Growth/differentiation factor-15 inhibits differentiation into osteoclasts—A novel factor involved in control of osteoclast differentiation

Survival and capability of cancer cells to form metastases fundamentally depend on interactions with their microenvironment. Secondary tumors originating from prostate carcinomas affect remodeling of bone tissue and can induce both osteolytic and osteocondensing lesions. However, particular molecular mechanisms responsible for selective homing and activity of cancer cells in bone microenvironment have not been clarified yet. Growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a distant member of the TGF-β protein family, has recently been associated with many human cancers, including prostate.     

Evaluation of efficacy on RANKL induced osteoclast from RAW264.7 cells

Established RAW264.7 cell lines for osteoclastic differentiation has been widely engaged in bone homeostasis research, however, the efficacy of RANKL independently stimulating has rarely been defined, because protocols were usually developed and modified by various laboratories. Otherwise, problematic issues are also lie in the cell's seeding density, RANKL stimulating time point, and distinguishing osteoclastogenesis ability of RANKL-treated RAW264.7 cells. Therefore, in the current study, we examined the efficacy of various concentrations of RANKL-treated RAW264.7 for its osteoclastic differentiation with or without pretreated other costimulators such as: LPS and/or M-CSF. The oteoclastogenesis ability of RANKL-treated RAW264.7 cells was demonstrated by bone resorption pit, F-actin, and osteoclastogenesis specific marker studies. Besides that, through tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, we clarified to start the treatment with 30 ng/ml RANKL at 12 hr after seeded RAW264.7 with the density of 6.25 × 10 ³ cells/cm ² manifested an significantly increased number of multinucleated osteoclastic cells. Overall, our results establishing an optimal method for RANKL independently inducing RAW 264.7 cell osteoclastic differentiation, which could efficiently generate osteoclasts in vitro for significant advances in our understanding of bone biology.     

Potential anti-osteoporotic activity of low-molecular weight hyaluronan by attenuation of osteoclast cell differentiation and function in vitro

Due to some severe side effects or lack of efficacy of currently used synthetic drugs, such as bisphosphonates (BPs), the search for new therapeutic agents that can more effectively prevent and treat osteoporosis (OP) has been an increasingly important topic of research. In this study, the low-molecular weight hyaluronan (LMW-HA, 50 kDa) produced by enzymatic degradation of high-molecular weight hyaluronan (HMW-HA, 1922 kDa) from Streptococcus zooepidemicus was evaluated in vitro for its anti-osteoclastogenic potentials using RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. LMW-HA (25–200 μg/ml) dose-dependently inhibited the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and the formation of multinucleated osteoclasts. Western blot analysis showed that LMW-HA reduced the RANKL-induced expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), gelsolin and c-Src-proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 suggesting that it could inhibit actin ring formation of osteoclast cells. In addition, LMW-HA inhibited the bone resorption activity of osteoclastic cells by dose-dependently attenuating the RANKL-induced expression of carbonic anhydrase II and integrin β3. RT-PCR analysis showed that LMW-HA dose-dependently decreased the expression of osteoclast-specific genes, such as matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and cathepsin K, suggesting that it has potential to inhibit the differentiation of osteoclastic cells. Taken collectively, these results suggested that LMW-HA (50 kDa) has significant anti-osteoporotic activity in vitro and may be used as a potent functional ingredient in health beneficial foods or as a therapeutic agent to prevent or treat OP.     

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.     

稳定表达结核分枝杆菌ESAT-6蛋白的RAW264.7细胞系的建立

为研究结核分枝杆菌Mycobacterium tuberculosis分泌蛋白ESAT-6 (Early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa) 对巨噬细胞相关功能的影响,将正确构建的重组质粒pEGFP-C1-ESAT-6和空载体pEGFP-C1以脂质体介导的方法转染至小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7中,经过G418筛选后建立稳定表达EGFP-ESAT6融合蛋白以及EGFP的细胞系,并通过RT-PCR、荧光显微镜及Western blotting方法,在基因和蛋白两个水平对所建立的稳转细胞系进行鉴定。结果证实EGFP-ESAT6融合基因成功整合入RAW264.7细胞基因组并能够稳定表达,为后续的ESAT-6调控巨噬细胞机理研究提供了平台。     

Nepsilon-(Carboxymethyl)lysine induces gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase in RAW264.7 cells

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play an important role in the development of angiopathy in diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis. Here, we show that adducts of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), a major AGE, and bovine serum albumin (CML-BSA) stimulated gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS), which is a key enzyme of glutathione (GSH) synthesis, in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage-like cells. CML-BSA stimulated the expression of gamma-GCS heavy subunit (h) time- and dose-dependently and concomitantly increased GSH levels. CML-BSA also stimulated DNA-binding activity of activator protein-1 (AP-1) within 3h, but the stimulatory effect decreased in 5h, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) with a peak activity at 1h and the stimulatory effect diminished in 3h. Studies of luciferase activity of the gamma-GCSh promoter showed that deletion and mutagenesis of the AP-1-site abolished CML-BSA-induced up-regulation, while that of NF-kappaB-site did not affect CML-BSA-induced activity. CML-BSA also stimulated the activity of protein kinase C, Ras/Raf-1, and MEK/ERK1/2. Inhibition of ERK1/2 abolished CML-BSA-stimulated AP-1 DNA-binding activity and gamma-GCSh mRNA expression. Our results suggest that induction of gamma-GCS by CML adducts seems to increase the defense potential of cells against oxidative stress produced during glycation processes.     

NODs信号通路在RAW264.7细胞抗烟曲霉菌刺激中的作用

【目的】通过培养RAW264.7细胞,并运用siRNA沉默NOD2基因来研究NODs信号通路在体外抗烟曲霉中的作用。【方法】体外培养RAW264.7细胞,接种2×105个/孔细胞于六孔板中,分为正常对照组(N)和正常沉默组[NOD2(RNAi),正常+烟曲霉孢子刺激组(N+Af)和正常沉默+烟曲霉孢子刺激组[NOD2(RNAi)+Af],每组三复孔。通过RT-PCR法检测细胞中NOD1、NOD2、RIP2 mRNA表达;Western blot法检测细胞中分泌蛋白TNF-α表达。【结果】与N组比较,N+Af组NOD1、NOD2 mRNA和TNF-α蛋白表达显著上升。与阴性对照组(Nctrol)相比,NOD2(RNAi)组NOD2 mRNA表达明显受到抑制,沉默效果达到80%以上,说明RAW264.7细胞中NOD2基因被成功沉默。与NOD2(RNAi)组比较,NOD2(RNAi)+Af组NOD1、RIP2 mRNA和TNF-α蛋白表达小幅上升,但无显著性差异(P>0.05)。与NOD2基因沉默前比较发现:与N组比较,NOD2(RNAi)组,TNF-α蛋白表达显著性升高(P<0.05)。与N+Af组比较,NOD2(RNAi)+Af组,TNF-α蛋白显著性降低(P<0.05);NOD1、RIP2 mRNA在各组中表达均未见显著性差异。【结论】NODs信号通路在RAW264.7细胞抗烟曲霉中发挥作用,尤以NOD2的作用较突出。     

G protein-coupled receptor 119 is involved in RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and fusion

G protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) is known to be a promising therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes. Recently, it has been reported that the GPR119 agonist increases bone mineral density in an animal model of diabetes, suggesting that GPR119 may play a key role in bone metabolism. In this study, we investigated the functional role of GPR119 in receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast formation. We found that the GPR119 expression was markedly increased in preosteoclasts and then downregulated in mature osteoclasts. Activation of GPR119 with AS1269574, a potent selective agonist for GPR119, inhibited the generation of multinuclear osteoclasts from bone marrow-derived macrophages. Confirming this observation, targeted silencing of GPR119 using short hairpin RNA abrogated the AS1269574-mediated suppressive effect on osteoclast formation. GPR119 activation attenuated the expression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) and blocked RANKL-stimulated phosphorylation of IκBα, c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) but not p38. In addition, GPR119 activation suppressed preosteoclast fusion by downregulating the expression of the dendritic cell-specific transmembrane (DC-STAMP), a molecule that is essential for cell–cell fusion in osteoclast formation. Furthermore, ectopic expression of DC-STAMP restored AS1269574-mediated inhibition of osteoclast fusion. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that GPR119 plays a negative role in osteoclast differentiation and fusion induced by RANKL, and therefore may represent a potential target for bone resorption-associated diseases.     

Anti-inflammatory phenolics isolated from Juniperus rigida leaves and twigs in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells

Inflammation is an essential host defense system particularly in response to infection and injury; however, excessive or undesirable inflammatory responses contribute to acute and chronic human diseases. A high-throughput screening effort searching for anti-inflammatory compounds from medicinal plants deduced that the methanolic extract of Juniperus rigida S. et L. (Cupressaceae) inhibited significantly nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Activity-guided fractionation and isolation yielded 13 phenolic compounds, including one new phenylpropanoid glycosides, 3,4-dimethoxycinnamyl 9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1). Among the isolated compounds, phenylpropanoid glycosides with p-hydroxy group (2, 4) and massoniaside A (7), (+)-catechin (10), amentoflavone (11) effectively inhibited LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells.     

布鲁氏菌对RAW264.7细胞内质网应激与细胞因子分泌的影响

【目的】布鲁氏菌与宿主相互作用的分子机制是目前的研究热点之一,布鲁氏菌通过形成来自于内质网的布氏小体而在巨噬细胞内生存和增殖,其机制目前尚不清楚,宿主细胞内质网应激反应对病原感染和炎症的调控密切相关。揭示内质网应激反应在布鲁氏菌感染巨噬细胞中的作用以及布鲁氏菌感染对巨噬细胞分泌免疫因子的影响。【方法】构建布鲁氏菌感染RAW264.7模型,在感染后不同时间收集细胞,通过实时荧光定量PCR检测细胞内质网应激反应标志分子GRP78和CHOP,以及TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6在m RNA水平的变化;通过Western blot和ELISA分别检测其蛋白水平的变化。【结果】布鲁氏菌感染RAW264.7细胞的最佳感染复数MOI为100?1;证明在布鲁氏菌感染4-6 h,巨噬细胞可杀伤侵入的布鲁氏菌,之后存活的细菌可在细胞内增殖;感染后24 h出现细胞凋亡,48 h出现大量细胞坏死。布鲁氏菌感染可激活RAW264.7细胞的内质网应激反应,促进GRP78的表达,同时,抑制免疫因子的分泌。【结论】内质网应激反应参与了RAW264.7对布鲁氏菌感染的调节。     

The inhibitory effect of melatonin on osteoclastogenesis of RAW 264.7 cells in low concentrations of RANKL and MCSF

RAW 264.7 cells are one of the most recommended cell lines for investigating the activity and differentiation of osteoclasts. These cells differentiate into osteoclasts in the presence of two critical components: receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony stimulating factor (MCSF). Melatonin (MEL) hormone has recently become one of the small molecules used in the field of bone regeneration and bone disease treatment, as it has the ability to inhibit the differentiation of osteoclasts directly by suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway. The main aim of the current study is to determine sufficient RANKL/MCSF concentrations for differentiation of the cells to osteoclasts and to describe the repressive effect of MEL on the osteoclastogenesis of these cells. In this regard, it was found that 10 ng/mL of RANKL- and MCSF-containing medium is suitable for inducing osteoclastogenesis of the cells. In addition, melatonin at doses in the range of 100–1000 µM does not have a cytotoxic effect. Subsequently, results of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, TRAP staining, and relative expressions of cathepsin K, nuclear factor of activated T cells one (NFATC1), and TRAP genes showed a suppressive effect of MEL —especially 800 µM— on RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis of these cells.     

MK615 attenuates Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine release via MAPK inactivation in murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells

The Japanese apricot, known as Ume in Japanese, has been a traditional Japanese medicine for centuries, and is a familiar and commonly consumed food. The health benefits of Ume are now being widely recognized and have been strengthened by recent studies showing that MK615, an extract of compounds from Ume, has strong anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the potential role of MK615 in the periodontal field remains unknown. Here, we found that MK615 significantly reduced the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6) induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major etiological agent in localized chronic periodontitis, in murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. MK615 markedly inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and JNK, which is associated with pro-inflammatory mediator release pathways. Moreover, MK615 completely blocked LPS-triggered NF-κB activation. The present results suggest that MK615 has potential as a therapeutic agent for treating inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis.