S-Allylmercapto-N-Acetylcysteine (ASSNAC) Attenuates Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized (OVX) Mice.

Osteoporosis is a bone-debilitating disease, demonstrating a higher prevalence in post-menopausal women due to estrogen deprivation. One of the main mechanisms underlying menopause-related bone loss is oxidative stress. S-allylmercapto-N-acetylcysteine (ASSNAC) is a nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activator and cysteine supplier, previously shown to have anti-oxidation protective effects in cultured cells and animal models. Here, we studied the therapeutic potential of ASSNAC with and without Alendronate in ovariectomized (OVX) female mice. The experimental outcome included (i) femur and L3 lumbar vertebra morphometry via Micro-Computed Tomography (µCT); (ii) bone remodeling (formation vs. resorption); and (iii) oxidative stress markers in bone marrow (BM) cells. Four weeks after OVX, there was a significant bone loss that remained evident after 8 weeks, as demonstrated via µCT in the femur (cortical and trabecular bone compartments) and vertebra (trabecular bone). ASSNAC at a dose of 50 mg/Kg/day prevented bone loss after the four-week treatment but had no significant effect after 8 weeks, while ASSNAC at a dose of 20 mg/Kg/day significantly protected against bone loss after 8 weeks of treatment. Alendronate prevented ovariectomy-induced bone loss, and combining it with ASSNAC further augmented this effect. OVX mice demonstrated high serum levels of both C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX) (bone resorption) and procollagen I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) (bone formation) after 2 weeks, and these returned to control levels after 8 weeks. Alendronate, ASSNAC and their combination decreased CTX and increased P1NP. Alendronate induced oxidative stress as reflected by decreased glutathione and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and combining it with ASSNAC partially attenuated these changes. These results portray the therapeutic potential of ASSNAC for the management of post-menopausal osteoporosis. Furthermore, ASSNAC ameliorates the Alendronate-associated oxidative stress, suggesting its potential to prevent Alendronate side effects as well as improve its bone-protective effect.

Erythropoietin Receptor (EPOR) Signaling in the Osteoclast Lineage Contributes to EPO-Induced Bone Loss in Mice.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a pleiotropic cytokine that classically drives erythropoiesis but can also induce bone loss by decreasing bone formation and increasing resorption. Deletion of the EPO receptor (EPOR) on osteoblasts or B cells partially mitigates the skeletal effects of EPO, thereby implicating a contribution by EPOR on other cell lineages. This study was designed to define the role of monocyte EPOR in EPO-mediated bone loss, by using two mouse lines with conditional deletion of EPOR in the monocytic lineage. Low-dose EPO attenuated the reduction in bone volume (BV/TV) in Cx3cr1Cre EPORf/f female mice (27.05%) compared to controls (39.26%), but the difference was not statistically significant. To validate these findings, we increased the EPO dose in LysMCre model mice, a model more commonly used to target preosteoclasts. There was a significant reduction in both the increase in the proportion of bone marrow preosteoclasts (CD115+) observed following high-dose EPO administration and the resulting bone loss in LysMCre EPORf/f female mice (44.46% reduction in BV/TV) as compared to controls (77.28%), without interference with the erythropoietic activity. Our data suggest that EPOR in the monocytic lineage is at least partially responsible for driving the effect of EPO on bone mass.

S-allylmercapto-N-acetylcysteine protects bone cells from oxidation and improves femur microarchitecture in healthy and diabetic mice.

Oxidative stress is involved in the deterioration of bone quality and mechanical strength in both diabetic and aging adults. Therefore, we studied the ability of the antioxidant compound, S-allylmercapto-N-acetylcysteine (ASSNAC) to protect bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) cytotoxicity and improve bone microarchitecture of adult healthy and obese/diabetic (db/db) female mice. ASSNAC effect on AGEs-treated cultured rat BMSCs was evaluated by Neutral Red and XTT cell survival and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level assays. Its effect on healthy (C57BL/6) and obese/diabetic (C57BLKS/J Leprdb+/+; db/db) female mice femur parameters, such as (1) number of adherent BMSCs, (2) percentage of CD73+/CD45- cells in bone marrow (BM), (3) glutathione level in BM cells, and (4) femur microarchitecture parameters by microcomputed tomography, was studied. ASSNAC treatment protected BMSCs by significantly decreasing AGEs-induced ROS production and increasing their cellular resistance to the cytotoxic effect of AGEs. ASSNAC treatment of healthy female mice (50 mg/kg/day; i.p.; age 12-20 weeks) significantly increased the number of BMSCs (+60%), CD73+/CD45- cells (+134%), and glutathione level (+110%) in the femur bone marrow. Furthermore, it increased the femur length (+3%), cortical diameter (+3%), and cortical areal moment of inertia (Ct.MOI; +10%) a surrogate for biomechanical strength. In db/db mice that demonstrated a compromised trabecular bone and growth plate microarchitecture, ASSNAC treatment restored the trabecular number (Tb.N, +29%), bone volume fraction (Tb.BV/TV, +130%), and growth plate primary spongiosa volumetric bone mineral density (PS-vBMD, +7%) and thickness (PS-Th, +18%). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that ASSNAC protects bone marrow cells from oxidative stress and may improve bone microarchitecture in adult healthy and diabetic female mice.

Different Effects of Soy and Whey on Linear Bone Growth and Growth Pattern in Young Male Sprague-Dawley Rats.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the better protein for supporting optimal linear growth, as the exact composition and benefits of specific dietary proteins in supporting linear growth is unknown. In the current study, we compared the effect of soy and whey proteins, both proteins contain all essential amino acids and are considered the best proteins in their categories. Young male rats were subjected to multiple feeding protocols using iso-energetic diets containing soy or whey as the sole protein source. The rats were allowed to eat ad libitum for 11, 24, or 74 days in the first set of experiments, and the soy group was pair-fed to the whey group in the second set. The differences in weight gain, food consumption, and humeri length of the soy group that were greater at the beginning of the ad libitum experiments lessened over time. Pair-fed experiments revealed that the increased weight and humeri length resulted from the differences in food consumption. However, other parameters were protein specific. Bone quality, which was better in the soy group at 24 days, was matched by the whey group and even surpassed that of the soy group in the long-term experiment, with a significantly greater bone mineral density, cortical thickness, and growth plate. Although in the short term the levels of insulin like growth factor (IGF)-I were similar between the groups, IGF-I increased with age in the whey group, and the levels at the long-term experiment were significantly higher compared to the soy group. Furthermore, using the pair fed setup made it clear that when the difference in food consumption were no longer playing part, whey was more efficient in increasing IGF-I. There were no indications of metabolic sequelae. Although the use of soy is gaining in popularity as a sustainable protein, our findings indicate a better effect of whey on linear growth by leading to slower growth with better-organized epiphyseal growth plates and bone quality.

Therapeutic Potential of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and its Derivative Stearyl-Norleucine-VIP in Inflammation-Induced Osteolysis.

The common use of dental and orthopedic implants calls for special attention to the immune response leading to peri-prosthetic bone loss and implant failure. In addition to the well-established microbial etiology for oral implant failure, wear debris and in particular titanium (Ti) particles (TiP) in the implant vicinity are an important trigger of inflammation and activation of bone resorption around oral and orthopedic implants, presenting an unmet medical need. Here, we employed bacterial-derived lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to model infection and TiP to model aseptic inflammation and osteolysis. We assessed inflammation in vitro by measuring IL1ß, IL6 and TNFα mRNA expression in primary macrophages, osteoclastogenesis in RANKL-induced bone marrow derived pre-osteoclasts and osteolysis in vivo in a mouse calvarial model. We also assessed the trans-epithelial penetrability and safety of the tested compound in rats. Our results show that a lipophilic super-active derivative of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), namely stearyl-norleucine-VIP (SNV) presented superior anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoclastogenic effects compared to VIP in vitro. In the bacterial infection model (LPS), SNV significantly reduced IL1ß expression, while VIP increased IL6 expression. In the aseptic models of osteolysis, SNV showed greater suppression of in vitro osteoclastogenesis than VIP, and significantly inhibited inflammation-induced osteolysis in vivo. We also observed that expression levels of the VIP receptor VPAC-2, but not that of VPAC-1, dramatically decreased during osteoclast differentiation. Importantly, SNV previously shown to have an increased stability compared to VIP, showed here significant trans-epithelial penetration and a clean toxicological profile, presenting a novel drug candidate that could be applied topically to counter both aseptic and infection-related bone destruction.

The Non-Erythropoietic EPO Analogue Cibinetide Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis In Vitro and Increases Bone Mineral Density in Mice.

The two erythropoietin (EPO) receptor forms mediate different cellular responses to erythropoietin. While hematopoiesis is mediated via the homodimeric EPO receptor (EPOR), tissue protection is conferred via a heteromer composed of EPOR and CD131. In the skeletal system, EPO stimulates osteoclast precursors and induces bone loss. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we evaluated the role of the heteromeric complex in bone metabolism in vivo and in vitro by using Cibinetide (CIB), a non-erythropoietic EPO analogue that exclusively binds the heteromeric receptor. CIB is administered either alone or in combination with EPO. One month of CIB treatment significantly increased the cortical (~5.8%) and trabecular (~5.2%) bone mineral density in C57BL/6J WT female mice. Similarly, administration of CIB for five consecutive days to female mice that concurrently received EPO on days one and four, reduced the number of osteoclast progenitors, defined by flow cytometry as Lin-CD11b-Ly6Chi CD115+, by 42.8% compared to treatment with EPO alone. In addition, CIB alone or in combination with EPO inhibited osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Our findings introduce CIB either as a stand-alone treatment, or in combination with EPO, as an appealing candidate for the treatment of the bone loss that accompanies EPO treatment.

Anti-CD20-Mediated B Cell Depletion Is Associated With Bone Preservation in Lymphoma Patients and Bone Mass Increase in Mice.

Immunotherapy with anti-CD20-specific antibodies (rituximab), has become the standard of care for B cell lymphoproliferative disorders and many autoimmune diseases. In rheumatological patients the effect of rituximab on bone mass yielded conflicting results, while in lymphoma patients it has not yet been described. Here, we used cross-sectional X-ray imaging (CT/PET-CT) to serially assess bone density in patients with follicular lymphoma receiving rituximab maintenance therapy. Remarkably, this treatment prevented the decline in bone mass observed in the control group of patients who did not receive active maintenance therapy. In accordance with these data, anti-CD20-mediated B cell depletion in normal C57BL/6J female mice led to a significant increase in bone mass, as reflected by a 7.7% increase in bone mineral density (whole femur), and a ~5% increase in cortical as well as trabecular tissue mineral density. Administration of anti-CD20 antibodies resulted in a significant decrease in osteoclastogenic signals, including RANKL, which correlated with a reduction in osteoclastogenic potential of bone marrow cells derived from B-cell-depleted animals. Taken together, our data suggest that in addition to its anti-tumor activity, anti-CD20 treatment has a favorable effect on bone mass. Our murine studies indicate that B cell depletion has a direct effect on bone remodeling.

Erythropoietin receptor in B cells plays a role in bone remodeling in mice.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a key regulator of erythropoiesis. However, EPO receptors (EPO-Rs) are also expressed on non-erythroid cell types, including myeloid and bone cells. Immune cells also participate in bone homeostasis. B cells produce receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), two pivotal regulators of bone metabolism. Here we explored the ability of B cells to transdifferentiate into functional osteoclasts and examined the role of EPO in this process in a murine model. Methods: We have combined specifically-designed experimental mouse models and in vitro based osteoclastogenesis assays, as well as PCR analysis of gene expression. Results: (i) EPO treatment in vivo increased RANKL expression in bone marrow (BM) B cells, suggesting a paracrine effect on osteoclastogenesis; (ii) B cell-derived osteoclastogenesis occured in vivo and in vitro, as demonstrated by B cell lineage tracing in murine models; (iii) B-cell-derived osteoclastogenesis in vitro was restricted to Pro-B cells expressing CD115/CSF1-R and is enhanced by EPO; (iv) EPO treatment increased the number of B-cell-derived preosteoclasts (ß3+CD115+), suggesting a physiological rationale for B cell derived osteoclastogenesis; (v) finally, mice with conditional EPO-R knockdown in the B cell lineage (cKD) displayed a higher cortical and trabecular bone mass. Moreover, cKD displayed attenuated EPO-driven trabecular bone loss, an effect that was observed despite the fact that cKD mice attained higher hemoglobin levels following EPO treatment. Conclusions: Our work highlights B cells as an important extra-erythropoietic target of EPO-EPO-R signaling and suggests their involvement in the regulation of bone homeostasis and possibly in EPO-stimulated erythropoietic response. Importantly, we present here for the first time, histological evidence for B cell-derived osteoclastogenesis in vivo.

Cartilage -specific knockout of Sirt1 significantly reduces bone quality and catch-up growth efficiency.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous catch-up (CU) growth occurs when a growth-restricting factor is resolved. However, its efficiency is sometimes inadequate and growth deficits remain permanent. The therapeutic toolbox for short stature is currently very limited, thus, finding new regulatory pathways is important for the development of novel means of treatment. Our previous studies using a nutrition-induced CU growth model showed that the level of sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) was significantly increased in food-restricted animals and decreased during CU growth. AIM: This study sought to investigate the role of Sirt1 in modulating the response of the epiphyseal growth plate (EGP) to nutritional manipulation. METHOD: Collagen type II-specific Sirt1 knockout (CKO) mice were tested for response to our CU growth model consisting of a period of food restriction followed by re-feeding. RESULTS: The transgenic CKO mice weighed more than the control (CTL) mice, their EGP was higher and less organized, specifically at the resting and proliferative zones, leading to shorter bones. Ablation of Sirt1 in the chondrocytes was found to have a dramatic effect on bone mineralization on micro-CT analysis. The CKO mice were less responsive to the nutritional manipulation, and their CU growth was less efficient. They remained shorter than the CTL mice who corrected the food restriction-induced growth deficit during the re-feeding period. CONCLUSIONS: Sirt1 appears to be important for normal regulation of the EGP. In its absence, the EGP is less organized and CU growth is less efficient. These results suggest that SIRT1 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for short stature.

Erythropoietin Mediated Bone Loss in Mice Is Dose-Dependent and Mostly Irreversible.

Recent studies have demonstrated that erythropoietin (EPO) treatment in mice results in trabecular bone loss. Here, we investigated the dose-response relationship between EPO, hemoglobin (Hgb) and bone loss and examined the reversibility of EPO-induced damage. Increasing doses of EPO over two weeks led to a dose-dependent increase in Hgb in young female mice, accompanied by a disproportionate decrease in trabecular bone mass measured by micro-CT (µCT). Namely, increasing EPO from 24 to 540 IU/week produced a modest 12% rise in Hgb (20.2 ± 1.3 mg/dL vs 22.7 ± 1.3 mg/dL), while trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) in the distal femur decreased dramatically (27 ± 8.5% vs 53 ± 10.2% bone loss). To explore the long-term skeletal effects of EPO, we treated mice for two weeks (540 IU/week) and monitored bone mass changes after treatment cessation. Six weeks post-treatment, there was only a partial recovery of the trabecular microarchitecture in the femur and vertebra. EPO-induced bone loss is therefore dose-dependent and mostly irreversible at doses that offer only a minor advantage in the treatment of anemia. Because patients requiring EPO therapy are often prone to osteoporosis, our data advocate for using the lowest effective EPO dose for the shortest period of time to decrease thromboembolic complications and minimize the adverse skeletal outcome.

Hormone-Independent Sexual Dimorphism in the Regulation of Bone Resorption by Krox20.

Krox20/EGR2 is a zinc finger transcription factor, implicated in the development of the hindbrain, nerve myelination, and tumor suppression. In skeletal biology, we have demonstrated that Krox20 also regulates adult bone metabolism. We and others have characterized several functions of Krox20 in the osteoclast lineage, namely, preosteoclast proliferation and differentiation, and mature osteoclast apoptosis. We have previously reported that systemically Krox20-haploinsufficient mice have a low bone mass with increased bone resorption. However, new data have now revealed that this phenotype is restricted to females. In addition, we discovered that conditional knockout of Krox20 (cKO) restricted to osteoclast progenitors is sufficient to induce the same female-specific bone loss observed in systemic mutants. To test whether this sexual dimorphism results from an interaction between Krox20 and sex hormones, we examined the sex- and hormone-dependent role of Krox20 deficiency on proliferation and apoptosis in osteoclastic cells. Our results indicate that male and female sex hormones (dihydrotestosterone [DHT] and estradiol [E2], respectively) as well as Krox20 inhibit preosteoclast proliferation and augment osteoclast apoptosis. The observation that Krox20 expression is inhibited by DHT and E2 negates the hypothesis that the effect of sex hormones is mediated by an increase in Krox20 expression. Interestingly, the effect of Krox20 deficiency was observed only with cells derived from female animals, regardless of any sex hormones added in vitro. In addition, we have identified sexual dimorphism in the expression of several Krox20-related genes, including NAB2. This sex-specific epigenetic profile was established at puberty, maintained in the absence of sex hormones, and explains the female-specific skeletal importance of Krox20. The findings described in this study emphasize the medical importance of sex differences, which may be determined at the epigenetic level. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Evaluation of the long-term skeletal effect induced by teratogen 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine on offspring of high (C3H/HeJ) and low (C57BL/6J) bone mass phenotype mice.

The long term skeletal effects of antenatal exposure to teratogen 5-deoxy-2'-cytidine (5-AZA) were studied using two inbred strains, C3H/HeJ (C3H, with inherently stronger bones) and C57Bl/6J (C57, with weaker bones). We previously reported that in-utero exposure to 5-AZA resulted in loss of bone quality in 3- and 6-mo-old C3H offspring. In this study, we further examined whether the long-term effects of an acute teratogenic exposure are still evident in older mice. Bone phenotypes of 12 mo-old mice exposed to a single injection of 5-AZA on day 10 of their mother's pregnancy were evaluated by micro-computed tomography and compared to the untreated controls. The main observation of this study is that 5-AZA-induced loss of bone length was registered in 12-mo-old C57 and C3H males. As expected, we did not find differences in the 3rd lumbar vertebra since in-utero exposure to 5-AZA was shown to affect the limb buds but not the axial skeleton. Trajectory of changes in bone phenotypes from ages 3 mo through 6 mo to 12 mo was also compared; 5-AZA-exposed C57 males had consistently lower femoral length and trabecular BMD than age-matched controls. In summary, by characterizing teratogen-exposed C57 and C3H mice, we further confirmed that the adaptive response to antenatal insults continue into mid-life of the mice as well as there is a sex-specificity of these responses.

Perturbed bone composition and integrity with disorganized osteoblast function in zinc receptor/Gpr39-deficient mice.

Changes in bone matrix composition are frequently found with bone diseases and may be associated with increased fracture risk. Bone is rich in the trace element zinc. Zinc was established to play a significant role in the growth, development, and maintenance of healthy bones; however, the mechanisms underlying zinc effects on the integrity of the skeleton are poorly understood. Here, we show that the zinc receptor (ZnR)/Gpr39 is required for normal bone matrix deposition by osteoblasts. Initial analysis showed that Gpr39-deficient ( Gpr39-/-) mice had weaker bones as a result of altered bone composition. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed high mineral-to-matrix ratios in the bones of Gpr39-/- mice. Histologic analysis showed abnormally high numbers of active osteoblasts but normal osteoclast numbers on the surfaces of bones from Gpr39-/- mice. Furthermore, Gpr39-/- osteoblasts had disorganized matrix deposition in vitro with cultures exhibiting abnormally low collagen and high mineral contents, findings that demonstrate a cell-intrinsic role for ZnR/Gpr39 in these cells. We show that both collagen synthesis and deposition by Gpr39-/- osteoblasts are perturbed. Finally, the expression of the zinc transporter Zip13 and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs family of zinc-dependent metalloproteases that regulate collagen processing was downregulated in Gpr39-/- osteoblasts. Altogether, our results suggest that zinc sensing by ZnR/Gpr39 affects the expression levels of zinc-dependent enzymes in osteoblasts and regulates collagen processing and deposition.-Jovanovic, M., Schmidt, F. N., Guterman-Ram, G., Khayyeri, H., Hiram-Bab, S., Orenbuch, A., Katchkovsky, S., Aflalo, A., Isaksson, H., Busse, B., Jähn, K., Levaot, N. Perturbed bone composition and integrity with disorganized osteoblast function in zinc receptor/Gpr39-deficient mice.

Mechanism and Prevention of Titanium Particle-Induced Inflammation and Osteolysis.

The worldwide number of dental implants and orthopedic prostheses is steadily increasing. Orthopedic implant loosening, in the absence of infection, is mostly attributable to the generation of wear debris. Dental peri-implantitis is characterized by a multifactorial etiology and is the main cause of implant failure. It consists of a peri-implant inflammatory lesion that often results in loss of supporting bone. Disease management includes cleaning the surrounding flora by hand instruments, ultrasonic tips, lasers, or chemical agents. We recently published a paper indicating that US scaling of titanium (Ti) implants releases particles that provoke an inflammatory response and osteolysis. Here we show that a strong inflammatory response occurs; however, very few of the titanium particles are phagocytosed by the macrophages. We then measured a dramatic Ti particle-induced stimulation of IL1ß, IL6, and TNFα secretion by these macrophages using multiplex immunoassay. The particle-induced expression profile, examined by FACS, also indicated an M1 macrophage polarization. To assess how the secreted cytokines contributed to the paracrine exacerbation of the inflammatory response and to osteoclastogenesis, we treated macrophage/preosteoclast cultures with neutralizing antibodies against IL1ß, IL6, or TNFα. We found that anti-TNFα antibodies attenuated the overall expression of both the inflammatory cytokines and osteoclastogenesis. On the other hand, anti-IL1ß antibodies affected osteoclastogenesis but not the paracrine expression of inflammatory cytokines, whereas anti-IL6 antibodies did the opposite. We then tested these neutralizing antibodies in vivo using our mouse calvarial model of Ti particle-induced osteolysis and microCT analysis. Here, all neutralizing antibodies, administered by intraperitoneal injection, completely abrogated the particle-induced osteolysis. This suggests that blockage of paracrine inflammatory stimulation and osteoclastogenesis are similarly effective in preventing bone resorption induced by Ti particles. Blocking both the inflammation and osteoclastogenesis by anti-TNFα antibodies, incorporated locally into a slow-release membrane, also significantly prevented osteolysis. The osteolytic inflammatory response, fueled by ultrasonic scaling of Ti implants, results from an inflammatory positive feedback loop and osteoclastogenic stimulation. Our findings suggest that blocking IL1ß, IL6, and/or TNFα systemically or locally around titanium implants is a promising therapeutic approach for the clinical management of peri-implant bone loss.

Ablation of the mammalian lectin galectin-8 induces bone defects in mice.

Mice overexpressing galectin-8 [gal-8 transgenic (Tg)], a secreted mammalian lectin, exhibit enhanced bone turnover and reduced bone mass, similar to cases of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Here, we show that gal-8 knockout (KO) mice have increased bone mass accrual at a young age but exhibit accelerated bone loss during adulthood. These phenotypes can be attributed to a gal-8-mediated increase in receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) expression that promotes osteoclastogenesis, combined with direct inhibition of osteoblast differentiation, evident by reduced bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, reduced phosphorylation of receptor regulated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (R-SMAD) and reduced expression of osteoblast differentiation markers osterix, osteocalcin, runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein-1 (DMP1), and alkaline phosphatase. At the same time, gal-8 promotes expression of estrogen receptor α (ESR1). Accordingly, the rate of bone loss is accelerated in ovariectomized, estrogen-deficient gal-8 Tg mice, whereas gal-8 KO mice, having low levels of ESR1, are refractory to ovariectomy. Finally, gal-8 mRNA positively correlates with the mRNA levels of osteoclastogenic markers RANKL, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and cathepsin K in human femurs. Collectively, these findings identify gal-8 as a new physiologic player in the regulation of bone mass.-Vinik, Y., Shatz-Azoulay, H., Hiram-Bab, S., Kandel, L., Gabet, Y., Rivkin, G., Zick, Y. Ablation of the mammalian lectin galectin-8 induces bone defects in mice.

Bone loss in C57BL/6J-OlaHsd mice, a substrain of C57BL/6J carrying mutated alpha-synuclein and multimerin-1 genes.

The inbred mouse strain C57BL/6 is commonly used for the generation of transgenic mouse and is a well established strain in bone research. Different vendors supply different substrains of C57BL/6J as wild-type animals when genetic drift did not incur any noticeable phenotype. However, we sporadically observed drastic differences in the bone phenotype of "WT" C57BL/6J mice originating from different labs and speculated that these variations are attributable, at least in part, to the variation between C57BL/6J substrains, which is often overlooked. C57BL/6J-OlaHsd is a commonly used substrain that despite a well defined deletion in the alpha-synuclein (Snca) and multimerin-1 (Mmrn1) genes, was reported to display no obvious phenotype and is used as WT control. Here, we compared the bone phenotype of C57BL/6J-OlaHsd (6J-OLA) to C57BL/6J-RccHsd (6J-RCC) and to the original C57BL/6J (6J-JAX). Using µCT analysis, we found that 6J-OLA mice display a significantly lower trabecular bone mass compared to 6J-RCC and 6J-JAX. PCR analysis revealed that both the Snca and Mmrn1 genes are expressed in bone tissue of 6J-RCC animals but not of 6J-OLA mutants, suggesting either one or both genes play a role in bone metabolism. In vitro analysis demonstrated increase in osteoclasts number and decreased osteoblast mineralization in cells derived from 6J-OLA compared with 6J-RCC. Our data may shed light on unexplained differences in basal bone measurements between different research centers and reiterate the importance of specifying the exact substrain type. In addition, our findings describe the physiological role for Mmrn1 and/or Snca in bone remodeling.

Erythropoietin enhances Kupffer cell number and activity in the challenged liver.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is the main hormone driving mammalian erythropoiesis, with activity mediated via the surface receptor, EPO-R, on erythroid progenitor cells. Recombinant human EPO is currently used clinically for the treatment of anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease, and in certain cancer patients suffering from anemia induced either by the tumor itself or by chemotherapy. EPO-R expression is also detected in non-erythroid cells, including macrophages present in the peritoneum, spleen, and bone marrow (BM). Here we demonstrate that Kupffer cells (KCs) - the liver-resident macrophages - are EPO targets. We show that, in vitro, EPO initiated intracellular signalling and enhanced phagocytosis in a rat KC line (RKC-2) and in sorted KCs. Moreover, continuous EPO administration in mice, resulted in an increased number of KCs, up-regulation of liver EPO-R expression and elevated production of the monocyte chemoattractant CCL2, with corresponding egress of Ly6Chi monocytes from the BM. In a model of acute acetaminophen-induced liver injury, EPO administration increased the recruitment of Ly6Chi monocytes and neutrophils to the liver. Taken together, our results reveal a new role for EPO in stimulating KC proliferation and phagocytosis, and in recruiting Ly6Chi monocytes in response to liver injury.

Beta Palmitate Improves Bone Length and Quality during Catch-Up Growth in Young Rats.

Palmitic acid (PA) is the most abundant saturated fatty acid in human milk, where it is heavily concentrated in the sn-2-position (termed beta palmitate, BPA) and as such is conserved in all women, regardless of their diet or ethnicity, indicating its physiological and metabolic importance. We hypothesized that BPA improves the efficiency of nutrition-induced catch up growth as compared to sn-1,3 PA, which is present in vegetable oil. Pre-pubertal male rats were subjected to a 17 days food restriction followed by re-feeding for nine days with 1,3 PA or BPA-containing diets. We measured bone length, epiphyseal growth plate height (EGP, histology), bone quality (micro-CT and 3-point bending assay), and gene expression (Affymetrix). The BPA-containing diet improved most growth parameters: humeri length and EGP height were greater in the BPA-fed animals. Further analysis of the EGP revealed that the hypertrophic zone was significantly higher in the BPA group. In addition, Affymetrix analysis revealed that the diet affected the expression of several genes in the liver and EGP. Despite the very subtle difference between the diets and the short re-feeding period, we found a small but significant improvement in most growth parameters in the BPA-fed rats. This pre-clinical study may have important implications, especially for children with growth disorders and children with special nutritional needs.

Context-Dependent Skeletal Effects of Erythropoietin.

Erythropoietin (Epo) is the main hormone that regulates the production of red blood cells (hematopoiesis), by stimulating their progenitors. Beyond this vital function, several emerging roles have been noted for Epo in other tissues, including neurons, heart, and retina. The skeletal system is also affected by Epo; however, its actions on bone are, as yet, controversial. Here, we review the seemingly contradicting evidence regarding Epo effects on bone remodeling. We also discuss the evidence pointing to a direct vs indirect effect of Epo on the osteoblastic and osteoclastic cell lineages. The current controversy may derive from a context-dependent mode of function of Epo, namely, opposite skeletal actions during bone regeneration and steady-state bone remodeling. Differences in conclusions deriving from the published in vitro studies may thus relate to the different experimental conditions. Taken together, the current state-of-the-art indicates definite Epo effects on bone cells and points to the complexity of the mode of function.

Erythropoietin in bone - Controversies and consensus.

Erythropoietin (Epo) is the main hormone that regulates the production of red blood cells (hematopoiesis), by stimulating their progenitors. Beyond this vital function, several emerging roles have been noted for Epo in other tissues, including neurons, heart and retina. The skeletal system is also affected by Epo, however, its actions on bone are, as yet, controversial. Here, we review the seemingly contradicting evidence regarding Epo effects on bone remodeling. We also discuss the evidence pointing to a direct versus indirect effect of Epo on the osteoblastic and osteoclastic cell lineages. The current controversy may derive from a context-dependent mode of action of Epo, namely opposite skeletal actions during bone regeneration and steady-state bone remodeling. Differences in conclusions from the published in-vitro studies may thus relate to the different experimental conditions. Taken together, these studies indicate a complexity of Epo functions in bone cells.