RANKL/RANK/OPG信号通路对骨代谢和血管钙化作用机制的研究现状

核因子-κB受体活化因子配体(receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand,RANKL)/核因子-κB受体活化因子(receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B,RANK)/骨保护素(osteoprotegerin,OPG)信号通路是调节骨代谢过程中破骨细胞功能的重要通路。OPG能够与RANKL结合并阻止其与RANK结合,抑制破骨细胞生成从而抑制骨吸收,增加骨密度,改善骨质疏松。其中,RANKL/OPG的比值是骨吸收和骨形成平衡的关键。目前血管钙化已不再被看作是单纯的钙磷的被动沉积,而是由血管平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞主动参与的一种与骨形成相似的病理生理过程。在这个过程中,RANKL/RANK/OPG信号通路也起到重要作用。本文就RANKL/RANK/OPG信号通路在骨代谢和血管钙化中的作用机制进行了综述。     

RANKL与骨重建

骨是一种动态更新的组织,它不断进行骨吸收（bone resorption）与骨形成（bone formation）的平衡,这个过程称之为骨重建（bone remodeling）．核因子κB受体活化因子配体（receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand,RANKL）是骨吸收和骨形成耦联的关键,具有诱导破骨细胞（osteoclast, OC）生成、活化,抑制破骨细胞凋亡的作用．RANKL最初发现于活化的T细胞,但骨重建过程中RANKL主要来源于骨细胞、成骨细胞和骨髓基质细胞．RANKL/核因子κB受体活化因子（receptor activator of nuclear factor κB,RANK）/骨保护素（osteoprotegerin, OPG）信号通路在成骨细胞调控破骨细胞生成的过程中起着重要的调节作用,是维持骨重建平衡的关键．本文就RANKL及其在骨中的分子作用机制作一综述.     

绝经后骨质疏松症TNF-α通过激活NF-κB促进RANKL诱导的破骨细胞形成

本研究检测了绝经后骨质疏松症妇女的肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)和雌激素水平,并探讨了TNF-α对破骨前体细胞RAW264.7中破骨细胞标志物核因子κB受体激活因子(nuclear factor kappa-B, RANK)、组织蛋白酶K (Cathepsin K, CTSK)和凝血酶受体激活肽(thrombin receptor activating peptide, TRAP)以及核因子-κB (NF-κB)亚基(p65)和NF-κB抑制蛋白(IκBα)的影响。研究结果表明,绝经后骨质疏松症患者的TNF-α水平显著升高,而雌二醇水平显著降低。核因子κB受体激活因子配体(receptor activator for NF-κBligand, RANKL)处理1周后,破骨前体细胞RAW264.7中破骨细胞标志物RANK、CTSK和TRAP的mRNA和蛋白高度表达。与RANKL对照组相比,TNF-α处理可上调RANK、CTSK和TRAP m RNA的表达。但是,仅TNF-α不能诱导培养的RAW264.7细胞分化为破骨细胞成。TNF-α以剂量依赖性方式诱导NF-κB亚基p65和IκBα磷酸化,而NF-κB抑制剂处理则有效降低了RANK和TRAP的表达。本研究结论表明,绝经后骨质疏松症中TNF-α通过激活NF-κB来促进RANKL诱导的破骨细胞形成。     

肿瘤坏死因子受体和配体超家族的新成员

骨原蛋白(OPG)／核因子κB受体激活剂的配体(RANKL)／核因子κB的受体激活剂(RANK)是肿瘤坏死因子受体和配体超家族成员。RANKL由成骨细胞前体／骨髓基质细胞和激活的T淋巴细胞合成,通过结合破骨细胞或树突状细胞表面的RANK受体,促进破骨细胞的形成、融合、激活和存活,并有助于树突状细胞对抗原的提呈作用,OPG作为RANKL的假受体,对此过程具有抑制作用。此外,OPG／RANKL／RANK系统在调节淋巴系统发育、哺乳期动物乳腺腺泡的形成以及大动脉钙化中也起着重要的作用,是一组多功能的细胞因子系统。     

小鼠核因子κB受体活化因子配基活性区的克隆、表达及生物活性分析

核因子κB受体活化因子配基是诱导破骨细胞分化、成熟的关键因子,在生物医学研究中应用广泛。本实验以小鼠的骨髓细胞cDNA为模板,采用PCR技术获得小鼠核因子κB受体活化因子配基活性区基因,并将该基因克隆至His标签的融合蛋白表达载体pET28a(+),经鉴定正确的质粒转化至BL21表达菌株中。通过调节诱导目的蛋白表达的培养温度、IPTG浓度及诱导时间,筛选出重组融合蛋白表达的最佳条件。将纯化后的重组蛋白稀释成不同浓度,刺激小鼠破骨前体细胞Raw264.7细胞分化,经抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶染色后可见破骨细胞的形成,表明该重组蛋白具有较好的生物活性,可替代商品化的鼠源核因子κB受体活化因子配基。     

类风湿关节炎破骨细胞的活化机制及其预测指标

类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis, RA)是一种系统性、慢性、炎性的自身免疫性疾病。骨破坏在RA的发生和发展中占有重要地位,是RA致残致畸的主要原因。破骨细胞(osteoclast, OC)的异常增生与活化对RA骨侵蚀的发病进展具有重要作用。近年来,RA患者骨破坏的研究逐渐增多。本文结合国内外研究对核因子-κB受体活化因子配体(receptor activation for nuclear factor-κB ligand, RANKL)/核激活因子受体(receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB, RANK)/骨保护素(orthopantomography, OPG)信号通路、Wnt信号通路、抗瓜氨酸蛋白抗体(anti-citrulline protein antibody, ACPA)、基质金属蛋白酶(matrixmetalloproteinases,MMPs)、14-3-3η蛋白、基质细胞衍生因子-1(stromalcellderivedfactor-1,SDF-1)、小泛素样修饰物蛋白(smallubiquitin-likemodifierprotein,SUMO)、分泌型卷曲相关蛋白(secreted frizzled-related protein, SFRP)、骨转换标志物等作一阐述,旨在为RA早期骨破坏诊断提供相关依据。     

机械应力影响鼠骨髓基质细胞骨保护素/NF-κB受体活化剂配体mRNA表达变化

骨保护素/NF-κB受体活化剂配体/NF-κB受体活化剂(OPG/RANKL/RANK)系统对破骨细胞生成、功能起着关键的作用,它的发现是骨生理代谢研究领域的重大进展。为研究生理性机械应力对鼠骨髓基质细胞OPG/RANKLmRNA表达变化的影响,进一步探讨机械应力对破骨细胞的影响机制,通过对鼠骨髓基质细胞施加不同时段的生理性的机械应力,并以RT-PCR半定量的方法检测OPG/RANKLmRNA表达变化趋势。结果显示随着加力时间的延长(6h后)RANKLmRNA表达减少34.4%,而OPGmRNA(9h后)表达增加73%,提示生理性应力能显著影响鼠骨髓基质细胞OPG/RANKLmRNA表达变化,从而在一定程度上阐明了生理性应力延缓骨质吸收的内在机制。     

RANKL在人乳牙根生理性吸收不同时期不同细胞的表达

目的：探讨核因子KB受体活化剂配体（receptor activator of the nuclear factor—κappa Bligand,RANKL）在人乳牙根消失不同时间段牙髓细胞内的表达及分化。方法：临床选取牙根生理早中晚期的乳牙各10颗,用原位杂交方法检测RANKL细胞因子在人的乳牙根消失的时候不同时期牙髓细胞内的mRNA表达情况。结果：牙髓细胞、成牙本质细胞RANKL原位杂交染色阳性,表达比对照组高（P〈0．05）。消失比较早的时候与消失中、晚的时候,比较各种细胞内RANKL表达差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,而消失中间的时候和消失比较晚的各种细胞内的RANKL表达差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：RANKL参与了乳牙牙根的消失过程,牙髓细胞、成牙本质细胞可能促进了破骨细胞分化成熟。     

小鼠核因子κB受体活化因子配基(RANKL)活性区cDNA在毕赤酵母中分泌型表达

由小鼠骨组织提取总RNA ,采用RT PCR扩增得到小鼠核因子κB受体活化因子配基(RANKL)活性区域cDNA .将该cDNA片段克隆入表达载体pPIC9,重组载体转化巴斯德毕赤酵母GS115细胞 ,筛选Mut+表型 ,经甲醇诱导实现目的基因的分泌型表达 .Tricine SDS PAGE显示 ,表达产物约 2 6kD ,经Western印迹鉴定 ,表达产物可被RANKL抗体识别 .采用硫酸铵盐析、CM SephadexC 2 5层析纯化重组蛋白 .经测定 ,发酵液上清重组蛋白表达量约 11mg L .采用破骨细胞样细胞(osteoclastlikecell,OLC)诱导分化实验检测重组蛋白的生物活性 ,证实该重组蛋白可以促进OLC的生成 ,并呈现剂量依赖关系     

OPG、RANK、RANKL的结构、作用机制和在骨疾病中的作用

破骨细胞和成骨细胞分别介导骨的吸收过程和合成过程,而OPG、RANK、RANKL在调节二者的比例中发挥非常重要的作用.RANKL与RANK结合后可能通过三种途径:JNK途径、NF-κB途径和蛋白激酶B途径参与破骨细胞的分化,促进骨质的吸收;RANKL与OPG结合后能阻断RANKL与RANK的结合,由于缺乏RANKL-RANK产生的转录活化信号,破骨细胞分化成熟发生障碍,骨质的吸收受到抑制.OPG、RANK、RANKL同时也是免疫分子,在淋巴细胞、淋巴器官的分化、发育中起重要的作用,骨疾病与免疫系统之间存在着一定的关系.RANMKL/RANK与RANKI/OPG在生物体内保持着一定的比率,如果比率失衡,就会引起各种骨疾病.本篇综述总结了近年来OPG、RANK、RANKL结构、作用的新进展以及它们在骨疾病中的作用.     

P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, FR167653, inhibits parathyroid hormone related protein-induced osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) acts downstream in the signaling pathway that includes receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK), a powerful inducer of osteoclast formation and activation. We investigated the role of p38 MAPK in parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP)-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro and PTHrP-induced bone resorption in vivo. The ability of FR167653 to inhibit osteoclast formation was evaluated by counting the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive multinucleated cells (TRAP-positive MNCs) in in vitro osteoclastgenesis assays. Its mechanisms were evaluated by detecting the expression level of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1) in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) stimulated with sRANKL and M-CSF, and by detecting the expression level of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and RANKL in bone marrow stromal cells stimulated with PTHrP in the presence of FR167653. The function of FR167653 on bone resorption was assessed by measuring the bone resorption area radiographically and by counting osteoclast number per unit bone tissue area in calvaria in a mouse model of bone resorption by injecting PTHrP subcutaneously onto calvaria. Whole blood ionized calcium levels were also recorded. FR167653 inhibited PTHrP-induced osteoclast formation and PTHrP-induced c-Fos and NFATc1 expression in bone marrow macrophages, but not the expression levels of RANKL and OPG in primary bone marrow stromal cells treated by PTHrP. Furthermore, bone resorption area and osteoclast number in vivo were significantly decreased by the treatment of FR167653. Systemic hypercalcemia was also partially inhibited. Inhibition of p38 MAPK by FR167653 blocks PTHrP-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro and PTHrP-induced bone resorption in vivo, suggesting that the p38 MAPK signaling pathway plays a fundamental role in PTHrP-induced osteoclastic bone resorption.     

High level secretory expression of murine OCIL by CHO cells and action of OCIL on osteoclast differentiation

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL), a well-known membrane-bound molecule expressed on osteoblasts and bone marrow stromal cells, is believed to induce osteoclast differentiation and activation by binding to the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB (RANK), which is expressed on the surface of osteoclast lineage cells. This induction is inhibited by osteoprotegerin (OPG) that is secreted by osteoblast lineage and acts as a decoy receptor of RANKL. Currently the essential role of the OPG/RANKL/RANK system in the process of osteoclast maturation, as well as activation, has been well established, and the majority of bone resorption regulators control osteoclast formation and activation through their effects on this system and especially on the relative expression levels of RANKL and OPG [1].     

Osteoprotegerin inhibit osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption by enhancing autophagy via AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway in vitro

Osteoclasts are highly differentiated terminal cells formed by fusion of hematopoietic stem cells. Previously, osteoprotegerin (OPG) inhibit osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption by blocking receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) binding to RANK indirect mechanism. Furthermore, autophagy plays an important role during osteoclast differentiation and function. However, whether autophagy is involved in OPG-inhibited osteoclast formation and bone resorption is not known. To elucidate the role of autophagy in OPG-inhibited osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, we used primary osteoclast derived from mice bone marrow monocytes/macrophages (BMM) by induced M-CSF and RANKL. The results showed that autophagy-related proteins expression were upregulated; tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclast number and bone resorption activity were decreased; LC3 puncta and autophagosomes number were increased and activated AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway. In addition, chloroquine (as the autophagy/lysosome inhibitor, CQ) or rapamycin (as the autophagy/lysosome inhibitor, Rap) attenuated osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption activity by OPG treatment via AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway. Our data demonstrated that autophagy plays a critical role in OPG inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption via AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway in vitro.     

Functions of RANKL/RANK/OPG in bone modeling and remodeling

The discovery of the RANKL/RANK/OPG system in the mid 1990s for the regulation of bone resorption has led to major advances in our understanding of how bone modeling and remodeling are regulated. It had been known for many years before this discovery that osteoblastic stromal cells regulated osteoclast formation, but it had not been anticipated that they would do this through expression of members of the TNF superfamily: receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), or that these cytokines and signaling through receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) would have extensive functions beyond regulation of bone remodeling. RANKL/RANK signaling regulates osteoclast formation, activation and survival in normal bone modeling and remodeling and in a variety of pathologic conditions characterized by increased bone turnover. OPG protects bone from excessive resorption by binding to RANKL and preventing it from binding to RANK. Thus, the relative concentration of RANKL and OPG in bone is a major determinant of bone mass and strength. Here, we review our current understanding of the role of the RANKL/RANK/OPG system in bone modeling and remodeling.     

RANKL/RANK/OPG: new therapeutic targets in bone tumours and associated osteolysis

The emergence of the molecular triad osteoprotegerin (OPG)/Receptor Activator of NF-kB (RANK)/RANK Ligand (RANKL) has helped elucidate a key signalling pathway between stromal cells and osteoclasts. The interaction between RANK and RANKL plays a critical role in promoting osteoclast differentiation and activation leading to bone resorption. OPG is a soluble decoy receptor for RANKL that blocks osteoclast formation by inhibiting RANKL binding to RANK. The OPG/RANK/RANKL system has been shown to be abnormally regulated in several malignant osteolytic pathologies such as multiple myeloma [MM, where enhanced RANKL expression (directly by tumour cells or indirectly by stromal bone cells or T-lymphocytes)] plays an important role in associated bone destruction. By contrast, production of its endogenous counteracting decoy receptor OPG is either inhibited or too low to compensate for the increase in RANKL production. Therefore, targeting the OPG/RANK/RANKL axis may offer a novel therapeutic approach to malignant osteolytic pathologies. In animal models, OPG or soluble RANK was shown both to control hypercalcaemia of malignancy and the establishment and progression of osteolytic metastases caused by various malignant tumours. To this day, only one phase I study has been performed using a recombinant OPG construct that suppressed bone resorption in patients with multiple myeloma or breast carcinoma with radiologically confirmed bone lesions. RANK-Fc also exhibits promising therapeutic effects, as revealed in animal models of prostate cancer and multiple myeloma. If the animal results translate to similar clinical benefits in humans, using RANK-Fc or OPG may yield novel and potent strategies for treating patients with established or imminent malignant bone diseases and where standard therapeutic regimens have failed.     

Mechanisms involved in enhancement of osteoclast formation and function by low molecular weight hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a component of the extracellular matrix that has been shown to play an important role in bone formation, resorption, and mineralization both in vivo and in vitro. We examined the effects of HA at several molecular weights on osteoclast formation and function induced by RANKL (receptor activator of NF-kappa B ligand) in a mouse monocyte cell line (RAW 264.7). HA at M(r) < 8,000 (low molecular weight HA (LMW-HA)) enhanced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated cell formation and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity induced by RANKL in a dose-dependent manner, whereas HA at M(r) > 900,000 (high molecular weight HA (HMW-HA)) showed no effect on osteoclast differentiation. LMW-HA enhanced pit formation induced by RAW 264.7 cells, whereas HMW-HA did not, and LMW-HA stimulated the expression of RANK (receptor activator of NF-kappa B) protein in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, we found that LMW-HA enhanced the levels of c-Src protein and phosphorylation of ERKs and p38 MAPK in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with RANKL, whereas the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. This enhancement of c-Src and RANK proteins induced by LMW-HA was inhibited by CD44 function-blocking monoclonal antibody. These results indicate that LMW-HA plays an important role in osteoclast differentiation and function through the interaction of RANKL and RANK.