leaflets while exhibiting characteristic lipid domains in the inner leaflet. Similar to RBCs, lipid asymmetry was maintained both in resting and thrombin-activated platelets. However, the microparticles released from thrombin-activated platelets lost membrane asymmetry. Our results suggest that the microparticles were shed from platelet plasma membrane domains enriched with phosphatidylserine and/or phosphatidylinositol at the outer leaflet. These findings underscore the strict regulation and cell-type specificity of lipid asymmetry in the plasma membrane.

Clot retraction is mediated by factor XIII-dependent fibrin-αIIbß3-myosin axis in platelet sphingomyelin-rich membrane rafts.

Membrane rafts are spatially and functionally heterogenous in the cell membrane. We observed that lysenin-positive sphingomyelin (SM)-rich rafts are identified histochemically in the central region of adhered platelets where fibrin and myosin are colocalized on activation by thrombin. The clot retraction of SM-depleted platelets from SM synthase knockout mouse was delayed significantly, suggesting that platelet SM-rich rafts are involved in clot retraction. We found that fibrin converted by thrombin translocated immediately in platelet detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) rafts but that from Glanzmann's thrombasthenic platelets failed. The fibrinogen γ-chain C-terminal (residues 144-411) fusion protein translocated to platelet DRM rafts on thrombin activation, but its mutant that was replaced by A398A399 at factor XIII crosslinking sites (Q398Q399) was inhibited. Furthermore, fibrin translocation to DRM rafts was impaired in factor XIII A subunit-deficient mouse platelets, which show impaired clot retraction. In the cytoplasm, myosin translocated concomitantly with fibrin translocation into the DRM raft of thrombin-stimulated platelets. Furthermore, the disruption of SM-rich rafts by methyl-ß-cyclodextrin impaired myosin activation and clot retraction. Thus, we propose that clot retraction takes place in SM-rich rafts where a fibrin-αIIbß3-myosin complex is formed as a primary axis to promote platelet contraction.

An anti-sulfatide antibody O4 immunoprecipitates sulfatide rafts including Fyn, Lyn and the G protein α subunit in rat primary immature oligodendrocytes.

The association of sulfatide with specific proteins in oligodendrocytes was examined by co-immunoprecipitation with an anti-sulfatide antibody. Protein kinase activity was detected in precipitates with a monoclonal antibody to sulfatide (O4) from the rat primary immature oligodendrocytes. We conducted in vitro kinase assay of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins of 80, 59, 56, 53 and 40 kDa by gel electrophoresis. Of these proteins, the proteins of 59 kDa and 53/56 kDa were identified as the Src family tyrosine kinases Fyn and Lyn on the basis of their sequential immunoprecipitation with anti-Fyn and anti-Lyn antibodies, respectively. The 40 kDa protein was identified as the α subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein. These observations suggest that O4 immunoprecipitates sulfatide rafts including Fyn, Lyn and the α subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein.

Novel Bernard-Soulier syndrome variants caused by compound heterozygous mutations (case I) or a cytoplasmic tail truncation (case II) of GPIbα.

A defective platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib/IX/V complex [von Willebrand factor (VWF) receptor] results in Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS), which is characterized by macrothrombocytopenia and impaired ristocetin- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. We found 2 independent BSS-variant families: Case I [compound heterozygous mutations, p.Glu331X and a frame shift by a deletion at c.1444delA of GPIbα (GP1BA) terminating at a premature stop codon (p.Thr452ProfsX58)], and case II [homozygous nonsense mutation at c.1723C>T, p.Gln545X]. Case I platelets expressed no GPIbα, resulting in absence of ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA) and 50% reduction in thrombin-induced aggregation with no shape change. The mother's platelets had 50% the expression level of A-type GPIbα (4-repeated VNTR: variable number of tandem repeats, p.[Thr145Met; Ser399_Pro411[4]]); the father's platelets had the same expression level of C-type GPIbα (2-repeated VNTR, p.Ser399_Pro411dup) as the mother's platelets. The mother's RIPA was significantly higher than the father's. Thrombin-induced aggregation was normal in both parents. Case II platelets expressed a GPIbα with an abnormal cytoplasmic tail, p.Gln545X-truncated GPIbα, which complexed with GPIX and GPV on the cell surface; its expression level of the complex was normal. Case II platelets had reversible RIPA, with no ATP release, and weak thrombin-induced aggregation without shape change. These results suggest that a signaling process through the GPIbα cytoplasmic tail required for full platelet activation is defective in BSS variant case II and a length polymorphism of GPIbα is associated with a modified level of RIPA heterozygous BSS case I.

Involvement of gangliosides in the process of Cbp/PAG phosphorylation by Lyn in developing cerebellar growth cones.

The association of gangliosides with specific proteins in the central nervous system was examined by coimmunoprecipitation with an anti-ganglioside antibody. The monoclonal antibody to the ganglioside GD3 (R24) immunoprecipitated the Csk (C-terminal src kinase)-binding protein (Cbp). Sucrose density gradient analysis showed that Cbp of rat cerebellum was detected in detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) raft fractions. R24 treatment of the rat primary cerebellar cultures induced Lyn activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of Cbp. Treatment with anti-ganglioside GD1b antibody also induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Furthermore, over-expressions of Lyn and Cbp in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells resulted in tyrosine 314 phosphorylation of Cbp, which indicates that Cbp is a substrate for Lyn. Immunoblotting analysis showed that the active form of Lyn and the Tyr314-phosphorylated form of Cbp were highly accumulated in the DRM raft fraction prepared from the developing cerebellum compared with the DRM raft fraction of the adult one. In addition, Lyn and the Tyr314-phosphorylated Cbp were highly concentrated in the growth cone fraction prepared from the developing cerebellum. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that Cbp and GAP-43, a growth cone marker, are localized in the same vesicles of the growth cone fraction. These results suggest that Cbp functionally associates with gangliosides on growth cone rafts in developing cerebella.

Ganglioside GD3 monoclonal antibody-induced paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation and filamentous actin assembly in cerebellar growth cones.

We have demonstrated that antibody to ganglioside GD3 (R24) immunoprecipitates src-family tyrosine kinase Lyn from primary cerebellar granule cells and R24 treatment of the intact cells induces Lyn activation and rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of several substrates, suggesting the functional association of ganglioside GD3 with Lyn. In this study, R24 treatment of primary cerebellar granule cells enhances phosphorylation of paxillin at tyrosine residue 118 and induces filamentous actin assembly and neurite outgrowth. R24 treatment of cerebellar growth cone membrane fraction induces prominent tyrosine phosphorylation of 68 kDa protein which comigrates with phosphopaxillin at tyrosine residue 118. Tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin is known to regulate actin cytoskeleton-dependent changes in cell morphology. Signal transduction by ganglioside GD3 is involved in growth cone morphology via tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin.

Impaired clot retraction in factor XIII A subunit-deficient mice.

Factor XIII (FXIII) is a plasma transglutaminase that cross-links fibrin monomers, alpha(2)-plasmin inhibitor, and so forth. Congenital FXIII deficiency causes lifelong bleeding symptoms. To understand the molecular pathology of FXIII deficiency in vivo, its knockout mice have been functionally analyzed. Because prolonged bleeding times, a sign of defective/abnormal primary hemostasis, were commonly observed in 2 separate lines of FXIII A subunit (FXIII-A) knockout mice, a possible role or roles of FXIII in platelet-related function was investigated in the present study. Although platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate or collagen was normal, clot retraction (CR) was lost in the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) of FXIII-A knockout mice. In contrast, there was no CR impairment in the PRP of tissue transglutaminase-knockout mice compared with that of wild-type mice. Furthermore, a transglutaminase inhibitor, cystamine, halted CR in the PRP of wild-type mice. These results indicate that the enzymatic activity of FXIII is necessary for CR, at least in mice.

Translocation of activated heterotrimeric G protein Galpha(o) to ganglioside-enriched detergent-resistant membrane rafts in developing cerebellum.

The association of gangliosides with specific proteins in the central nervous system was examined by co-immunoprecipitation with an anti-ganglioside antibody. The monoclonal antibody to the ganglioside GD3 immunoprecipitated phosphoproteins of 40, 53, 56, and 80 kDa from the rat cerebellum. Of these proteins, the 40-kDa protein was identified as the alpha-subunit of a heterotrimeric G protein, G(o) (Galpha(o)). Using sucrose density gradient analysis of cerebellar membranes, Galpha(o), but not Gbetagamma, was observed in detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) raft fractions in which GD3 was abundant after the addition of guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS), which stabilizes G(o) in its active form. On the other hand, both Galpha(o) and Gbetagamma were excluded from the DRM raft fractions in the presence of guanyl-5'-yl thiophosphate, which stabilizes G(o) in its inactive form. Only Galpha(o) was observed in the DRM fractions from the cerebellum on postnatal day 7, but not from that in adult. After pertussis toxin treatment, Galpha(o) was not observed in the DRM fractions, even from the cerebellum on postnatal day 7. These results indicate the activation-dependent translocation of Galpha(o) into the DRM rafts. Furthermore, Galpha(o) was concentrated in the neuronal growth cones. Treatment with stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha, a physiological ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor, stimulated [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding to Galpha(o) and caused Galpha(o) translocation to the DRM fractions and RhoA translocation to the membrane fraction, leading to the growth cone collapse of cerebellar granule neurons. The collapse was partly prevented by pretreatment with the cholesterol-sequestering and raft-disrupting agent methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. These results demonstrate the involvement of signal-dependent Galpha(o) translocation to the DRM in the growth cone behavior of cerebellar granule neurons.

Heparin enhances osteoclastic bone resorption by inhibiting osteoprotegerin activity.

Heparin is a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan and has been shown to activate osteoclastic bone resorption though how is not yet clear. Here we investigate the molecule involved in heparin-induced activation of osteoclasts using an in vitro osteoclast culture assay. The formation and activation of osteoclasts are induced by receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand (RANKL) on osteoblasts, and inhibited by osteoprotegerin (OPG), a decoy receptor of RANKL, which is secreted from osteoblasts. In a coculture of mouse bone marrow cells and osteoblasts treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and prostaglandin E(2) on dentin slices, the bone marrow cells differentiate into osteoclasts, and resorption pits are formed on the dentin slices. Addition of heparin, various glycosaminoglycans, and chemically modified heparins to the coculture reveals that heparin enhances the pit-forming activity of osteoclasts, and this effect of heparin on the activation of osteoclasts is dependent on its sugar chain structure. By contrast, mRNA expression levels of RANKL, RANK, and OPG in the coculture are not altered by heparin treatment. Furthermore, neither RANK nor RANKL binds to heparin, suggesting that heparin does not directly interact with these proteins. Instead, heparin specifically binds to OPG and prevents OPG-mediated inhibition of osteoclastic bone resorption in the coculture. Heparin treatment does not enhance osteoclastic bone resorption in a monoculture of osteoclasts derived from bone marrow cells, and in the coculture using osteoblasts from OPG-deficient mice. A (125)I-OPG binding assay showed that OPG binds to osteoblasts and that this binding is inhibited by the addition of heparin, suggesting that OPG binds to RANKL on the osteoblast membrane and that heparin blocks this interaction. These results demonstrate that heparin enhances osteoclastic bone resorption by inhibiting OPG activity.