scholarly journals TGFβ regulation of perilacunar/canalicular remodeling is sexually dimorphic

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha S. Dole ◽  
Cristal S. Yee ◽  
Courtney M. Mazur ◽  
Claire Acevedo ◽  
Tamara Alliston

1.AbstractBone fragility is the product of defects in bone mass and bone quality, both of which show sex-specific differences. Despite this, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning the sexually dimorphic control of bone quality remain unclear, limiting our ability to effectively prevent fractures, especially in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Recently, using male mice, we found that systemic or osteocyte-intrinsic inhibition of TGFβ signaling, achieved using the 9.6-kb DMP1 promoter-driven Cre recombinase (TβRIIocy−/− mice), suppresses osteocyte perilacunar/canalicular remodeling (PLR) and compromises bone quality. Since systemic TGFβ inhibition more robustly increases bone mass in female than male mice, we postulated that sex-specific differences in bone quality could likewise result, in part, from dimorphic regulation of PLR by TGFβ. Moreover, since lactation induces PLR, we examined the effect of TGFβ inhibition on the female skeleton during lactation. In contrast to males, female mice that possess an osteocyte-intrinsic defect in TGFβ signaling were protected from TGFβ-dependent defects in PLR and bone quality. The expression of requisite PLR enzymes, the lacuno-canalicular network, and the flexural strength of female TβRIIocy−/− bone was intact. With lactation, however, bone loss, and induction in PLR and osteocytic parathyroid hormone type I receptor (PTHR1) expression, were suppressed in TβRIIocy−/− bone, relative to wild-type. Indeed, differential control of PTHR1 expression, by TGFβ and other factors, may contribute to dimorphism in PLR regulation in male and female TβRIIocy−/− mice. These findings provide key insights into the sex-based differences in osteocyte PLR that underlie bone quality and highlight TGFβ signaling as a crucial regulator of lactation-induced PLR.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Dole ◽  
Tamara Alliston

Abstract Sexual dimorphism in the material properties of bone extracellular matrix (ECM) and geometry, which are parameters of bone quality have been recognized (Alswat, 2017; Nieves et al., 2005). However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for dimorphic bone quality remain unclear, limiting our ability to therapeutically target fragility, which is determined by bone quality. Recently, using male mice, we found that systemic or osteocyte-intrinsic inhibition of TGFβ signaling (TβRIIocy-/-), suppresses perilacunar/canalicular remodeling (PLR) and compromises bone quality (Dole et al., 2017). Since we previously demonstrated that female bone mass is more sensitive to TGFβ (Mohammad et al., 2009), we hypothesized that loss of osteocytic TGFβ in females will lead to more severe deterioration of PLR and bone quality. Analysis of female bones, however, surprisingly revealed sexual dimorphism in the TGFβ regulation of osteocyte function. While the male TβRIIocy-/- mice demonstrated reduced trabecular bone mass and repression in expression of requisite PLR genes, including matrix metalloproteinases (Mmp2, Mmp13, and Mmp14), cathepsin K (Ctsk), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (Acp5/TRAP) (Qing et al., 2012), the female TβRIIocy-/- bones were intact. With absence of osteocytic TGFβ signaling, the canaliculi of male TβRIIocy-/- osteocytes were truncated and a severe deterioration of lacuno-canalicular network (LCN) was observed. Unlike the male TβRIIocy-/- mice that exhibited poor bone quality, female TβRIIocy-/- bones were completely protected from bone quality defects and macromechanical bone fragility. Thus, TGFβ-dependent regulation PLR and bone quality is sexually dimorphic. Since, lactation is a potent PLR agonist, we also evaluated the lactation-induced PLR response of TβRIIocy-/- female mice. Compared to WT, lactation-induced bone loss and upregulation of PLR genes was significantly attenuated in the TβRIIocy-/- female mice. Lactation-mediated increases in osteocyte lacunar volume were suppressed in TβRIIocy-/- bones as well. This mitigation in PLR of lactating TβRIIocy-/- mice was analogous to that observed in mice with osteocyte-specific ablation of parathyroid hormone type I receptor (PTHR1) (Qing et al., 2012). Remarkably, lactation-inducible PTHR1 expression was also diminished in TβRIIocy-/- osteocytes. Therefore, osteocyte-intrinsic TGFβ signaling is critical for the maximal induction of PLR during lactation, and TGFβ is an upstream regulator of PTHR1-dependent activation of osteocytic PLR. Indeed, we also found sexual dimorphism in the regulation of osteocytic PTHR1 expression by TGFβ, such that male, but not female, TβRIIocy-/- mice had reduced PTHR1 compared to WT. In summary, we identify a novel PTH-dependent mechanism that protects female bone against the severe bone fragility that results from suppressed TGFβ signaling in osteocytes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 625
Author(s):  
Ahmed El-Gazzar ◽  
Wolfgang Högler

Bone material strength is determined by several factors, such as bone mass, matrix composition, mineralization, architecture and shape. From a clinical perspective, bone fragility is classified as primary (i.e., genetic and rare) or secondary (i.e., acquired and common) osteoporosis. Understanding the mechanism of rare genetic bone fragility disorders not only advances medical knowledge on rare diseases, it may open doors for drug development for more common disorders (i.e., postmenopausal osteoporosis). In this review, we highlight the main disease mechanisms underlying the development of human bone fragility associated with low bone mass known to date. The pathways we focus on are type I collagen processing, WNT-signaling, TGF-ß signaling, the RANKL-RANK system and the osteocyte mechanosensing pathway. We demonstrate how the discovery of most of these pathways has led to targeted, pathway-specific treatments.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie J. Lee ◽  
Lisa Rambault ◽  
George Bou-Gharios ◽  
Peter D. Clegg ◽  
Riaz Akhtar ◽  
...  

AbstractType I collagen is the major structural component of bone where it exists as an (α1)2(α2)1 heterotrimer in all vertebrates. The oim mouse model comprising solely homotrimeric (α1)3 collagen–1, due to a dysfunctional α2 chain, has a brittle bone phenotype implying that the heterotrimeric form is required for physiological bone function. However, humans with null alleles preventing synthesis of the α2 chain have connective tissue and cardiovascular abnormalities (cardiac valvular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), without evident bone fragility. Col1a2 null and osteogenesis imperfecta (oim) mouse lines were used in this study and bones analysed by microCT and 3–point bending. RNA was also extracted from heterozygote tissues and allelic discrimination analyses performed using qRT–PCR. Here we show that mice lacking the α2(I) chain do not have impaired biomechanical or bone structural properties, unlike oim homozygous mice. However Mendelian inheritance was affected in male mice of both lines and male mice null for the α2 chain exhibited age–related loss of condition. The brittle bone phenotype of oim homozygotes could result from detrimental effects of the oim mutant allele, however the phenotype of oim heterozygotes is known to be less severe. We used allelic discrimination to show that the oim mutant allele is not downregulated in heterozygotes. We then tested whether gene dosage was responsible for the less severe phenotype of oim heterozygotes by generating compound heterozygotes. Data showed that compound heterozygotes had impaired bone structural properties as compared to oim heterozygotes, albeit to a lesser extent than oim homozygotes. Hence, we concluded that the presence of heterotrimeric collagen–1 in oim heterozygotes alleviates the effect of the oim mutant allele but a genetic interaction between homotrimeric collagen–1 and the oim mutant allele leads to bone fragility.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 478
Author(s):  
Hélder Fonseca ◽  
Andrea Bezerra ◽  
Ana Coelho ◽  
José Alberto Duarte

Background: Obesity is considered protective for bone mass, but this view has been progressively challenged. Menopause is characterized by low bone mass and increased adiposity. Our aim was to determine how visceral and bone marrow adiposity change following ovariectomy (OVX), how they correlate with bone quality and if they are influenced by physical activity. Methods: Five-month-old Wistar rats were OVX or sham-operated and maintained in sedentary or physically active conditions for 9 months. Visceral and bone marrow adiposity as well as bone turnover, femur bone quality and biomechanical properties were assessed. Results: OVX resulted in higher weight, visceral and bone marrow adiposity. Visceral adiposity correlated inversely with femur Ct.Th (r = −0.63, p < 0.001), BV/TV (r = −0.67, p < 0.001), Tb.N (r = −0.69, p < 0.001) and positively with Tb.Sp (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). Bone marrow adiposity also correlated with bone resorption (r = 0.47, p < 0.01), bone formation rate (r = −0.63, p < 0.01), BV/TV (r = −0.85, p < 0.001), Ct.Th (r = −0.51, p < 0.0.01), and with higher empty osteocyte lacunae (r = 0.39, p < 0.05), higher percentage of osteocytes with oxidative stress (r = 0.64, p < 0.0.01) and lower femur maximal stress (r = −0.58, p < 0.001). Physical activity correlated inversely with both visceral (r = −0.74, p < 0.01) and bone marrow adiposity (r = −0.92, p < 0.001). Conclusions: OVX increases visceral and bone marrow adiposity which are associated with inferior bone quality and biomechanical properties. Physical activity could contribute to reduce adipose tissue and thereby improve bone quality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 3141
Author(s):  
Hyerin Jung ◽  
Yeri Alice Rim ◽  
Narae Park ◽  
Yoojun Nam ◽  
Ji Hyeon Ju

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disease characterized by bone fragility and repeated fractures. The bone fragility associated with OI is caused by a defect in collagen formation due to mutation of COL1A1 or COL1A2. Current strategies for treating OI are not curative. In this study, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from OI patient-derived blood cells harboring a mutation in the COL1A1 gene. Osteoblast (OB) differentiated from OI-iPSCs showed abnormally decreased levels of type I collagen and osteogenic differentiation ability. Gene correction of the COL1A1 gene using CRISPR/Cas9 recovered the decreased type I collagen expression in OBs differentiated from OI-iPSCs. The osteogenic potential of OI-iPSCs was also recovered by the gene correction. This study suggests a new possibility of treatment and in vitro disease modeling using patient-derived iPSCs and gene editing with CRISPR/Cas9.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1861
Author(s):  
Jemima Seidenberg ◽  
Mara Stellato ◽  
Amela Hukara ◽  
Burkhard Ludewig ◽  
Karin Klingel ◽  
...  

Background: Pathological activation of cardiac fibroblasts is a key step in development and progression of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure. This process has been associated with enhanced autophagocytosis, but molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Methods and Results: Immunohistochemical analysis of endomyocardial biopsies showed increased activation of autophagy in fibrotic hearts of patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy. In vitro experiments using mouse and human cardiac fibroblasts confirmed that blockade of autophagy with Bafilomycin A1 inhibited fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Next, we observed that cardiac fibroblasts obtained from mice overexpressing transcription factor Fos-related antigen 2 (Fosl-2tg) expressed elevated protein levels of autophagy markers: the lipid modified form of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3B (LC3BII), Beclin-1 and autophagy related 5 (Atg5). In complementary experiments, silencing of Fosl-2 with antisense GapmeR oligonucleotides suppressed production of type I collagen, myofibroblast marker alpha smooth muscle actin and autophagy marker Beclin-1 in cardiac fibroblasts. On the other hand, silencing of either LC3B or Beclin-1 reduced Fosl-2 levels in TGF-β-activated, but not in unstimulated cells. Using a cardiac hypertrophy model induced by continuous infusion of angiotensin II with osmotic minipumps, we confirmed that mice lacking either Fosl-2 (Ccl19CreFosl2flox/flox) or Atg5 (Ccl19CreAtg5flox/flox) in stromal cells were protected from cardiac fibrosis. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that Fosl-2 regulates autophagocytosis and the TGF-β-Fosl-2-autophagy axis controls differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts. These data provide a new insight for the development of pharmaceutical targets in cardiac fibrosis.


Author(s):  
Outi Mäkitie ◽  
M. Carola Zillikens

AbstractOsteoporosis is a skeletal disorder with enhanced bone fragility, usually affecting the elderly. It is very rare in children and young adults and the definition is not only based on a low BMD (a Z-score < − 2.0 in growing children and a Z-score ≤ − 2.0 or a T-score ≤ − 2.5 in young adults) but also on the occurrence of fragility fractures and/or the existence of underlying chronic diseases or secondary factors such as use of glucocorticoids. In the absence of a known chronic disease, fragility fractures and low BMD should prompt extensive screening for secondary causes, which can be found in up to 90% of cases. When fragility fractures occur in childhood or young adulthood without an evident secondary cause, investigations should explore the possibility of an underlying monogenetic bone disease, where bone fragility is caused by a single variant in a gene that has a major role in the skeleton. Several monogenic forms relate to type I collagen, but other forms also exist. Loss-of-function variants in LRP5 and WNT1 may lead to early-onset osteoporosis. The X-chromosomal osteoporosis caused by PLS3 gene mutations affects especially males. Another recently discovered form relates to disturbed sphingolipid metabolism due to SGMS2 mutations, underscoring the complexity of molecular pathology in monogenic early-onset osteoporosis. Management of young patients consists of treatment of secondary factors, optimizing lifestyle factors including calcium and vitamin D and physical exercise. Treatment with bone-active medication should be discussed on a personalized basis, considering the severity of osteoporosis and underlying disease versus the absence of evidence on anti-fracture efficacy and potential harmful effects in pregnancy.


Author(s):  
Maximilian J. Hartel ◽  
Tareq Naji ◽  
Florian Fensky ◽  
Frank O. Henes ◽  
Darius M. Thiesen ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To investigate the range of indications of an anatomical-preshaped three-dimensional suprapectineal plate and to assess the impact of the bone mass density on radiologic outcomes in different types of acetabular fractures. Patients and methods A consecutive case series of 50 acetabular fractures (patient age 69 ± 23 years) treated with suprapectineal anatomic plates were analyzed in a retrospective study. The analysis included: Mechanism of injury, fracture pattern, surgical approach, need for additional total hip arthroplasty, intra- or postoperative complications, as well as bone mass density and radiological outcome on postoperative computed tomography. Results Most frequently, anterior column fracture patterns with and without hemitransverse components as well as associated two column fractures were encountered. The anterior intrapelvic approach (AIP) was used in 98% (49/50) of the cases as primary approach with additional utilization of the first window of the ilioinguinal approach in 13/50 cases (26%). Determination of bone density revealed impaired bone quality in 70% (31/44). Postoperative steps and gaps were significantly greater in this subgroup (p < 0.05). Fracture reduction quality for postoperative steps revealed anatomic results in 92% if the bone quality was normal and in 46% if impaired (p < 0.05). In seven cases (14%), the plate was utilized in combination with acute primary arthroplasty. Conclusion A preshaped suprapectineal plate provides good radiological outcomes in a variety of indications in a predominantly geriatric cohort. Impaired bone quality has a significantly higher risk of poor reduction results. In cases with extensive joint destruction, the combination with total hip arthroplasty was a valuable option.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel M. J. Tan ◽  
Monica E. Garner ◽  
James M. Regeimbal ◽  
Catherine J. Greene ◽  
Jorge D. Rojas Márquez ◽  
...  

AbstractThe type I interferon (IFN) signaling pathway has important functions in resistance to viral infection, with the downstream induction of interferon stimulated genes (ISG) protecting the host from virus entry, replication and spread. Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), a facultative intracellular foodborne pathogen, can exploit the type I IFN response as part of their pathogenic strategy, but the molecular mechanisms involved remain unclear. Here we show that type I IFN suppresses the antibacterial activity of phagocytes to promote systemic Lm infection. Mechanistically, type I IFN suppresses phagosome maturation and proteolysis of Lm virulence factors ActA and LLO, thereby promoting phagosome escape and cell-to-cell spread; the antiviral protein, IFN-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), is required for this type I IFN-mediated alteration. Ifitm3−/− mice are resistant to systemic infection by Lm, displaying decreased bacterial spread in tissues, and increased immune cell recruitment and pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling. Together, our findings show how an antiviral mechanism in phagocytes can be exploited by bacterial pathogens, and implicate IFITM3 as a potential antimicrobial therapeutic target.


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