Molecular analysis of RANKL-independent cell fusion of osteoclast-like cells induced by TNF-alpha, lipopolysaccharide, or peptidoglycan

Focusing on the final step of osteoclastogenesis, we studied cell fusion from tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive mononuclear cells into multinuclear cells. TRAP-positive mononuclear cells before generation of multinuclear cells by cell fusion were differentiated from RAW264.7 cells by treatment with receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), and then the cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), followed by culturing for further 12 h. LPS-induced cell fusion even in the absence of RANKL. Similarly, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and peptidoglycan (PGN) induced cell fusion, but M-CSF did not. The cell fusion induced by RANKL, TNF-alpha, and LPS was specifically blocked by osteoprotegerin (OPG), anti-TNF-alpha antibody, and polymyxin B, respectively. LPS- and PGN-induced cell fusion was partly inhibited by anti-TNF-alpha antibody but not by OPG. When TRAP-positive mononuclear cells fused to yield multinuclear cells, phosphorylation of Akt, Src, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38MAPK (p38), and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) was observed. The specific chemical inhibitors LY294002 (PI3K), PP2 (Src), U0126 (MAPK-ERK kinase (MEK)/ERK), and SP600125 (JNK) effectively suppressed cell fusion, although SB203580 (p38) did not. mRNA of nuclear factor of activated T-cells c1 (NFATc1) and dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP) during the cell fusion was quantified, however, there was no obvious difference among the TRAP-positive mononuclear cells treated with or without M-CSF, RANKL, TNF-alpha, LPS, or PGN. Collectively, RANKL, TNF-alpha, LPS, and PGN induced cell fusion of osteoclasts through their own receptors. Subsequent activation of signaling pathways involving PI3K, Src, ERK, and JNK molecules was required for the cell fusion. Although DC-STAMP is considered to be a requisite for cell fusion of osteoclasts, cell fusion-inducing factors other than DC-STAMP might be necessary for the cell fusion.     

Tea extract increases cell fusion via regulation of cell surface DC-STAMP

Mononuclear osteoclast precursor cells fuse with each other to become mature multinucleated osteoclasts, which is regulated by dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP). We evaluated the effects of tea extract and catechins on cell-cell fusion and DC-STAMP expression to elucidate their relationship with osteoclast development. When tea extract or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) was applied to RAW264.7 cells, multinucleated cells were increased significantly, while tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity was hardly upregulated. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that EGCg suppressed DC-STAMP expression on the cell surface, which is similar to osteoclast development. These observations suggest that TRAP activity is not activated even when suppression of both surface DC-STAMP expression and multinucleation occurs, which might be mediated by another pathway.     

MCP-1-induced human osteoclast-like cells are tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, NFATc1, and calcitonin receptor-positive but require receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand for bone resorption

MCP-1 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1) is a CC chemokine that is induced by receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand (RANKL) in human osteoclasts. In the absence of RANKL, treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with macrophage colony-stimulating factor and MCP-1 resulted in tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinuclear cells that are positive for calcitonin receptor (CTR) and a number of other osteoclast markers, including nuclear factor of activated t cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 1 (NFATc1). Although NFATc1 was strongly induced by MCP-1 and was observed in the nucleus, MCP-1 did not permit the formation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts, although these cells had the typical TRAP(+)/CTR(+) multinuclear phenotype of osteoclasts. Despite a similar appearance to osteoclasts, RANKL treatment was required in order for TRAP(+)/CTR(+) multinuclear cells to develop bone resorption activity. The lack of bone resorption was correlated with a deficiency in expression of certain genes related to bone resorption, such as cathepsin K and MMP9. Furthermore, calcitonin blocked the MCP-1-induced formation of TRAP(+)/CTR(+) multinuclear cells as well as blocking osteoclast bone resorption activity, indicating that calcitonin acts at two stages of osteoclast differentiation. Ablation of NFATc1 in mature osteoclasts did not prevent bone resorption activity, suggesting NFATc1 is involved in cell fusion events and not bone resorption. We propose that the MCP-1-induced TRAP(+)/CTR(+) multinuclear cells represent an arrested stage in osteoclast differentiation, after NFATc1 induction and cellular fusion but prior to the development of bone resorption activity.     

Osteoblastic cells induce fusion and activation of osteoclasts through a mechanism independent of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor production

Fusion and activation of osteoclasts are the final two events in osteoclastic bone resorption. To investigate the regulatory mechanism of these events, mononuclear osteoclasts (preosteoclasts, pOCs) were isolated from co-cultures of mouse osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells. Most of the pOCs cultured without any additives died within 12 h. Survival of pOCs was supported by addition of either osteoblastic cells or macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). pOCs began to fuse with each other after culture for 12 h in the presence of osteoblastic cells or M-CSF. However, the properties of multinucleated osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) induced by osteoblastic cells were considerably different from those induced by M-CSF. Fusion of pOCs induced by osteoblastic cells was retarded after culture for 24 h. In contrast, M-CSF-induced fusion of pOCs continued throughout the 48-h culture period, which was not inhibited by addition of calcitonin. When pOCs together with osteoblastic cells were cultured for 48 h on dentine slices, many resorption pits were formed on the slices. Calcitonin completely inhibited the fusion and pit-forming activity of pOCs treated with osteoblastic cells. Resorption pits were hardly detected on dentine slices in pOC cultures treated with M-CSF. Osteoblastic cells prepared from osteopetrotic (op/op) mice, which cannot produce functional M-CSF, stimulated the fusion and pit-forming activity of pOCs. Recombinant RANKL (receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand), a cytokine which is produced by osteoblastic cells and is responsible for osteoclast differentiation, induced the fusion and pit-forming activity of pOCs. These results suggested that osteoblastic cells are involved in fusion and activation of osteoclasts through a mechanism independent of M-CSF production. RANKL appears to be responsible for fusion and activation of osteoclasts induced by osteoblastic cells.     

Protein Kinase D Promotes in Vitro Osteoclast Differentiation and Fusion

Although PKD is broadly expressed and involved in numerous cellular processes, its function in osteoclasts has not been previously reported. In this study, we found that PKD2 is the main PKD isoform expressed in osteoclastic cells. PKD phosphorylation, indicative of the activated state, increased after 2–3 days of treatment of bone marrow macrophages with M-CSF and RANKL, corresponding to the onset of preosteoclast fusion. RNAi against PKD2 and treatment with the PKD inhibitor CID755673 showed that PKD activity is dispensable for induction of bone marrow macrophages into tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive preosteoclasts in culture but is required for the transition from mononucleated preosteoclasts to multinucleated osteoclasts. Loss of PKD activity reduced expression of DC-STAMP in RANKL-stimulated cultures. Overexpression of DC-STAMP was sufficient to rescue treatment with CID755673 and restore fusion into multinucleated osteoclasts. From these data, we conclude that PKD activity promotes differentiation of osteoclast progenitors through increased expression of DC-STAMP.     

NFATc1 induces osteoclast fusion via up-regulation of Atp6v0d2 and the dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP)

NFATc1 has been characterized as a master regulator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand-induced osteoclast differentiation. Herein, we demonstrate a novel role for NFATc1 as a positive regulator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand-mediated osteoclast fusion as well as other fusion-inducing factors such as TNF-alpha. Exogenous overexpression of a constitutively active form of NFATc1 in bone marrow-derived monocyte/macrophage cells (BMMs) induces formation of multinucleated osteoclasts as well as the expression of fusion-mediating molecules such as the d2 isoform of vacuolar ATPase V(o) domain (Atp6v0d2) and the dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP). Moreover, inactivation of NFATc1 by cyclosporin A treatment attenuates expression of Atp6v0d2 and DC-STAMP and subsequent fusion process of osteoclasts. We show that NFATc1 binds to the promoter regions of Atp6v0d2 and DC-STAMP in osteoclasts and directly induces their expression. Furthermore, overexpression of Atp6v0d2 and DC-STAMP rescues cell-cell fusion of preosteoclasts despite reduced NFATc1 activity. Our data indicate for the first time that the NFATc1/Atp6v0d2 and DC-STAMP signaling axis plays a key role in the osteoclast multinucleation process, which is essential for efficient bone resorption.     

Osteoclast formation is strongly reduced both in vivo and in vitro in the absence of CD47/SIRPalpha-interaction

Physical interaction between the cell surface receptors CD47 and signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPalpha) was reported to regulate cell migration, phagocytosis, cytokine production, and macrophage fusion. However, it is unclear if the CD47/SIRPalpha-interaction can also regulate macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-stimulated formation of osteoclasts. Here, we show that functional blocking antibodies to either CD47 or SIRPalpha strongly reduced formation of multinucleated tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)+ osteoclasts in cultures of murine hematopoietic cells, stimulated in vitro by M-CSF and RANKL. In addition, the numbers of osteoclasts formed in M-CSF/RANKL-stimulated bone marrow macrophage cultures from CD47-/- mice were strongly reduced, and bones of CD47-/- mice exhibited significantly reduced osteoclast numbers, as compared with wild-type controls. We conclude that the CD47/SIRPalpha interaction is important for M-CSF/RANKL-stimulated osteoclast formation both in vivo and in vitro, and that absence of CD47 results in decreased numbers of osteoclasts in CD47-/- mice.     

Obatoclax Regulates the Proliferation and Fusion of Osteoclast Precursors through the Inhibition of ERK Activation by RANKL

Obatoclax, a pan-Bcl2 inhibitor, shows antitumor activities in various solid malignancies. Bcl2-deficient mice have shown the importance of Bcl2 in osteoclasts, as the bone mass of the mice was increased by the induced apoptosis of osteoclasts. Despite the importance of Bcl2, the effects of obatoclax on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoclast precursors have not been studied extensively. Here, we describe the anti-proliferative effects of obatoclax on osteoclast precursors and its negative role on fusion of the cells. Stimulation with low doses of obatoclax significantly suppressed the proliferation of osteoclast precursors in a dose-dependent manner while the apoptosis was markedly increased. Its stimulation was sufficient to block the activation of ERK MAP kinase by RANKL. The same was true when PD98059, an ERK inhibitor, was administered to osteoclast precursors. The activation of JNK1/2 and p38 MAP kinase, necessary for osteoclast differentiation, by RANKL was not affected by obatoclax. Interestingly, whereas the number of TRAP-positive mononuclear cells was increased by both obatoclax and PD98059, fused, multinucleated cells larger than 100 μm in diameter containing more than 20 nuclei were completely reduced. Consistently, obatoclax failed to regulate the expression of osteoclast marker genes, including c-Fos, TRAP, RANK and CtsK. Instead, the expression of DC-STAMP and Atp6v0d2, genes that regulate osteoclast fusion, by RANKL was significantly abrogated by both obatoclax and PD98059. Taken together, these results suggest that obatoclax down-regulates the proliferation and fusion of osteoclast precursors through the inhibition of the ERK1/2 MAP kinase pathway.     

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide induces osteoclast formation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent bone resorbing factor. The effect of LPS on osteoclast formation was examined by using murine RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. LPS-induced the formation of multinucleated giant cells (MGC) in RAW 264.7 cells 3 days after the exposure. MGCs were positive for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity. Further, MGC formed resorption pits on calcium-phosphate thin film that is a substrate for osteoclasts. Therefore, LPS was suggested to induce osteoclast formation in RAW 264.7 cells. LPS-induced osteoclast formation was abolished by anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antibody, but not antibodies to macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB ligand (RANKL). TNF-alpha might play a critical role in LPS-induced osteoclast formation in RAW 264.7 cells. Inhibitors of NF-kappaB and stress activated protein kinase (SAPK/JNK) prevented the LPS-induced osteoclast formation. The detailed mechanism of LPS-induced osteoclast formation is discussed.     

MCP-1 expressed by osteoclasts stimulates osteoclastogenesis in an autocrine/paracrine manner

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine that plays a critical role in the recruitment and activation of leukocytes. Here, we describe that multinuclear osteoclast formation was significantly inhibited in cells derived from MCP-1-deficient mice. MCP-1 has been implicated in the regulation of osteoclast cell-cell fusion; however defects of multinuclear osteoclast formation in the cells from mice deficient in DC-STAMP, a seven transmembrane receptor essential for osteoclast cell-cell fusion, was not rescued by recombinant MCP-1. The lack of MCP-1 in osteoclasts resulted in a down-regulation of DC-STAMP, NFATc1, and cathepsin K, all of which were highly expressed in normal osteoclasts, suggesting that osteoclast differentiation was inhibited in MCP-1-deficient cells. MCP-1 alone did not induce osteoclastogenesis, however, the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis in MCP-1-deficient cells was restored by addition of recombinant MCP-1, indicating that osteoclastogenesis was regulated in an autocrine/paracrine manner by MCP-1 under the stimulation of RANKL in osteoclasts.     

The Rho GTPase Wrch1 regulates osteoclast precursor adhesion and migration

An excess of osteoclastic bone resorption relative to osteoblastic bone formation results in progressive bone loss, characteristic of osteoporosis. Understanding the mechanisms of osteoclast differentiation is essential to develop novel therapeutic approaches to prevent and treat osteoporosis. We showed previously that Wrch1/RhoU is the only RhoGTPase whose expression is induced by RANKL during osteoclastogenesis. It associates with podosomes and the suppression of Wrch1 in osteoclast precursors leads to defective multinucleated cell formation. Here we further explore the functions of this RhoGTPase in osteoclasts, using RAW264.7 cells and bone marrow macrophages as osteoclast precursors. Suppression of Wrch1 did not prevent induction of classical osteoclastic markers such as NFATc1, Src, TRAP (Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase) or cathepsin K. ATP6v0d2 and DC-STAMP, which are essential for fusion, were also expressed normally. Similar to the effect of RANKL, we observed that Wrch1 expression increased osteoclast precursor aggregation and reduced their adhesion onto vitronectin but not onto fibronectin. We further found that Wrch1 could bind integrin ß3 cytoplasmic domain and interfered with adhesion-induced Pyk2 and paxillin phosphorylation. Wrch1 also acted as an inhibitor of M-CSF-induced prefusion osteoclast migration. In mature osteoclasts, high Wrch1 activity inhibited podosome belt formation. Nevertheless, it had no effect on mineralized matrix resorption. Our observations suggest that during osteoclastogenesis, Wrch1 potentially acts through the modulation of αvß3 signaling to regulate osteoclast precursor adhesion and migration and allow fusion. As an essential actor of osteoclast differentiation, the atypical RhoGTPase Wrch1/RhoU could be an interesting target for the development of novel antiresorptive drugs.     

Influence of receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL), macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and fetal calf serum on human osteoclast formation and activity

Human osteoclast (OC) formation and activity was studied in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from six healthy donors after stimulation with fetal calf serum (FCS), under the influence of the receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL) and the macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). The results showed that selected FCS could stimulate OC formation without any medium supplementation with osteoclastogenic factors. The OC formation, investigated by quantification of multinucleated tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells (TRAP+ cells), and the sensitivity of OC progenitors to RANKL and M-CSF, varied widely between individual donors. The OC resorption activity, measured in the “pit-assay” on dentine, was strictly dependent on the presence of RANKL and M-CSF in the medium and was also donor dependent. The considerable donor variability should be considered in culture studies investigating, e.g. the interactions of OC with biomaterials or the influence of cytokines, growth factors and drugs on osteoclastogenesis. An erratum to this article can be found at     

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and prostaglandin E(2) act directly on circulating human osteoclast precursors.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) are known to influence osteoclast formation indirectly through their effects on osteoblasts. To determine whether 1, 25(OH)(2)D(3) and PGE(2) also have a direct effect on circulating osteoclast precursors, these factors were added to long-term cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the presence of osteoprotegerin ligand and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) (+/-dexamethasone). The number of TRAP(+) and VNR(+) multinucleated cells and the area of lacunar resorption were decreased when 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) alone was added. A marked increase in resorption pit formation was noted when the combination of 1, 25(OH)(2)D(3) and dexamethasone was added to PBMC cultures. Dose-dependent inhibition of osteoclast formation and lacunar resorption was seen when PGE(2) was added to PBMC cultures in both the presence and the absence of dexamethasone. Thus, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and PGE(2) not only influence osteoclast formation in the presence of bone stromal cells but also act directly on circulating osteoclast precursors to influence osteoclast differentiation.     

RANKL induces components of the extrinsic coagulation pathway in osteoclasts

Prothrombin is converted to thrombin by factor Xa in the cell-associated prothrombinase complex. Prothrombin is present in calcified bone matrix and thrombin exerts effects on osteoblasts as well as on bone resorption by osteoclasts.We investigated whether (1) osteoclasts display factor Xa-dependent prothrombinase activity and (2) osteoclasts express critical regulatory components upstream of the prothrombinase complex.The osteoclast differentiation factor RANKL induced formation of multinucleated TRAP positive cells concomitant with induction of prothrombinase activity in cultures of RAW 264.7 cells and bone marrow osteoclast progenitors.Expression analysis of extrinsic coagulation factors revealed that RANKL enhanced protein levels of factor Xa as well as of coagulation factor III (tissue factor). Inhibition assays indicated that factor Xa and tissue factor were involved in the control of prothrombinase activity in RANKL-differentiated osteoclasts, presumably at two stages (1) conversion of prothrombin to thrombin and (2) conversion of factor X to factor Xa, respectively.Activation of the extrinsic coagulation pathway during osteoclast differentiation through induction of tissue factor and factor Xa by a RANKL-dependent pathway indicates a novel role for osteoclasts in converting prothrombin to thrombin.     

Effect of CD44 deficiency on in vitro and in vivo osteoclast formation

In vitro studies have shown that CD44 is involved in the fusion process of osteoclast precursor cells. Yet, in vivo studies do not support this, since an osteopetrotic phenotype has not been described for CD44 knock-out (CD44 k.o.) mice. This discrepancy may suggest that the role of CD44 in fusion may depend on the microenvironment of osteoclast formation. We investigated osteoclast formation of CD44 k.o. and wild-type mice under three conditions: in vitro, both on plastic and on bone and in vivo by analyzing osteoclast number, and size in long bones from wild-type and CD44 k.o. mice. Bone marrow cells from wild-type and CD44 k.o. mice were analyzed for their capacity to form osteoclasts on plastic and on bone in the presence of macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL). On plastic, the number of multinucleated tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive cells in CD44 k.o. cultures was twofold higher than in wild-type cultures. On bone, however, equal numbers of osteoclasts were formed. Interestingly, the total number of osteoclasts formed on bone proved to be higher than on plastic for both genotypes, strongly suggesting that osteoclastogenesis was stimulated by the bone surface, and that CD44 is not required for osteoclast formation on bone. Functional analyses showed that bone resorption was similar for both genotypes. We further studied the osteoclastogenic potential of wild-type bone marrow cells in the presence of CD44 blocking antibodies. Osteoclastogenesis was not affected by these antibodies, a further indication that CD44 is not required for the formation of multinucleated cells. Finally, we analyzed the in vivo formation of osteoclasts by analyzing long bones from wild-type and CD44 k.o. mice. Morphometric analysis revealed no difference in osteoclast number, nor in number of nuclei per osteoclasts or in osteoclast size. Our in vitro experiments on plastic showed an enhanced formation of osteoclasts in the absence of CD44, thus suggesting that CD44 has an inhibitory effect on osteoclastogenesis. However, when osteoclasts were generated on bone, no differences in number of multinucleated cells nor in bone resorption were seen. These observations are in agreement with in vivo osteoclast characteristics, where no differences between wild-type and CD44 k.o. bones were encountered. Therefore, the modulating role of CD44 in osteoclast formation appears to depend on the microenvironment.     

MCP-1 is induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-{kappa}B ligand, promotes human osteoclast fusion, and rescues granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor suppression of osteoclast formation

Human osteoclast formation from monocyte precursors under the action of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) was suppressed by granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), with down-regulation of critical osteoclast-related nuclear factors. GM-CSF in the presence of RANKL and macrophage colony-stimulating factor resulted in mononuclear cells that were negative for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and negative for bone resorption. CD1a, a dendritic cell marker, was expressed in GM-CSF, RANKL, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor-treated cells and absent in osteoclasts. Microarray showed that the CC chemokine, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), was profoundly repressed by GM-CSF. Addition of MCP-1 reversed GM-CSF suppression of osteoclast formation, recovering the bone resorption phenotype. MCP-1 and chemokine RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) permitted formation of TRAP-positive multinuclear cells in the absence of RANKL. However, these cells were negative for bone resorption. In the presence of RANKL, MCP-1 significantly increased the number of TRAP-positive multinuclear bone-resorbing osteoclasts (p = 0.008). When RANKL signaling through NFATc1 was blocked with cyclosporin A, both MCP-1 and RANTES expression was down-regulated. Furthermore, addition of MCP-1 and RANTES reversed the effects of cyclosporin A and recovered the TRAP-positive multinuclear cell phenotype. Our model suggests that RANKL-induced chemokines are involved in osteoclast differentiation at the stage of multinucleation of osteoclast precursors and provides a rationale for increased osteoclast activity in inflammatory conditions where chemokines are abundant.     

Fisetin antagonizes cell fusion,cytoskeletal organization and bone resorption in RANKL-differentiated murine macrophages

Osteoclastogenesis is comprised of several stage s including progenitor survival, differentiation to mononuclear preosteoclasts, cell fusion to multinuclear mature osteoclasts, and activation to osteoclasts with bone resorbing activity. Botanical antioxidants are now being increasingly investigated for their health-promoting effects on bone. This study investigated that fisetin, a flavonol found naturally in many fruits and vegetables, suppressed osteoclastogenesis by disturbing receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL)-mediated signaling pathway and demoting osteoclastogenic protein induction. Nontoxic fisetin at ≤10μM inhibited the induction of RANK, tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and the activation of NF-κB in RANKL-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. In RANKL-differentiated osteoclasts cell fusion protein of E-cadherin was induced, which was dampened by fisetin. The formation of tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated osteoclasts was suppressed by adding fisetin to RANKL-exposed macrophages. It was also found that fisetin reduced actin ring formation and gelsolin induction of osteclasts enhanced by RANKL through disturbing c-Src-proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 signaling. Fisetin deterred preosteoclasts from the cell-cell fusion and the organization of the cytoskeleton to seal the resorbing area and to secret protons for bone resorption. Consistently, the 5 day-treatment of fisetin diminished RANKL-induced cellular expression of carbonic anhydrase II and integrin β3 concurrently with a reduction of osteoclast bone-resorbing activity. Therefore, fisetin was a natural therapeutic agent retarding osteoclast fusion and cytoskeletal organization such as actin rings and ruffled boarder, which is a property of mature osteoclasts and is required for osteoclasts to resorb bone.     

A simplified method for the generation of human osteoclasts in vitro

Osteoclasts are large, multinucleated cells responsible for the resorption of mineralized bone matrix. These cells are critical players in the bone turnover involved in bone homeostasis. Osteoclast activity is connected to the establishment and expansion of skeletal metastases from a number of primary neoplasms. Thus, the formation and activation of osteoclasts is an area of research with many potential avenues for clinical translation. Past studies of osteoclast biology have utilized primary murine cells cultured in vitro. Recently, techniques have been described that involve the generation of osteoclasts from human precursor cells. However, these protocols are often time-consuming and insufficient for generating large numbers of osteoclasts. We therefore developed a simplified protocol by which human osteoclasts may be easily and reliably generated in large numbers in vitro. In this study, osteoclasts were differentiated from bone marrow cells that had been aliquotted and frozen. Cells were generated by culture with recombinant macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). Both human and murine RANKL were shown to efficiently generate osteoclasts, although higher concentrations of murine RANKL were required. Formation of osteoclasts was demonstrated qualitatively by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. These cells were fully functional, as confirmed by their ability to form resorption pits on cortical bone slices. Functional human osteoclasts can be difficult to generate in vitro by current protocols. We have demonstrated a simplified system for the generation of human osteoclasts in vitro that allows for large numbers of osteoclasts to be obtained from a single donor.