Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor can protect the femoral head against tobacco smoke exposure-induced osteonecrosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Exposure to tobacco smoke (TS) has been considered a risk factor for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors (sEHIs) have been found to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in a variety of pathologies. This study was designed to assess the effect of sEHI on the development of ONFH phenotypes induced by TS exposure in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. SH and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were exposed to filtered air (FA) or TS (80 mg/m3 particulate concentration) 6 h/day, 3 days/week for 8 weeks. During this period, sEHI was delivered through drinking water at a concentration of 6 mg/L. Histology, immunohistochemistry, and micro-CT morphometry were performed for phenotypic evaluation. As results, TS exposure induced significant increases in adipocyte area, bone specific surface (BS/BV), and trabecular separation (Tb.SP), as well as significant decreases in bone mineral density (BMD), percent trabecular area (Tb.Ar), HIF-1a expression, bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular numbers (Tb.N), and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) in both SH and WKY rats. However, the protective effects of sEHI were mainly observed in TS-exposed SH rats, specifically in the density of osteocytes, BMD, Tb.Ar, HIF-1a expression, BV/TV, BS/BV, Tb.N, and Tb.SP. Our study confirms that TS exposure can induce ONFH especially in SH rats, and suggests that sEHI therapy may protect against TS exposure-induced osteonecrotic changes in the femoral head.

Adiponectin regulates osteocytic MLO-Y4 cell apoptosis in a high-glucose environment through the AMPK/FoxO3a signaling pathway.

Clinical studies have shown that persistent hyperglycemia following oxidative stress is associated with the apoptosis of osteocytes in diabetics. Adiponectin (APN) can ameliorate oxidative stress, and its receptors have been identified in bone-forming cells. However, the relationship between APN and osteocyte apoptosis has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate whether APN could prevent osteocyte apoptosis and regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in a high-glucose environment. Hoechst staining and fluorescence microscopy were used to observe the apoptosis of osteocytic MLO-Y4 cells. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of Caspase 3, Caspase 8, and Bcl-2. ROS generation was investigated with an active oxygen kit and fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the expression of proteins in the AMPK/FoxO3A signaling pathway was also studied by Western blot analysis. In a high-glucose environment, APN promoted the proliferation of MLO-Y4 osteocytes and the expression of Bcl-2 but inhibited the expression of Caspase 3, Caspase 8, and ROS in a dose-dependent manner. APN promoted the activation of p-AMPK and p-AMPK/AMPK, which reached their highest levels at 10 min and returned to baseline at 30 min. The expression of p-FoxO3A/FoxO3A in both the cytoplasm and nucleus peaked at 15 min, and this expression was returned to baseline at 60 min. In summary, APN has an antiapoptotic effect and regulates ROS generation in MLO-Y4 osteocytes in a high-glucose environment. The AMPK/FoxO3A signaling pathway might be a key signaling pathway that participates in the effect of APN on regulating osteocyte apoptosis in diabetics.

Investigating Osteocytic Perilacunar/Canalicular Remodeling.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In perilacunar/canalicular remodeling (PLR), osteocytes dynamically resorb, and then replace, the organic and mineral components of the pericellular extracellular matrix. Given the enormous surface area of the osteocyte lacuna-canalicular network (LCN), PLR is important for maintaining homeostasis of the skeleton. The goal of this review is to examine the motivations and critical considerations for the analysis of PLR, in both in vitro and in vivo systems. RECENT FINDINGS: Morphological approaches alone are insufficient to elucidate the complex mechanisms regulating PLR in the healthy skeleton and in disease. Understanding the role and regulation of PLR will require the incorporation of standardized PLR outcomes as a routine part of skeletal phenotyping, as well as the development of improved molecular and cellular outcomes. Current PLR outcomes assess PLR enzyme expression, the LCN, and bone matrix composition and organization, among others. Here, we discuss current PLR outcomes and how they have been applied to study PLR induction and suppression in vitro and in vivo. Given the role of PLR in skeletal health and disease, integrated analysis of PLR has potential to elucidate new mechanisms by which osteocytes participate in skeletal health and disease.

Heme oxygenase-1 prevents glucocorticoid and hypoxia-induced apoptosis and necrosis of osteocyte-like cells.

Glucocorticoids and hypoxia is considered to promote osteocyte apoptosis and necrosis, which are observed in glucocorticoid-associated osteonecrosis and osteoporosis. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induced by hemin is reported to have cytoprotective effects in ischemic diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of HO-1 on osteocyte death caused by glucocorticoids and hypoxia. We confirmed that hemin induced HO-1 expression in MLO-Y4 mouse osteocytes. MLO-Y4 was cultured with dexamethasone (Dex) under hypoxia (DH group). Furthermore, these cells were cultured with hemin (DH-h group) or hemin and zinc protoporphyrin IX (an HO-1 inhibitor) (DH-h-PP group). The rates of apoptosis and necrosis of these groups were analyzed by flow cytometry and compared with cells cultured under normal condition. Both apoptosis and necrosis increased in the DH group. Hemin administration significantly reduced cell death caused by glucocorticoids and hypoxia in the DH-h group, and its effect was attenuated by the HO-1 inhibitor in DH-h-PP group. Capase-3 activity significantly decreased in the DH-h group. This implied that the cell death inhibition effect due to hemin is mediated by HO-1 and caspase-3. HO-1 induction may be useful in the treatment of glucocorticoid-associated osteonecrosis and osteoporosis.

miR-199a-3p is involved in estrogen-mediated autophagy through the IGF-1/mTOR pathway in osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells.

To date, evidence indicates that estrogen partially modulates cellular processes through microRNAs. Autophagy is a catabolic process that is regulated by multiple factors and is associated with skeletal diseases. However, whether estrogen regulates osteocyte autophagy via microRNAs is largely unknown. In this study, we observed the up-regulation of microRNA-199a-3p, a post-transcriptional regulatory factor, in osteocytic areas in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. The mature forms of miR-199a-3p and pri-miR-199a were produced in response to estrogen signaling in osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells. Western blotting, autophagic flux detection, mRFP-GFP-LC3 fluorescence, and electron microscopy confirmed that miR-199a-3p induced autophagy in MLO-Y4 cells, although cellular apoptosis was not affected. Additionally, we documented the ability of estrogen to mediate osteocyte autophagy. Based on our in vivo data, estrogen deficiency induced autophagy in osteocytes. Treatment of starved MLO-Y4 cells with 17ß-estradiol suppressed the excess autophagy induced by starvation via activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-related signaling cascades, while administration of rapamycin reversed the effects of 17ß-estradiol. Meanwhile, miR-199a-3p overexpression reversed 17ß-estradiol-mediated regulation of autophagy in MLO-Y4 cells. According to mechanistic studies, miR-199a-3p inhibited the mTOR pathway by directly binding to the 3'-untranslated regions of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and mTOR. However, overexpression of miR-199a-3p inhibited IGF-1 phosphorylation and mTOR-related pathways. Knockdown of mTOR and IGF-1 abolished estrogen signaling and restored LC3-II expression through mTOR re-activation, respectively. Thus, miR-199a-3p appears to be involved in the estrogen regulatory networks that mediate bone cell autophagy, potentially by targeting IGF-1 and mTOR.

Osteocyte differentiation and the formation of an interconnected cellular network in vitro.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness and cell density can regulate osteoblast differentiation in two dimensional environments. However, it is not yet known how osteoblast-osteocyte differentiation is regulated within a 3D ECM environment, akin to that existing in vivo. In this study we test the hypothesis that osteocyte differentiation is regulated by a 3D cell environment, ECM stiffness and cell density. We encapsulated MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cells at varied cell densities (0.25, 1 and 2 × 106 cells/mL) within microbial transglutaminase (mtgase) gelatin hydrogels of low (0.58 kPa) and high (1.47 kPa) matrix stiffnesses. Cellular morphology was characterised from phalloidin-FITC and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) dilactate staining. In particular, the expression of cell dendrites, which are phenotypic of osteocyte differentiation, were identified. Immunofluorescent staining for the osteocytes specific protein DMP-1 was conducted. Biochemical analyses were performed to determine cell number, alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralisation at 2.5 hours, 3, 21 and 56 days. We found that osteocyte differentiation and the formation of an interconnected network between dendritic cells was significantly increased within low stiffness 3D matrices, compared to cells within high stiffness matrices, at high cell densities. Moreover we saw that this network was interconnected, expressed DMP-1 and also connected with osteoblast-like cells at the matrix surface. This study shows for the first time the role of the 3D physical nature of the ECM and cell density for regulating osteocyte differentiation and the formation of the osteocyte network in vitro. Future studies could apply this method to develop 3D tissue engineered constructs with an osteocyte network in place.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1: function and regulation in bone and related tissues.

In this review, we have highlighted work that has clearly demonstrated that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), a negative regulator of MAPKs, is an important signaling mediator in bone, muscle, and fat tissue homeostasis and differentiation. Further, we examined recent studies with particular focus on MKP-1 overexpression or deletion and its impact on tissues connected to bone. We also summarized regulation of MKP-1 by known skeletal regulators like parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) and bone morphogenic proteins. MKP-1's integration into the pathophysiological state of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and muscular dystrophy are examined to emphasize possible involvement of MKP-1 both at the molecular level and in disease complications such as sarcopenia- or diabetes-related osteoporosis. We predict that understanding the mechanism of MKP-1-mediated signaling in bone-muscle-fat crosstalk will be a key in coordinating their activities and developing therapeutics to improve clinical outcomes for diseases associated with advanced age.

Deletion of Mbtps1 (Pcsk8, S1p, Ski-1) Gene in Osteocytes Stimulates Soleus Muscle Regeneration and Increased Size and Contractile Force with Age.

Conditional deletion of Mbtps1 (cKO) protease in bone osteocytes leads to an age-related increase in mass (12%) and in contractile force (30%) in adult slow twitch soleus muscles (SOL) with no effect on fast twitch extensor digitorum longus muscles. Surprisingly, bone from 10-12-month-old cKO animals was indistinguishable from controls in size, density, and morphology except for a 25% increase in stiffness. cKO SOL exhibited increased expression of Pax7, Myog, Myod1, Notch, and Myh3 and 6-fold more centralized nuclei, characteristics of postnatal regenerating muscle, but only in type I myosin heavy chain-expressing cells. Increased expression of gene pathways mediating EGF receptor signaling, circadian exercise, striated muscle contraction, and lipid and carbohydrate oxidative metabolism were also observed in cKO SOL. This muscle phenotype was not observed in 3-month-old mice. Although Mbtps1 mRNA and protein expression was reduced in cKO bone osteocytes, no differences in Mbtps1 or cre recombinase expression were observed in cKO SOL, explaining this age-related phenotype. Understanding bone-muscle cross-talk may provide a fresh and novel approach to prevention and treatment of age-related muscle loss.

Immunolocalization of MMP 2, 9 and 13 in prednisolone induced osteoporosis in mice.

Long-term use of glucocorticoids (GC) causes rapid bone loss and increases the risk of osteoporotic fractures. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs), the most prominent kind of proteases implicated in the proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), have been reported to be involved in pathological process of GC induced osteoporosis. However, the underlining mechanisms are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial expression and the potential function of MMP 2, 9 and 13 in osteoporosis induced by prednisolone in the tibiae of mice. In this experiment, mice were given prednisolone (15 mg/kg body weight) in PBS intragastrically every other day, or only PBS as control. Two weeks later, mice were fixed with transcardial perfusion of 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), and tibiae were extracted for histochemical analysis. Compared with control group, the number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts and the immunoreactivity of MMP 2, 9 and 13 were significantly increased in the trabecular bone of mice administered with prednisolone, leading to the decrease of trabecular bone volume. On the other hand, lighter eosin staining areas containing numerous empty lacunae of osteocytes and crevices were seen in the narrowing cortical bone. Furthermore, intense immunoreaction of MMP 2 and MMP 13 were found in the enlarged lacunae and the crevices, respectively. Taken together, we concluded that prednisolone administration induced the increase of MMP 2, 9 and 13 expressions, while MMP 2 and MMP 13 played essential roles in the osteocytic osteolysis and the early impaired areas in the cortical bone. Therefore, MMPs might be new potential therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis, especially osteocytic osteolysis.

Activation of Protein Kinase A in Mature Osteoblasts Promotes a Major Bone Anabolic Response.

Protein kinase A (PKA) regulates osteoblast cell function in vitro and is activated by important bone mass modulating agents. We determined whether PKA activation in osteoblasts is sufficient to mediate a bone anabolic response. Thus, a mouse model conditionally expressing a constitutively active PKA (CA-PKA) in osteoblasts (CA-PKA-OB mouse) was developed by crossing a 2.3-kb α1 (I)-collagen promoter-Cre mouse with a floxed-CA-PKA mouse. Primary osteoblasts from the CA-PKA-OB mice exhibited higher basal PKA activity than those from control mice. Microcomputed tomographic analysis revealed that CA-PKA-OB female mice had an 8.6-fold increase in femoral but only 1.16-fold increase in lumbar 5 vertebral bone volume/total volume. Femur cortical thickness and volume were also higher in the CA-PKA-OB mice. In contrast, alterations in many femoral microcomputed tomographic parameters in male CA-PKA-OB mice were modest. Interestingly, the 3-dimensional structure model index was substantially lower both in femur and lumbar 5 of male and female CA-PKA-OB mice, reflecting an increase in the plate to rod-like structure ratio. In agreement, femurs from female CA-PKA-OB mice had greater load to failure and were stiffer compared with those of control mice. Furthermore, the CA-PKA-OB mice had higher levels of serum bone turnover markers and increased osteoblast and osteoclast numbers per total tissue area compared with control animals. In summary, constitutive activation of PKA in osteoblasts is sufficient to increase bone mass and favorably modify bone architecture and improve mechanical properties. PKA activation in mature osteoblasts is, therefore, an important target for designing anabolic drugs for treating diseases with bone loss.

E11/Podoplanin Protein Stabilization Through Inhibition of the Proteasome Promotes Osteocyte Differentiation in Murine in Vitro Models.

The transmembrane glycoprotein E11 is considered critical in early osteoblast-osteocyte transitions (osteocytogenesis), however its function and regulatory mechanisms are still unknown. Using the late osteoblast MLO-A5 cell line we reveal increased E11 protein/mRNA expression (P < 0.001) concomitant with extensive osteocyte dendrite formation and matrix mineralization (P < 0.001). Transfection with E11 significantly increased mRNA levels (P < 0.001), but immunoblotting failed to detect any correlative increases in E11 protein levels, suggestive of post-translational degradation. We found that exogenous treatment of MLO-A5 and osteocytic IDG-SW3 cells with 10 µM ALLN (calpain and proteasome inhibitor) stabilized E11 protein levels and induced a profound increase in osteocytic dendrite formation (P < 0.001). Treatment with other calpain inhibitors failed to promote similar osteocytogenic changes, suggesting that these effects of ALLN rely upon its proteasome inhibitor actions. Accordingly we found that proteasome-selective inhibitors (MG132/lactacystin/ Bortezomib/Withaferin-A) produced similar dose-dependent increases in E11 protein levels in MLO-A5 and primary osteoblast cells. This proteasomal targeting was confirmed by immunoprecipitation of ubiquitinylated proteins, which included E11, and by increased levels of ubiquitinylated E11 protein upon addition of the proteasome inhibitors MG132/Bortezomib. Activation of RhoA, the small GTPase, was found to be increased concomitant with the peak in E11 levels and its downstream signaling was also observed to promote MLO-A5 cell dendrite formation. Our data indicate that a mechanism reliant upon blockade of proteasome-mediated E11 destabilization contributes to osteocytogenesis and that this may involve downstream targeting of RhoA. This work adds to our mechanistic understanding of the factors regulating bone homeostasis, which may lead to future therapeutic approaches.

Effects of early and late treatments of low-intensity, high-frequency mechanical vibration on bone parameters in rats.

Low-intensity, high-frequency mechanical vibration (LHMV) has shown to increase bone formation. However, studies comparing the effectiveness of early- and late-treatments of LHMV to counteract bone loss have not been documented. This study was designed to compare the effects of early- and late-treatments of LHMV (at 30 Hz/0.6 g, 20 min per day/five days per week, for 12 weeks) on bone parameters in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats. Thirty days after ovariectomy, 40 adult rats were randomly divided into four groups: GI (early control group); GII treated with LHMV 3 weeks after Ovx (early treatment); GIII (late control group) and GIV treated with LHMV twelve weeks after Ovx (late treatment). Bone mineral density (BMD) was analyzed before Ovx and after treatments. Then, animals were killed, and the femurs were collected and their length and diaphysis diameter were measured; the distal femurs were taken and processed for histomorphometry and polarized light microscopy for collagen fibers analysis or subjected to immunohistochemistry of cleaved caspase-3 in osteocytes. Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test (p < 0.05). BMD was similar among the groups before Ovx, but after treatments, it was significantly higher in GII and GIV compared with their control groups (p < 0.05). Femur length and cortical bone thickness were similar among the groups, but the diaphysis diameter of GII was higher compared with GI. Trabecular bone area was higher in the vibrated groups, but it was greater in GII (p < 0.05). Also, the vibrated groups showed the higher content collagen fibers and lower presence apoptotic osteocytes (positive caspase-3 immunoreactivity) when compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). These results suggest that both early- and late-treatments with LHMV counteract bone loss, being the early treatment more effective than the late treatment.

Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase protects against homocysteine-induced apoptosis of osteocytic MLO-Y4 cells by regulating the expressions of NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) and Nox2.

BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level is associated with the risk of osteoporotic fracture. While Hcy increases oxidative stress, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation ameliorates it. This study aimed to investigate whether Hcy induces apoptosis of osteocytic MLO-Y4 cells through regulating expressions of oxidant and anti-oxidant enzymes and determine the effects of AMPK activation by 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-ß-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) and metformin on the Hcy-induced apoptosis of the cells. RESULTS: DNA fragment ELISA and TUNEL staining assays showed that Hcy treatments (0.1-5.0 mM) induced apoptosis of MLO-Y4 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The detrimental effect of Hcy was partly but significantly reversed by an antioxidant (N-acetylcysteine) and NADPH oxidase (Nox) inhibitors (apocynin and diphenyleneiodonium). In addition, treatment with AICAR (0.05-0.1 mM) and metformin (10-100 µM) ameliorated Hcy-induced apoptosis of the cells. The favorable effect of metformin on Hcy-induced apoptosis was completely canceled by an AMPK inhibitor Ara-A. Hcy increased the expression levels of Nox1 and Nox2, while it had no effects on the expressions of Nox4 or the anti-oxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase 1 and 2. Hcy-induced increases in the expressions of Nox1 and Nox2 decreased significantly by treatments with AICAR. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Hcy induces apoptosis of osteocytes by increasing the expressions of Nox1 and Nox2, and AMPK activation by AICAR and metformin effectively prevents the detrimental reactions. Thus, AMPK activation may be a potent therapeutic candidate for preventing Hcy-induced osteocyte apoptosis and the resulting bone fragility.

Identification of receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase µ as a new marker for osteocytes.

Osteocytes are the predominant cells in bone, where they form a cellular network and display important functions in bone homeostasis, phosphate metabolism and mechanical transduction. Several proteins strongly expressed by osteocytes are involved in these processes, e.g., sclerostin, DMP-1, PHEX, FGF23 and MEPE, while others are upregulated during differentiation of osteoblasts into osteocytes, e.g., osteocalcin and E11. The receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase µ (RPTPµ) has been described to be expressed in cells which display a cellular network, e.g., endothelial and neuronal cells, and is implied in mechanotransduction. In a capillary outgrowth assay using metatarsals derived from RPTPµ-knock-out/LacZ knock-in mice, we observed that the capillary structures grown out of the metatarsals were stained blue, as expected. Surprisingly, cells within the metatarsal bone tissue were positive for LacZ activity as well, indicating that RPTPµ is also expressed by osteocytes. Subsequent histochemical analysis showed that within bone, RPTPµ is expressed exclusively in early-stage osteocytes. Analysis of bone marrow cell cultures revealed that osteocytes are present in the nodules and an enzymatic assay enabled the quantification of the amount of osteocytes. No apparent bone phenotype was observed when tibiae of RPTPµ-knock-out/LacZ knock-in mice were analyzed by µCT at several time points during aging, although a significant reduction in cortical bone was observed in RPTPµ-knock-out/LacZ knock-in mice at 20 weeks. Changes in trabecular bone were more subtle. Our data show that RPTPµ is a new marker for osteocytes.

iNOS expression and osteocyte apoptosis in idiopathic, non-traumatic osteonecrosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Non-traumatic osteonecrosis is a progressive disease with multiple etiologies. It affects younger individuals more and more, often leading to total hip arthroplasty. We investigated whether there is a correlation between inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and osteocyte apoptosis in non-traumatic osteonecrosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected and studied 20 human idiopathic, non-traumatic osteonecrosis femoral heads. Subchondral bone samples in the non-sclerotic region (n = 30), collected from osteoarthritis patients, were used as controls. Spontaneously hypertensive rats were used as a model for osteonecrosis in the study. We used scanning electron microscopy, TUNEL assay, and immunohistochemical staining to study osteocyte changes and apoptosis. RESULTS: The morphology of osteocytes in the areas close to the necrotic region changed and the number of apoptotic osteocytes increased in comparison with the same region in control groups. The expression of iNOS and cytochrome C in osteocytes increased while Bax expression was not detectable in osteonecrosis samples. Using spontaneously hypertensive rats, we found a positive correlation between iNOS expression and osteocyte apoptosis in the osteonecrotic region. iNOS inhibitor (aminoguanidine) added to the drinking water for 5 weeks reduced the production of iNOS and osteonecrosis compared to a control group without aminoguanidine. INTERPRETATION: Our findings show that increased iNOS expression can lead to osteocyte apopotosis in idiopathic, non-traumatic osteonecrosis and that an iNOS inhibitor may prevent the progression of the disease.

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) co-localizes with receptor activator of NF-KB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1)-positive vesicles in rat osteoblasts and osteocytes.

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is well known as an osteoclast marker; however, a recent study from our group demonstrated enhanced number of TRAP + osteocytes as well as enhanced levels of TRAP located to intracellular vesicles in osteoblasts and osteocytes in experimental osteoporosis in rats. Such vesicles were especially abundant in osteoblasts and osteocytes in cancellous bone as well as close to bone surface and intracortical remodeling sites. To further investigate TRAP in osteoblasts and osteocytes, long bones from young, growing rats were examined. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy displayed co-localization of TRAP with receptor activator of NF-KB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in hypertrophic chondrocytes and diaphyseal osteocytes with Pearson's correlation coefficient ≥0.8. Transmission electron microscopy showed co-localization of TRAP and RANKL in lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) + vesicles in osteoblasts and osteocytes supporting the results obtained by confocal microscopy. Recent in vitro data have demonstrated OPG as a traffic regulator for RANKL to LAMP1 + secretory lysosomes in osteoblasts and osteocytes, which seem to serve as temporary storage compartments for RANKL. Our in situ observations indicate that TRAP is located to RANKL-/OPG-positive secretory lysosomes in osteoblasts and osteocytes, which may have implications for osteocyte regulation of osteoclastogenesis.

Increased tartrate-resistant Acid phosphatase expression in osteoblasts and osteocytes in experimental osteoporosis in rats.

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is known as an osteoclast marker, but osteoblasts and osteocytes in the vicinity of bone remodeling sites also express TRAP. Cell culture studies suggest that osteoblasts endocytose osteoclastic TRAP for inactivation. To evaluate whether changes in osteoclast activity could alter TRAP expression in osteoblasts and/or osteocytes in vivo, we studied the ovariectomized and vitamin D-deficient rat (Ovx-D) and rats healing from rickets. Bone sections were analyzed for TRAP gene expression by in situ hybridization, TRAP protein by immunogold labeling, and TRAP enzyme activity using the fluorescent substrate ELF97. Osteoblasts and osteocytes close to intracortical remodeling sites and bone surfaces demonstrated TRAP, most prominently in cancellous bone and osteocytes. Intracellular TRAP was located to electron-dense vesicles with similar morphology in both cell types. Ovx-D increased osteoclast activity (p < 0.001) and ELF97⁺ osteocytes (p < 0.05) in cancellous bone, but no corresponding increase was observed in the osteocyte lacunar area. The level of TRAP⁺ vesicles in cortical osteoblasts (p < 0.01) in Ovx-D rats was also increased. Enhanced osteoclast activity was noted in healing rickets after 72 h (p < 0.05), but no differences in TRAP expression were detected in osteoblasts or osteocytes. Thus, increased osteoclast activity does not affect TRAP expression in osteoblasts and osteocytes, favoring the notion that increased TRAP in these cells is rather due to increased synthesis. Although the role of TRAP in osteoblasts and osteocytes remains elusive, we speculate that the function is related to the capability of the enzyme to regulate the phosphorylation of proteins known to be expressed by these cells.

Estrogen withdrawal from osteoblasts and osteocytes causes increased mineralization and apoptosis.

Recent studies have demonstrated increased bone mineral heterogeneity following estrogen withdrawal in vivo. Such changes likely contribute to fracture risk during post-menopausal osteoporosis since tissue mineralization is correlated with bone strength and stiffness. However, the cellular mechanisms responsible for increased mineral variability have not yet been distinguished. The objective of this study is to elucidate how alterations in mineral distribution are initiated during estrogen depletion. Specifically, we tested two separate hypotheses; (1) estrogen deficiency directly alters osteoblast mineralization and (2) estrogen deficiency increases bone cell apoptosis. Osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3-E1) and osteocyte-like cells (MLO-Y4) were pretreated with or without estrogen (17ß-estradiol) for 14 days. Estrogen deficiency was subsequently induced by either withdrawing estrogen from cells or blocking estrogen receptors using an estrogen antagonist, fulvestrant (ICI 182,780). Cell number (Hoechst DNA), alkaline phosphatase activity (p-NPP), mineralization (alizarin red) and apoptosis (Caspase 3/7) were evaluated. Whether estrogen withdrawal altered apoptosis rates in the presence of an apoptosis promoting agent (etoposide) was also determined. Interestingly, estrogen withdrawal from cells accustomed to estrogen exposure caused significantly increased osteoblast mineralization and osteocyte apoptosis compared with continued estrogen treatment. In contrast, blocking estrogen receptors with fulvestrant abrogated the mineralization induced by estrogen treatment. When apoptosis was induced using etoposide, cells undergoing estrogen withdrawal increased apoptosis compared to cells with continued estrogen treatment. Recognizing the underlying mechanisms regulating bone cell mineralization and apoptosis during estrogen deficiency and their consequences is necessary to further our knowledge of osteoporosis.

Influence of osteocytes in the in vitro and in vivo ß-tricalcium phosphate-stimulated osteogenesis.

Osteocytes, known to act as the main regulators of bone homeostasis, have become a major focus in the field of bone research. Bioactive ceramics have been widely used for bone regeneration. However, there are few studies about the interaction of osteocytes with bioceramics. The effects of osteocytes on the in vitro and in vivo osteogenesis of bioceramics are also unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of osteocytes on the ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) stimulated osteogenesis. It was found that osteocytes responded to the ß-TCP stimulation, leading to the release of Wnt (wingless-related MMTV integration site), which enhanced osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells via Wnt signaling pathway. Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand, an osteoclast inducer, was also upregulated, indicating that osteocytes would also participated in activation of osteoclasts, which played a major role in the degradation process of ß-TCP and new bone remodeling. In vivo studies further demonstrated that when the material was completely embedded by newly formed bone, the only cell contacting with the material was osteocyte. However, the material would eventually be degraded and replaced by the new bone, requiring the participation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, which were demonstrated by using immunostaining in this study. As the only cell contacting with the material, osteocytes probably acted in a regulatory role to regulate the surrounding osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Osteocytes were also found to participate in the maturation of osteoblasts and the mineralization process of biomaterials, by upregulating E11 (podoplanin) and dentin matrix protein 1 expression. These findings indicated that osteocytes involved in bone biomaterial-mediated osteogenesis and biomaterial degradation, providing valuable insights into the mechanism of material-stimulated osteogenesis, and a novel strategy to optimize the evaluating system for the biological properties of biomaterials.

Sclerostin regulates release of bone mineral by osteocytes by induction of carbonic anhydrase 2.

The osteocyte product sclerostin is emerging as an important paracrine regulator of bone mass. It has recently been shown that osteocyte production of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) is important in osteoclastic bone resorption, and we reported that exogenous treatment of osteocytes with sclerostin can increase RANKL-mediated osteoclast activity. There is good evidence that osteocytes can themselves liberate mineral from bone in a process known as osteocytic osteolysis. In the current study, we investigated sclerostin-stimulated mineral dissolution by human primary osteocyte-like cells (hOCy) and mouse MLO-Y4 cells. We found that sclerostin upregulated osteocyte expression of carbonic anhydrase 2 (CA2/Car2), cathepsin K (CTSK/Ctsk), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (ACP5/Acp5). Because acidification of the extracellular matrix is a critical step in the release of mineral from bone, we further examined the regulation by sclerostin of CA2. Sclerostin stimulated CA2 mRNA and protein expression in hOCy and in MLO-Y4 cells. Sclerostin induced a decrease in intracellular pH (pHi) in both cell types as well as a decrease in extracellular pH (pHo) and the release of calcium ions from mineralized substrate. These effects were reversed in the co-presence of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, acetozolamide. Car2-siRNA knockdown in MLO-Y4 cells significantly inhibited the ability of sclerostin to both reduce the pHo and release calcium from a mineralized substrate. Knockdown in MLO-Y4 cells of each of the putative sclerostin receptors, Lrp4, Lrp5 and Lrp6, using siRNA, inhibited the sclerostin induction of Car2, Catk and Acp5 mRNA, as well as pHo and calcium release. Consistent with this activity of sclerostin resulting in osteocytic osteolysis, human trabecular bone samples treated ex vivo with recombinant human sclerostin for 7 days exhibited an increased osteocyte lacunar area, an effect that was reversed by the co-addition of acetozolamide. These findings suggest a new role for sclerostin in the regulation of perilacunar mineral by osteocytes.