Kif3a deficiency reverses the skeletal abnormalities in Pkd1 deficient mice by restoring the balance between osteogenesis and adipogenesis

Pkd1 localizes to primary cilia in osteoblasts and osteocytes. Targeted deletion of Pkd1 in osteoblasts results in osteopenia and abnormalities in Runx2-mediated osteoblast development. Kif3a, an intraflagellar transport protein required for cilia function, is also expressed in osteoblasts. To assess the relationship between Pkd1 and primary cilia function on bone development, we crossed heterozygous Pkd1- and Kif3a-deficient mice to create compound Pkd1 and Kif3a-deficient mice. Pkd1 haploinsufficiency (Pkd1(+/Δ)) resulted in osteopenia, characterized by decreased bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume, and cortical thickness. In addition, deficiency of Pkd1 resulted in impaired osteoblastic differentiation and enhanced adipogenesis in both primary osteoblasts and/or bone marrow stromal cell cultures. These changes were associated with decreased Runx2 expression, increased PPARγ expression, and impaired hedgehog signaling as evidenced by decreased Gli2 expression in bone and osteoblast cultures. In contrast, heterozygous Kif3a(+/Δ) mice display no abnormalities in skeletal development or osteoblast function, but exhibited decreased adipogenic markers in bone and impaired adipogenesis in vitro in association with decreased PPARγ expression and upregulation of Gli2. Superimposed Kif3a deficiency onto Pkd1(+/Δ) mice paradoxically corrected the effects of Pkd1 deficiency on bone mass, osteoblastic differentiation, and adipogenesis. In addition, Runx2, PPARγ and Gli2 expression in bone and osteoblasts were normalized in compound double Pkd1(+/Δ) and Kif3a(+/Δ) heterozygous mice. The administration of sonic hedgehog, overexpression of Gli2, and the PC1 C-tail construct all increased Gli2 and Runx2-II expression, but decreased PPARγ2 gene expression in C3H10T1/2 cells. Our findings suggest a role for Pkd1 and Kif3a to counterbalance the regulation of osteogenesis and adipogenesis through differential regulation of Runx2 and PPARγ by Gli2.     

Strontium ranelate rebalances bone marrow adipogenesis and osteoblastogenesis in senescent osteopenic mice through NFATc/Maf and Wnt signaling

With aging, bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) osteoblast differentiation decreases whereas MSC differentiation into adipocytes increases, resulting in increased adipogenesis and bone loss. Here, we investigated whether activation of cell signaling by strontium ranelate (SrRan) can reverse the excessive adipogenic differentiation associated with aging. In murine MSC cultures, SrRan increased Runx2 expression and matrix mineralization and decreased PPARγ2 expression and adipogenesis. This effect was associated with increased expression of the Wnt noncanonical representative Wnt5a and adipogenic modulator Maf and was abrogated by Wnt- and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT)c antagonists, implying a role for Wnt and NFATc/Maf signaling in the switch in osteoblastogenesis to adipogenesis induced by SrRan. To confirm this finding, we investigated the effect of SrRan in SAMP6 senescent mice, which exhibit decreased osteoblastogenesis, increased adipogenesis, and osteopenia. SrRan administration at a clinically relevant dose level increased bone mineral density, bone volume, trabecular thickness and number, as shown by densitometric, microscanning, and histomorphometric analyses in long bones and vertebrae. This attenuation of bone loss was related to increased osteoblast surface and bone formation rate and decreased bone marrow adipocyte volume and size. The restoration of osteoblast and adipocyte balance induced by SrRan was linked to increased Wnt5a and Maf expression in the bone marrow. The results indicate that SrRan acts on lineage allocation of MSCs by antagonizing the age-related switch in osteoblast to adipocyte differentiation via mechanisms involving NFATc/Maf and Wnt signaling, resulting in increased bone formation and attenuation of bone loss in senescent osteopenic mice.     

Bone morphogenetic protein and retinoic acid signaling cooperate to induce osteoblast differentiation of preadipocytes

Mesenchymal cells can differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, myoblasts, or chondroblasts. Whether mesenchymal cells that have initiated differentiation along one lineage can transdifferentiate into another is largely unknown. Using 3T3-F442A preadipocytes, we explored whether extracellular signals could redirect their differentiation from adipocyte into osteoblast. 3T3-F442A cells expressed receptors and Smads required for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. BMP-2 increased proliferation and induced the early osteoblast differentiation marker alkaline phosphatase, yet only mildly affected adipogenic differentiation. Retinoic acid inhibited adipose conversion and cooperated with BMP-2 to enhance proliferation, inhibit adipogenesis, and promote early osteoblastic differentiation. Expression of BMP-RII together with BMP-RIA or BMP-RIB suppressed adipogenesis of 3T3-F442A cells and promoted full osteoblastic differentiation in response to retinoic acid. Osteoblastic differentiation was characterized by induction of cbfa1, osteocalcin, and collagen I expression, and extracellular matrix calcification. These results indicate that 3T3-F442A preadipocytes can be converted into fully differentiated osteoblasts in response to extracellular signaling cues. Furthermore, BMP and retinoic acid signaling cooperate to stimulate cell proliferation, repress adipogenesis, and promote osteoblast differentiation. Finally, BMP-RIA and BMP-RIB induced osteoblast differentiation and repressed adipocytic differentiation to a similar extent.     

Characterization of osteocrin expression in human bone.

Osteocrin (Ostn), a bone-active molecule, has been shown in animals to be highly expressed in cells of the osteoblast lineage. We have characterized this protein in human cultured primary human osteoblasts, in developing human neonatal bone, and in iliac crest bone biopsies from adult women. In vivo, Ostn expression was localized in developing human neonatal rib bone, with intense immunoreactivity in osteoblasts on bone-forming surfaces, in newly incorporated osteocytes, and in some late hypertrophic chondrocytes. In adult bone, Ostn expression was specifically localized to osteoblasts and young osteocytes at bone-forming sites. In vitro, Ostn expression decreased time dependently (p<0.02) in osteoblasts cultured for 2, 3, and 6 days. Expression was further decreased in cultures containing 200 nM hydrocortisone by 1.5-, 2.3-, and 3.1-fold (p<0.05) at the same time points. In contrast, alkaline phosphatase expression increased with osteoblast differentiation (p<0.05). Low-dose estradiol decreased Ostn expression time dependently (p<0.05), whereas Ostn expression in cultures treated with high-dose estradiol was not significantly changed. These results demonstrate that Ostn is expressed in human skeletal tissue, particularly in osteoblasts in developing bone and at sites of bone remodeling, suggesting a role in bone formation. Thus, Ostn provides a marker of osteoblast lineage cells and appears to correlate with osteoblast activity.     

Arbutin ameliorates glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis through activating autophagy in osteoblasts

Chronic long-term glucocorticoid use causes osteoporosis partly by interrupting osteoblast homeostasis and exacerbating bone loss. Arbutin, a natural hydroquinone glycoside, has been reported to have biological activities related to the differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. However, the role and underlying mechanism of arbutin in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis are elusive. In this study, we demonstrated that arbutin administration ameliorated osteoporotic disorders in glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex)-induced mouse model, including attenuating the loss of bone mass and trabecular microstructure, promoting bone formation, suppressing bone resorption, and activating autophagy in bone tissues. Furthermore, Dex-stimulated mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with arbutin. Arbutin treatment rescued Dex-induced repression of osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, the downregulation of osteogenic gene expression, reduced autophagic marker expression, and decreased autophagic puncta formation. The application of autophagy inhibitor 3-MA decreased autophagy, differentiation, and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells triggered by arbutin. Taken together, our findings suggest that arbutin treatment fends off glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, partly through promoting differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts by autophagy activation.     

Differential expression of the chromosomal high mobility group proteins 14 and 17 during the onset of differentiation in mammalian osteoblasts and promyelocytic leukemia cells

The expression of chromosomal proteins HMG 14 and HMG 17 during proliferation and differentiation into the osteoblast and monocyte phenotypes was studied. Cellular levels of HMG 14 and HMG 1 7 mRNA were assayed in primary cultures of calvarial-derived rat osteoblasts under conditions that (1) support complete expression of the mature osteocytic phenotype and development of a bone tissue-like organization; and (2) where development of osteocytic phenotypic properties are both delayed and reduced in extent of expression. HMG 14 and HMG 17 are preferentially expressed in proliferating osteoblasts and decline to basal levels post-proliferatively at the onset of extracellular matrix mineralization. In contrast, under conditions that are not conducive to extracellular matrix mineralization, HMG 14 is maximally expressed following the downregulation of proliferation. Consistent with previous reports by Bustin and co-workers [Crippa et al., 1990], HMG 14 and HMG 17 are expressed in proliferating HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells and downregulated post-proliferatively following phorbol ester-induced monocytic differentiation. However, differentiation into the monocyte phenotype is accompanied by reinitiation of HMG 17 gene expression. The results indicate that the levels of HMG 14 and HMG 17 mRNA are selectively down-regulated during differentiation.     

Reciprocal control of osteoblast/chondroblast and osteoblast/adipocyte differentiation of multipotential clonal human marrow stromal F/STRO-1(+) cells

The regulation of human bone marrow stromal precursor cell differentiation toward the chondrocyte, osteoblast or adipocyte lineages is not known. In this study, we assessed the lineage-specific differentiation and conversion of immortalized clonal F/STRO-1(+) A human fetal bone marrow stromal cells under the control of dexamethasone (Dex), indomethacin/insulin (Indo/Ins) and linoleic acid (LA). Under basal conditions, F/STRO-1(+) A cells expressed markers mRNAs or proteins of the osteoblast lineage [CBFA1, osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), type 1 collagen], of the chondrocyte lineage (aggrecan, types 2, 9 and 10 collagen), and of the adipocyte lineage (PPARgamma2, C/EBPalpha, aP2, G3PDH, lipoprotein lipase, leptin). Treatment with Dex increased CBFA1, OC and ALP mRNA and protein levels. Exposure to LA enhanced expression of adipocytic genes and cytoplasmic triglycerides accumulation, and suppressed the Dex-induced stimulation of osteoblast marker genes. Indo/Ins stimulated the synthesis of aggrecan and type 2 collagen and increased types 9 and 10 collagen mRNA levels, and suppressed both basal and Dex-promoted expression of osteoblast markers. Conversely, stimulation of osteoblastogenesis by Dex suppressed both basal and Indo/Ins-stimulated chondrocyte genes. Thus, the clonal human fetal bone marrow stromal F/STRO-1(+) A cell line is a lineage-unrestricted common progenitor that expresses tripotential adipocyte, osteoblast or chondrocyte characteristics. Our data also show that differentiation towards one pathway in response to Dex, Indo/Ins and LA restricts expression of other lineage-specific genes, and provide evidence for a controlled reciprocal regulation of osteoblast/chondroblast and osteoblast/adipocyte differentiation of clonal F/STRO-1(+) human bone marrow stromal cells.     

Effects of arachidonic acid on the concentration of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids in culture media of mesenchymal stromal cells differentiating into adipocytes or osteoblasts

Metabolites derived from the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may modulate the mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) differentiation. Such cells can differentiate into different cellular types, including adipocytes and osteoblasts. Aging favors the bone marrow MSC differentiation toward the former, causing a loss of bone density associated with pathologies like osteoporosis. The omega-6 arachidonic acid (AA) favors MSC adipogenesis to a greater extent than omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In this work, we study the joint action of both PUFA. Thus, not induced and induced to adipocyte or osteoblast MSC were treated with 20 μM of each PUFA (either AA, AA + DHA or AA + EPA). The expression of osteogenic and adipogenic molecular markers, the alox15b lipoxygenase gene expression and the 5-, 8-, 11-, 12- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE) derived from the AA metabolism in the culture media were determined. The results show that the adipogenesis induction of AA is not suppressed by the joint presence of EPA and DHA. In fact, both increased the adipogenic effect of AA on MSC differentiated into osteoblasts. The different HETE concentrations increased in cultures supplemented with AA, albeit such concentrations were lower in the cultures induced to differentiate, mainly at day 21 after the induction. Furthermore, the reduction in the HETE concentration was correlated with a higher expression of the alox15b gene. These results highlight the PUFA metabolism differences between uninduced and induced MSC to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts, besides the relevant role of the lipoxygenase gene expression in adipogenesis induction.     

Differential regulation of cadherins by dexamethasone in human osteoblastic cells

Human osteoblasts express a repertoire of cadherins, including N-cadherin (N-cad), cadherin-11 (C11), and cadherin-4 (C4). We have previously shown that direct cell-cell adhesion via cadherins is critical for BMP-2-induced osteoblast differentiation. In this study, we have analyzed the regulation of cadherin expression in normal human trabecular bone osteoblasts (HOB), and osteoprogenitor marrow stromal cells (BMC), during exposure to dexamethasone, another inducer of human bone cell differentiation. Dexamethasone inhibited the expression of both C11 and N-cad mRNA in both BMC and HOB, although the effect was much more pronounced on N-cad than on C11. This action of the steroid was dose dependent, was maximal at 10(-7) M concentration, and occurred as early as after 1 day of incubation. By contrast, expression of C4 mRNA and protein was strongly induced by dexamethasone in BMC and was stimulated in HOB. This stimulatory effect lasted for at least 2 weeks of incubation. A cadherin inhibitor, HAV-containing decapeptide only partially ( approximately 50%) prevented dexamethasone-induced stimulation of alkaline phosphatase activity by BMC, which instead was not altered by incubation with a neutralizing antibody against C4. Therefore, the pattern of cadherin regulation by dexamethasone radically differs form that observed with BMP-2. Dexamethasone effects on certain osteoblast differentiated features, such as induction of alkaline phosphatase activity are not strictly dependent on cadherin function.     

EMF acts on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to promote differentiation to osteoblasts and to inhibit differentiation to adipocytes

The use of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) to treat nonunion fractures developed from observations in the mid‐1900s. Whether EMF directly regulates the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), differentiating into osteoblasts or adipocytes, remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the roles of sinusoidal EMF of 15 Hz, 1 mT in differentiation along these separate lineages using rat bone marrow MSCs. Our results showed that EMF promoted osteogenic differentiation of the stem cells and concurrently inhibited adipocyte formation. EMF increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralized nodule formation, and stimulated osteoblast‐specific mRNA expression of RUNX2, ALP, BMP2, DLX5, and BSP. In contrast, EMF decreased adipogenesis and inhibited adipocyte‐specific mRNA expression of adipsin, AP‐2, and PPARγ2, and also inhibited protein expression of PPARγ2. These observations suggest that commitment of MSCs into osteogenic or adipogenic lineages is influenced by EMF. Bioelectromagnetics 31:277–285, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

In situ localization and in vitro expression of osteoblast/osteocyte factor 45 mRNA during bone cell differentiation

The in situ localization of osteoblast/osteocyte factor 45 (OF45) mRNA during bone formation has been examined in the rat mandible from embryonic day 14 (E14) up to postnatal 90-day-old Wistar rats. Gene expression was also examined during cell culture not only in primary rat osteoblast-like cells but also in two clonal rat osteoblastic cell lines with different stages of differentiation, ROB-C26 (C26) and ROB-C20 (C20) using Northern blot analysis. The C26 cell is a potential osteoblast precursor cell line, whereas the C20 cell is a more differentiated osteoblastic cell line. At E15 osteoblast precursor cells differentiated into a group of osteoblasts, some of which expressed the majority of non-collagenous proteins, whereas no expression of OF45 was observed in these cells. Intercellular matrices surrounded by osteoblasts were mineralized at E16. Subsequently, the number of osteoblasts differentiated from osteoblast precursor cells was increased in association with bone formation. At E17, the first expression of OF45 mRNA was observed only in a minority of mature osteoblasts attached to the bone matrix, but not in the rest of less mature osteoblasts. At E20, concomitant with the appearance of osteocytes, OF45 mRNA expression was observed not only in more differentiated osteoblasts that were encapsulated partly by bone matrix but also in osteocytes. Subsequently, osteocytes increased progressively in number and sustained OF45 mRNA expression in up to 90-day-old rats. Northern blot analysis of the cultured cells with or without dexamethasone treatment revealed that the gene expression of OF45 correlated well with the increased cell differentiation. These results indicate that OF45 mRNA is transiently expressed by mature osteoblasts and subsequently expressed by osteocytes throughout ossification in the skeleton and this protein represents an important marker of the osteocyte phenotype and most likely participates in regulating osteocyte function.