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Skeletal aging results in apoptosis of osteocytes, cells embedded in bone that control the generation/function of bone forming and resorbing cells. Aging also decreases connexin43 (Cx43) expression in bone; and osteocytic Cx43 deletion partially mimics the skeletal phenotype of old mice. Particularly, aging and Cx43 deletion increase osteocyte apoptosis, and osteoclast number and bone resorption on endocortical bone surfaces. We examined herein the molecular signaling events responsible for osteocyte apoptosis and osteoclast recruitment triggered by aging and Cx43 deficiency. Cx43-silenced MLO-Y4 osteocytic (Cx43 def ) cells undergo spontaneous cell death in culture through caspase-3 activation and exhibit increased levels of apoptosis-related genes, and only transfection of Cx43 constructs able to form gap junction channels reverses Cx43 def cell death. Cx43 def cells and bones from old mice exhibit reduced levels of the pro-survival microRNA miR21 and, consistently, increased levels of the miR21 target phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and reduced phosphorylated Akt, whereas PTEN inhibition reduces Cx43 def cell apoptosis. miR21 reduction is sufficient to induce apoptosis of Cx43-expressing cells and miR21 deletion in miR21 fl/fl bones increases apoptosis-related gene expression, whereas a miR21 mimic prevents Cx43 def cell apoptosis, demonstrating that miR21 lies downstream of Cx43. Cx43 def cells release more osteoclastogenic cytokines [receptor activator of NFκB ligand (RANKL)/high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1)], and caspase-3 inhibition prevents RANKL/HMGB1 release and the increased osteoclastogenesis induced by conditioned media from Cx43 def cells, which is blocked by antagonizing HMGB1-RAGE interaction. These findings identify a novel Cx43/miR21/HMGB1/RANKL pathway involved in preventing osteocyte apoptosis that also controls osteoclast formation/recruitment and is impaired with aging., (© 2017 The Authors. Aging Cell published by the Anatomical Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Bone is one of the most preferential metastatic target sites for cancers. The biological crosstalk between metastatic cancer cells and bone microenvironment is critical to the pathophysiology of bone metastases. For example, It is well established that PTH-rP production in cancer cells stimulated by bone-derived TGF-β facilitates bone metastasis through promoting bone resorption by osteoclasts, thereby establishing "vicious cycle" between metastatic cancer cells and bone. In addition, recent studies identified several new players including platelets and MDSCs which contribute to the development of bone metastasis. In this review, we will overview the current topics on the mechanism by which bone metastasis is modulated at cellular and molecular levels.

Solid cancers such as breast, prostate and lung cancer have a predilection for spreading to bone. Accumulating data suggest that the crosstalk between metastatic cancer cells and bone-resorbing osteoclasts plays a central role in the development and progression of bone metastases. Recent studies have revealed that osteoblasts mediate this crosstalk by expressing the receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) in response to cancer-produced osteotropic factors. The RANKL promotes osteoclast formation and bone resorption via the binding to RANK expressed in hematopoietic osteoclast precursor cells and mature osteoclasts. Denosumab is the humanized anti-RANKL neutralizing monoclonal antibody and thus would be a specific and effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of bone metastases. In fact, clinical studies clearly demonstrated that denosumab significantly inhibited the development of skeletal-related events associated with bone metastases and indicate its usefulness for bone metastases.

A tyrosine kinase, c-Src, that plays an indispensable role in ruffled border formation and bone resorption is constitutively active in osteoclasts. However, to date, the molecular mechanism underlying increased c-Src activity in osteoclasts is unknown. To address this, we first examined the expression levels and subcellular localization of Csk, a negative regulatory kinase for c-Src. We found that the expression level of Csk in osteoclasts was comparable with that of other tissues. However, in osteoclasts, Csk was hardly localized in lipid rafts, where c-Src is highly expressed. Interestingly, expression of Cbp, which recruits Csk into lipid rafts through physical interaction with Csk, was very low in osteoclasts compared with other tissues. To understand the importance of Cbp in osteoclasts, we introduced Cbp into osteoclasts using an adenovirus gene delivery system. Introduction of Cbp stimulated recruitment of Csk into lipid rafts and suppressed c-Src activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, introduction of Cbp markedly inhibited formation of actin rings and bone-resorbing activity in osteoclasts. In addition, treatment with RANKL and overexpression of TRAF6 or NFAT2 inhibited Cbp expression in the osteoclastogenic cell line RAW264.7 along with osteoclastic differentiation. NFAT2 overexpression also inhibited Cbp expression in spleen macrophages. Collectively, our results indicate that reduction in Cbp expression is responsible for maintaining high c-Src activity in osteoclasts. These findings contribute to an understanding of the unique regulatory system for c-Src in osteoclasts., ((c) 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.)

Introduction: RANKL is known to be important not only for differentiation and activation of osteoclasts but also for their survival. Experimentally, apoptosis of osteoclasts is rapidly induced by the deprivation of RANKL. RANKL activates Elk-related tyrosine kinase (ERK), p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and NF-kappaB pathways through TRAF6 in osteoclasts and the precursor cells. It has been shown that ERK is critical for regulation of osteoclast survival. However, an involvement of other RANKL signaling pathways such as JNK signaling in survival of osteoclasts has not been fully understood yet., Materials and Methods: Osteoclasts derived from primary mouse bone marrow cells by soluble RANKL (sRANKL) were treated with a JNK inhibitor, SP600125, or infected with adenovirus carrying dominant-negative (DN)-c-jun, DN-c-fos, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1), I-kappaBalpha mutant, or NF-kappaB components, p50 and p65. Osteoclasts were cultured with or without sRANKL, and apoptotic phenotype was determined by TUNEL assay, DAPI staining, and expression of cleaved caspase 3 followed by TRACP staining., Results: Overexpression of TRAF6 activated JNK and NF-kappaB signaling pathways and clearly prevented osteoclasts from apoptosis caused by abrogation of sRANKL. An anti-apoptotic effect of RANKL/RANK/TRAF6 signaling on osteoclast was inhibited by JNK-specific inhibitor SP600125 and by overexpression of dominant-negative JNK1, c-jun, and c-fos. Also, overexpression of MEKK1 inhibited apoptosis of osteoclasts even in the absence of sRANKL along with activation of JNK/c-jun signaling. On the other hand, blockade of NF-kappaB signaling by I-kappaBalpha mutant or overexpression of NF-kappaB components showed a marginal effect on apoptosis of osteoclasts., Conclusions: An important role of RANKL-induced activation of MEKK1/JNK/c-jun signaling in the regulation of apoptosis in osteoclasts was shown. Our study suggests that c-fos plays a role as a partner of activator protein-1 factor, c-jun, during the regulation of apoptosis in osteoclasts.

Unlabelled: Mice fed with a low Pi diet exhibited decreased osteoclast number. Hyp mice also showed decreased osteoclasts, and high Pi reversed it. Low Pi reduced osteoclast formation and bone resorption in vitro. Hypophosphatemia may suppress osteoclast differentiation/function, leading to skeletal abnormalities., Introduction: Skeletal abnormalities seen in hypophosphatemic disorders indicate a critical role of phosphate (Pi) in skeletogenesis. However, the role of osteoclasts in the pathogenesis of the disturbed skeletogenesis is unclear., Materials and Methods: Mice fed with a low-Pi diet and Hyp mice that are characterized by hypophosphatemia and impaired osteogenesis were studied. Effects of Pi on osteoclast formation and bone resorption were also examined in vitro., Results: Histomorphometric examination showed that mice on a low-Pi diet exhibited decreased osteoclast number. Furthermore, osteoclast number in Hyp mice was also decreased compared with wildtype (WT) mice. Of note, feeding of Hyp mice with high-Pi diet significantly reversed hypophosphatemia, improved disturbed osteogenesis, and increased osteoclast number. Osteoclast-like cell (OLC) formation and bone resorption in Hyp bone marrow cells was not different from WT bone marrow cells. On the other hand, OLC formation and bone resorption were decreased in conjunction with reduced mRNA expression of RANKL in WT bone marrow cells cultured in the medium containing low Pi (0.5 mM). Recombinant human matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE), a candidate for phosphatonin, also decreased osteoclast formation, whereas fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), another phosphatonin candidate, showed no effects., Conclusions: Our results suggest that Pi controls the differentiation and function of osteoclasts. These actions of Pi on osteoclasts may be associated with the pathogenesis of the skeletal abnormalities in hypophosphatemic disorders.

Bone pain is one of the most common complications in cancer patients with bone metastases. Previous findings that inhibitors of osteoclastic bone resorption such as bisphosphonates (BPs) reduce bone pain suggest a critical role of osteoclasts. Osteoclasts destroy bone by secreting protons, thereby making adjacent microenvironment acidic. Because acidosis is a well-known cause of pain, it is plausible that an osteoclasts-created acidic microenvironment may cause bone pain associated with cancer colonization in bone. To test this notion, we studied an animal model in which inoculation of MRMT-1 rat breast cancer cells into the tibiae in female rats induced hyperalgesia. Radiographic and histological analyses demonstrated that MRMT-1 cells caused aggressive bone destruction with an increased number of osteoclasts. Behavioral analyses showed that rats exhibited hyperalgesia in the tumor-inoculated legs. The BP zoledronic acid (ZOL) significantly reduced the hyperalgesia. In addition, immunohistochemical examinations revealed that c-Fos expression in the ipsilateral spinal cord neurons was increased. ZOL decreased these c-Fos-positive neurons. To investigate the role of acidosis, mRNA expression of acid-sensing receptors including acid-sensing channels (ASICs) and transient receptor potential channel-vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1) in the dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) was determined. The expression of ASIC1a and ASIC1b was increased in the ipsilateral DRGs, whereas the ASIC3 and TRPV1 expression was not changed. Of note, ZOL reduced the expression of ASIC1a and ASIC1b. In conclusion, our data suggest that an acidic microenvironment created by osteoclasts, at least in part, contributes to the induction of hyperalgesia through upregulating ASICs expression.

Bone disorders with increased osteoclastic bone resorption are frequently associated with bone pain and inhibitors of osteoclasts reduce bone pain. Osteoclasts degrade bone minerals by secreting protons through the vacuolar H+-ATPase, creating acidic microenvironments. Because acidosis is a well-known cause of pain, we reasoned that osteoclasts cause pain through proton secretion. We explored this using an animal model in which a single subcutaneous injection of the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in the hind-paw caused inflammatory hyperalgesia (hyper-responsiveness to noxious stimuli). Osteoclastic bone resorption was increased in the metatarsal bones in the CFA-injected hind-paws. CFA-induced hyperalgesia was significantly suppressed by the bisphosphonates, zoledronic acid (ZOL) and alendronate and osteoprotegerin. c-src-deficient mice in which osteoclasts are inherently dysfunctional exhibited reduced CFA-induced hyperalgesia. Repeated subcutaneous injections of parathyroid hormone-related protein into the hind-paw also induced hyperalgesia with increased osteoclastic bone resorption. The hyperalgesia was associated with increased mRNA expression of acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) 1a, 1b and 3 in the ipsi-lateral dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) by RT-PCR and c-Fos in the ipsi-lateral spinal dorsal horn by immunohistochemistry. Of note, ZOL decreased the ASIC1a mRNA expression and c-Fos. Treatment of the DRG cell line F-11 with acid (pH5.5) increased ASIC1a, 1b and 3 mRNA expression and nuclear c-Fos expression. The ASIC blocker amiloride inhibited acid-induced c-Fos expression in F-11 cells. Moreover, F-11 cells transfected with the transient receptor potential channel vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1) showed increased acid-induced nuclear c-Fos expression compared with parental F-11 cells. Finally, bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of the vacuolar H+-ATPase, reversed the hyperalgesia and down-regulated ASIC1a mRNA expression in the DRGs. These results led us to propose that osteoclasts play a part in CFA-induced inflammatory pain through an activation of the acid-sensing receptors including ASICs and TRPV1 by creating acidosis.

In bone metastatic lesions, osteoclasts play a key role in the development of osteolysis. Previous studies have shown that macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is important for the differentiation of osteoclasts. In this study, we investigated whether an inhibitor of M-CSF receptor (c-Fms) suppresses osteoclast-dependent osteolysis in bone metastatic lesions. We developed small molecule inhibitors against ligand-dependent phosphorylation of c-Fms and examined the effects of these compounds on osteolytic bone destruction in a bone metastasis model. We discovered a novel quinoline-urea derivative, Ki20227 (N-{4-[(6,7-dimethoxy-4-quinolyl)oxy]-2-methoxyphenyl}-N'-[1-(1,3-thiazole-2-yl)ethyl]urea), which is a c-Fms tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The IC(50)s of Ki20227 to inhibit c-Fms, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (KDR), stem cell factor receptor (c-Kit), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta were found to be 2, 12, 451, and 217 nmol/L, respectively. Ki20227 did not inhibit other kinases tested, such as fms-like tyrosine kinase-3, epidermal growth factor receptor, or c-Src (c-src proto-oncogene product). Ki20227 was also found to inhibit the M-CSF-dependent growth of M-NFS-60 cells but not the M-CSF-independent growth of A375 human melanoma cells in vitro. Furthermore, in an osteoclast-like cell formation assay using mouse bone marrow cells, Ki20227 inhibited the development of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclast-like cells in a dose-dependent manner. In in vivo studies, oral administration of Ki20227 suppressed osteoclast-like cell accumulation and bone resorption induced by metastatic tumor cells in nude rats following intracardiac injection of A375 cells. Moreover, Ki20227 decreased the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclast-like cells on bone surfaces in ovariectomized (ovx) rats. These findings suggest that Ki20227 inhibits osteolytic bone destruction through the suppression of M-CSF-induced osteoclast accumulation in vivo. Therefore, Ki20227 may be a useful therapeutic agent for osteolytic disease associated with bone metastasis and other bone diseases.

The transcription factor family member NFAT plays an important role in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation. However, the role of NFAT in osteoclasts in vivo is still not fully understood. Thus, we generated transgenic mice in which constitutively active-NFAT1/NFATc2 (CA-NFAT1) is specifically expressed in the osteoclast lineage, using the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase gene promoter. Both x-ray and histological analyses demonstrated an osteopenic bone phenotype in the CA-NFAT1 transgenic mice, whereas the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts was markedly higher in the long bones of these mice. Furthermore, the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts derived from the transgenic mice was much higher than that of wild-type mice. Interestingly, the introduction of CA-NFAT1 into osteoclasts or RAW264 cells increased the expression and activity of c-Src and stimulated actin ring formation. In contrast, CA-NFAT1 or GFP-tagged VIVIT peptide, a specific inhibitor of NFAT, did not affect the survival of mature osteoclasts. Collectively, our data indicate that NFAT controls bone resorption in vivo by stimulating the differentiation and functioning of osteoclasts but not their survival.

Tyrosine kinase c-Src plays an essential role in ruffled border formation and bone resorption in osteoclasts; however, it is unclear how c-Src controls ruffled border formation during bone resorption. To address this question, we investigated the role of cortactin, a c-Src substrate, in osteoclasts. We found that cortactin showed colocalization with c-Src and actin rings in osteoclasts. Overexpression of cortactin stimulated actin ring formation in RAW 264.7 cells. In contrast, overexpression of Csk inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin and binding of cortactin to c-Src. More importantly, overexertion of a mutant cortactin strongly suppressed actin ring formation and bone resorbing activity in osteoclasts. Collectively, our data indicate that cortactin controls osteoclastic bone resorption by regulating actin organization.

Bone, as well as lung and liver, is one of the most preferential metastatic target sites for cancers including breast, prostate, and lung cancers. Although the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this preference need to be elucidated, it appears that bone microenvironments possess unique biological features that enable circulating cancer cells to home, survive and proliferate, and destroy bone. In conjunction, cancers that develop bone metastases likely have the capacity to utilize these unique bone environments for colonization and bone destruction. This crosstalk between metastatic cancer cells and bone is critical to the development and progression of bone metastases. Disruption of this interaction will allow us to design mechanism-based effective and specific therapeutic interventions for bone metastases.

Supporting roles of stromal cells in preferential colonization of myeloma cells in bone marrow and development of associated osteoclastic osteolysis through cell-cell interactions have been indicated. Here we examined the effects of a monoclonal antibody to alpha4 integrin (anti-alpha4 Ab) that disrupts myeloma cell-stromal cell interactions mediated via alpha4beta1 integrin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on myeloma cell growth in bone marrow and accompanying osteolysis. The anti-alpha4 Ab decreased VCAM-1-stimulated 5TGM1/luc cell growth in culture. The 5TGM1 murine myeloma cells stably transfected with the firefly luciferase (5TGM1/luc) were inoculated from tail vein in bg/xid/nd mice. Preventative administration of the anti-alpha4 Ab suppressed the elevation of serum IgG2b levels, decreased 5TGM1/luc tumor burden with increased apoptosis in bone and spleen, reduced bone destruction with diminished number of osteoclasts, and prolonged survival of 5TGM1/luc-bearing mice. In contrast, therapeutic administration of the antibody failed to show these effects. However, therapeutic administration of the antibody combined with melphalan significantly suppressed serum IgG2b levels and tumor burden in bone. Our results suggest that the interactions with stromal cells via alpha4beta1/VCAM-1 are critical to the development of myeloma and associated osteolysis and that disruption of these interactions using anti-alpha4 Ab is a potential therapeutic approach for myeloma.

Receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) plays an essential role in osteoclast formation and bone resorption. Although genetic and biochemical studies indicate that RANKL regulates osteoclast differentiation by activating receptor activator of NF-kappaB and associated signaling molecules, the molecular mechanisms of RANKL-regulated osteoclast differentiation have not yet been fully established. We investigated the role of the transcription factor c-Jun, which is activated by RANKL, in osteoclastogenesis using transgenic mice expressing dominant-negative c-Jun specifically in the osteoclast lineage. We found that the transgenic mice manifested severe osteopetrosis due to impaired osteoclastogenesis. Blockade of c-Jun signaling also markedly inhibited soluble RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in vitro. Overexpression of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFAT1) (NFATc2/NFATp) or NFAT2 (NFATc1/NFATc) promoted differentiation of osteoclast precursor cells into tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP-positive) multinucleated osteoclast-like cells even in the absence of RANKL. Overexpression of NFAT1 also markedly transactivated the TRAP gene promoter. These osteoclastogenic activities of NFAT were abrogated by overexpression of dominant-negative c-Jun. Importantly, osteoclast differentiation and induction of NFAT2 expression by NFAT1 overexpression or soluble RANKL treatment were profoundly diminished in spleen cells of the transgenic mice. Collectively, these results indicate that c-Jun signaling in cooperation with NFAT is crucial for RANKL-regulated osteoclast differentiation.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the in vivo effects of estrogen deficiency in MRL/lpr mice as a model for rheumatoid arthritis and to analyze the possible relationship between immune dysregulation and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-mediated osteoclastogenesis. Experimental studies were performed in ovariectomized (Ovx)-MRL/lpr, Ovx-MRL+/+, sham-operated-MRL/lpr, and sham-operated-MRL+/+ mice. Severe autoimmune arthritis developed in younger Ovx-MRL/lpr mice until 24 wk of age, whereas these lesions were entirely recovered by pharmacological levels of estrogen administration. A significant elevation in serum rheumatoid factor, anti-double-stranded DNA, and anti-type II collagen was found in Ovx-MRL/lpr mice and recovered in mice that underwent estrogen administration. A high proportion of CD4(+) T cells bearing RANKL was found, and an enhanced expression of RANKL mRNA and an impaired osteoprotegerin mRNA was detected in the synovium. An increase in both osteoclast formation and bone resorption pits was found. These results indicate that estrogen deficiency may play a crucial role in acceleration of autoimmune arthritis associated with RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis in a murine model for rheumatoid arthritis.

Myeloma is a unique hematologic malignancy that exclusively homes in the bone marrow and induces massive osteoclastic bone destruction presumably by producing cytokines that promote the differentiation of the hematopoietic progenitors to osteoclasts (osteoclastogenesis). It is recognized that neighboring bone marrow stromal cells influence the expression of the malignant phenotype in myeloma cells. This study examined the role of the interactions between myeloma cells and neighboring stromal cells in the production of osteoclastogenic factors to elucidate the mechanism underlying extensive osteoclastic bone destruction. A murine myeloma cell line 5TGM1, which causes severe osteolysis, expresses alpha(4)beta(1)-integrin and tightly adheres to the mouse marrow stromal cell line ST2, which expresses the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), a ligand for alpha(4)beta(1)-integrin. Co-cultures of 5TGM1 with primary bone marrow cells generated tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Co-cultures of 5TGM1 with ST2 showed increased production of bone-resorbing activity and neutralizing antibodies against VCAM-1 or alpha(4)beta(1)-integrin inhibited this. The 5TGM1 cells contacting recombinant VCAM-1 produced increased osteoclastogenic and bone-resorbing activity. The activity was not blocked by the neutralizing antibody to known osteoclastogenic cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor, or parathyroid hormone-related peptide. These data suggest that myeloma cells are responsible for producing osteoclastogenic activity and that establishment of direct contact with marrow stromal cells via alpha(4)beta(1)-integrin/VCAM-1 increases the production of this activity by myeloma cells. They also suggest that the presence of stromal cells may provide a microenvironment that allows exclusive colonization of myeloma cells in the bone marrow. (Blood. 2000;96:1953-1960)

Using an expression cloning approach, we identified and cloned a novel intracellular protein produced by osteoclasts that indirectly induces osteoclast formation and bone resorption, termed OSF. Conditioned media from 293 cells transiently transfected with the 0.9 kb OSF cDNA clone stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation in both human and murine marrow cultures in the presence or absence 10(-9) M 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. In addition, conditioned media from 293 cells transfected with the OSF cDNA clone enhanced the stimulatory effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on bone resorption in the fetal rat long bone assay. In situ hybridization studies using antisense oligomers showed expression of OSF mRNA in highly purified osteoclast-like cells from human giant cell tumors of the bone. Northern blot analysis demonstrated ubiquitous expression of a 1.3 kb mRNA that encodes OSF in multiple human tissues. Sequence analysis showed the OSF cDNA encoded a 28 kD peptide that contains a c-Src homology 3 domain (SH3) and ankyrin repeats, suggesting that it was not a secreted protein, but that it was potentially involved in cell signaling. Consistent with these data, immunoblot analysis using rabbit antisera against recombinant OSF demonstrated OSF expression in cell lysates but not in the culture media. Furthermore, recombinant OSF had a high affinity for c-Src, an important regulator of osteoclast activity. Taken together, these data suggest that OSF is a novel intracellular protein that indirectly enhances osteoclast formation and osteoclastic bone resorption through the cellular signal transduction cascade, possibly through its interactions with c-Src or other Src-related proteins.

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells of hemopoietic origin that are responsible for bone resorption during physiological bone remodeling and in a variety of bone diseases. Osteoclast development requires direct heterotypic cell-cell interactions of the hemopoietic osteoclast precursors with the neighboring osteoblast/stromal cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these heterotypic interactions are poorly understood. We isolated cadherin-6 isoform, denoted cadherin-6/2 from a cDNA library of human osteoclast-like cells. The isolated cadherin-6/2 is 3,423 bp in size consisting of an open reading frame of 2,115 bp, which encodes 705 amino acids. This isoform lacks 85 amino acids between positions 333 and 418 and contains 9 different amino acids in the extracellular domain compared with the previously described cadherin-6. The human osteoclast-like cells also expressed another isoform denoted cadherin-6/1 together with the cadherin-6. Introduction of cadherin-6/2 into L-cells that showed no cell-cell contact caused evident morphological changes accompanied with tight cell-cell association, indicating the cadherin-6/2 we isolated here is functional. Moreover, expression of dominant-negative or antisense cadherin-6/2 construct in bone marrow-derived mouse stromal ST2 cells, which express only cadherin-6/2, markedly impaired their ability to support osteoclast formation in a mouse coculture model of osteoclastogenesis. Our results suggest that cadherin-6 may be a contributory molecule to the heterotypic interactions between the hemopoietic osteoclast cell lineage and osteoblast/bone marrow stromal cells required for the osteoclast differentiation. Since both osteoclasts and osteoblasts/bone marrow stromal cells are the primary cells controlling physiological bone remodeling, expression of cadherin-6 isoforms in these two cell types of different origin suggests a critical role of these molecules in the relationship of osteoclast precursors and cells of osteoblastic lineage within the bone microenvironment.

Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and are therapeutically effective in diseases of increased bone turnover, such as Paget's disease and hypercalcemia of malignancy. The mechanisms by which they act remain unclear. Proposed mechanisms include inhibition of osteoclast formation from precursors and inhibitory or toxic effect on mature osteoclasts. We have developed a new in vitro model to study osteoclast survival and in this paper present in vitro and in vivo evidence that may explain both the observed reduction in osteoclast numbers and in bone resorption by mature osteoclasts, namely that bisphosphonates induce programmed cell death (apoptosis). Three bisphosphonates (risedronate, pamidronate, and clodronate) caused a 4- to 24-fold increase in the proportion of osteoclasts showing the characteristic morphology of apoptosis in vitro. This observation was confirmed in vivo in normal mice, in mice with increased bone resorption, and in nude mice with osteolytic cancer metastases, with similar-fold increases to those observed in vitro. Of the three compounds, risedronate, the most potent inhibitor of bone resorption in vivo, was the strongest inducer of osteoclast apoptosis in vitro. Osteoclast apoptosis may therefore be a major mechanism whereby bisphosphonates reduce osteoclast numbers and activity, and induction of apoptosis could be a therapeutic goal for new antiosteoclast drugs.

A critical step in bone resorption is the fusion of mononuclear osteoclast precursors to form multinucleated osteoclasts. However, little is known of the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for this important process. Since the expression of proteins in the cadherin family of homophilic calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules is involved in the fusion process for certain other cells, we examined their role in osteoclast formation. Immunohistochemical examination of human and mouse bone using monoclonal antibodies to human and mouse E-cadherin clearly demonstrated positive staining in osteoclasts. N- and P-cadherin were not detected. In cultures of murine marrow mononuclear cells in which osteoclasts form by cell fusion, E-cadherin expression determined by Western blotting reached the highest levels as fusion was taking place. Expression of E-cadherin gene fragment was also detected in the marrow cultures by polymerase chain reaction. To study the functional role of E-cadherin expression in osteoclastic differentiation, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies were examined for their effects on osteoclast formation. The antibodies decreased the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (a marker of murine osteoclast)-positive multinucleated cell (TRAP-positive MNC) by inhibiting the fusion of mononuclear osteoclast precursors, but not proliferation of these cells or their attachment to plastic dish surfaces. This inhibitory effect was reversible. Furthermore, synthetic peptides containing the cell adhesion recognition sequence of cadherins also decreased TRAP-positive MNC formation. The antibodies and peptides inhibited not only osteoclast formation but also bone resorption. Antibodies to other types of cadherins and control rat IgG had no effects in these culture systems. Our findings suggest that E-cadherin expression may be involved in fusion (differentiation) of hemopoietic osteoclast precursors into mature multinucleated osteoclasts.

Suramin is a polyanionic agent which has been found to be an effective antineoplastic agent against various human tumors including adrenal, renal and prostatic cancer, and osteosarcoma. Recently, suramin has been shown to inhibit bone resorption in organ cultures of mouse calvarial bones. In the present study, we examined the effects of suramin on increased osteoclastic bone resorption and hypercalcemia in nude mice bearing a human oral squamous carcinoma. Suramin (1 mg/mouse/injection) was administered i.p. three times a week for the first 2 weeks and then once weekly for the next 6 weeks. Blood ionized calcium levels in the suramin-treated cancer-bearing group were significantly lower than those in the untreated cancer-bearing group. Histological and histomorphometrical examination of bones of these animals showed a significant decrease in osteoclast numbers in the suramin-treated cancer-bearing animals. Suramin at a dose of 0.1 mg/mouse/injection was ineffective and 2 mg/mouse/injection was toxic, confirming its narrow effective dose. Suramin showed no effects on the growth of this squamous cancer. However, suramin markedly inhibited in vivo growth of a rat prostatic adenocarcinoma. In mouse marrow cultures, suramin decreased osteoclast-like cell formation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, suramin also inhibited bone resorption in organ cultures of fetal rat long bones and resorption pit formation by isolated mature rat osteoclasts. These results show that suramin is an effective inhibitor of osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro and in vivo and suggest that suramin may be a useful agent in prevention and treatment of cancer-induced hypercalcemia. However, our results also suggest that for this indication suramin has a confined range of effective dose.

Metastasis of breast cancer cells to bone consists of multiple sequential steps. To accomplish the process of metastasis to bone, breast cancer cells are required to intrinsically possess or acquire the capacities that are necessary for them to proliferate, invade, migrate, survive, and ultimately arrest in bone. These capacities are essential for any cancer cells to develop distant metastases in organs such as lungs and liver as well as bone. Once breast cancer cells arrest in bone, bone is a storehouse of a variety of cytokines and growth factors and thus provides an extremely fertile environment for the cells to grow. However, breast cancer cells are unable to progress in bone unless they destroy bone with the assistance of bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Thus, the capacity of breast cancer cells to collaborate with osteoclasts is likely to be specific and is likely critical for them to cause osteolytic bone metastases. Evidence to support the concept that there is an intimate relationship between breast cancer cells and osteoclasts is described using an in vivo bone metastasis model in which human breast cancer cells are inoculated into the left ventricle of nude mice. The roles of cell adhesion molecules including cadherins and laminin and matrix metalloproteinases in the development of osteolytic bone metastases by breast cancer are also discussed.

The lymphokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) is an important lymphocyte growth factor, and it also has a modulatory role on hematopoiesis. It was recently reported that IL-4 has an inhibitory effect on bone resorption in vitro, but the underlying mechanisms are not well known. We studied its effects on the formation of osteoclast-like cells in mouse bone marrow cultures and in cocultures of spleen cells and stromal cells. The addition of recombinant mouse IL-4 (0.01-10 ng/ml) induced a marked dose-dependent inhibition on the formation of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells (MNC) in bone marrow cultures. The effect was blocked by anti-IL-4 antibodies and was not related to a decreased production of IL-6. The inhibitory effect required the presence of IL-4 during the second half of the culture period. Time course experiments showed that IL-4 impaired the formation of osteoclast-like cells rather than inducing the disappearance of previously formed cells. This inhibitory effect was associated with increased numbers of esterase-positive cells. Moderately high doses of IL-4 (1-10 ng/ml) also induced the formation of abundant macrophage polykaryons that did not form resorption pits. IL-4 had a similar inhibitory effect on the formation of osteoclast-like cells in cocultures of mouse spleen cells and stromal cells. Our results suggest that IL-4 acts on uncommitted macrophage-osteoclast precursors, inducing a preferential differentiation toward the macrophage lineage and thus decreasing the formation of osteoclast-like cells.

Recent studies have shown that the protooncogene c-src is required for normal osteoclastic bone resorption. In this study we examined the expression and regulation of pp60c-src in murine bone marrow cultures in which bone-resorbing multinucleated osteoclasts form over 6 days of culture. We found that both pp60c-src protein expression and pp60c-src tyrosine kinase activity correlated closely with the numbers of active osteoclasts in the cultures. PTH increased the numbers of osteoclasts, pp60c-src tyrosine kinase activity, and src protein, whereas calcitonin decreased the numbers of osteoclasts, src protein, and tyrosine kinase activity. However, when calcitonin was incubated for short periods (< 2 h) with the active osteoclasts present after 6 days of culture, there was a decrease in pp60c-src tyrosine kinase activity and the phosphorylation state, but not in total pp60c-src protein. These data suggest that pp60c-src is expressed in cultures of osteoclasts in parallel with the number of active bone-resorbing osteoclasts. They indicate that pp60c-src activity in osteoclast cultures depends on the activity and numbers of osteoclasts and is hormone regulated. As calcitonin receptors are detectable only in osteoclasts in these cultures, the inhibitory effects of calcitonin suggest that the critical site for pp60c-src expression in these cultures is in osteoclasts.

Since absence of expression of the c-src gene product in mice indicates that the pp60c-src tyrosine kinase is required and essential for osteoclastic bone resorption, we tested the effects of the antibiotic herbimycin A, which is an inhibitor of pp60c-src on osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro and on hypercalcemia in vivo. We examined the effects of herbimycin A on the formation of bone resorbing osteoclasts in mouse long-term marrow cultures, on isolated rodent osteoclasts and on bone resorption in organ cultures of fetal rat long bones stimulated by parathyroid hormone. We found that herbimycin A in concentrations of 1-100 ng/ml inhibited bone resorption in each of these systems. We determined the effects of herbimycin A (100 ng/ml) on src tyrosine kinase activity in mouse marrow cultures and found that it was decreased. Herbimycin A also decreased elevated blood calcium levels that were induced either by repeated subcutaneous injections of recombinant human interleukin-1 alpha or by a human tumor. There was no evidence for toxicity in any of these culture systems or in mice treated with herbimycin A. A different tyrosine kinase inhibitor that does not inhibit pp60c-src was used as a control and caused none of these effects. These data suggest that pp60c-src tyrosine kinase inhibitors may be useful pharmacologic inhibitors of osteoclastic bone resorption and hypercalcemia.

Osteopetrosis is a bone modeling disorder resulting in excessive accumulation of bone matrix due to defective function of osteoclasts, the cells that resorb bone. Mice carrying a targeted disruption of the gene Src that encodes pp60c-src (Src), a nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase, develop this phenotype but do not exhibit other overt defects despite the fact that the kinase is normally present in a broad variety of cell types. Because Src is expressed in osteoblasts as well as in osteoclasts and both are required for normal bone resorption, the basic defect could occur in either cell type. In this study we have used in vitro approaches and fetal liver transplantation into irradiated Src- recipients to demonstrate that the inherent defect is with osteoclasts and autonomous of the bone marrow microenvironment. This result (i) identifies a cell type in which Src function is essential and cannot be replaced by other related kinases and (ii) should allow the isolation of a substrate that is specific to Src.

Targeted disruption of the c-src proto-oncogene in mice has shown that src expression is required for normal bone resorption, since the src-deficient mutants develop osteopetrosis. To evaluate the mechanisms by which src-deficiency affects osteoclast function, we treated src-deficient mice with the stimulants of bone resorption, IL-1, parathyroid hormone, and parathyroid hormone-related protein, and analyzed the effects by quantitative bone histomorphometry and electron microscopy. Increased numbers of multinucleated cells with the morphological characteristics of osteoclasts appeared on bone surfaces, but these cells did not form ruffled borders or normal resorption lacunae. To confirm these in vivo findings, we cultured src-mutant bone marrow cells on dentine slices in the presence of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3. Increased numbers of multinucleated cells were formed, but unlike normal murine bone marrow cells, they did not form resorption pits. These results indicate that osteoclasts appear in the absence of pp60c-src, but that pp60c-src expression is required for mature osteoclasts to form ruffled borders and resorb bone.

The osteoclast is the unique multinucleated cell that is responsible for bone degradation in both physiological and pathological circumstances. However, knowledge of the lineage of this inaccessible cell, the nature of its precursors, and the regulation of its formation and activation is limited and controversial. Here we show that the human promyelocytic cell line HL-60 has the potential, under the appropriate culture conditions, to differentiate into cells that have morphological and functional characteristics of osteoclasts, including multinucleation, presence of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity, cross-reactivity with monoclonal antibodies that preferentially recognize osteoclasts, and capacity to resorb bone and respond to calcitonin. The multinucleated cells also contain high affinity receptors to calcitonin, in contrast to wild-type undifferentiated HL-60 cells. These data suggest that osteoclasts share a common precursor with hematopoietic cells. These undifferentiated and differentiated HL-60 cells should provide a unique model for study of the cell biology of human osteoclast differentiation, allowing molecular biological and biochemical studies heretofore not possible.

Patients with acute pancreatitis commonly manifest hypocalcemia for reasons which are unknown. We found that porcine pancreas extracts (PX) significantly decreased blood-ionized calcium in Balb/c mice. Partially-purified PX with a molecular mass of approximately 27 kDa decreased blood-ionized calcium in the mice. Partially-purified PX suppressed not only 45Ca release from fetal rat long bones which had been stimulated by parathyroid hormone, interleukin-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor, transforming growth factor-alpha, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and prostaglandin E2, but tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated cell formation in the presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in mouse marrow cultures. The results suggest that there is an as yet-unidentified bone metabolism-regulating substance in porcine pancreas which might be responsible for the hypocalcemia associated with acute pancreatitis.

The bone resorbing lymphokine osteoclast activating factor (OAF) is released by lymphocytes activated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In this study we have found that release of OAF by activated lymphocytes is dependent on cyclic AMP (cAMP). OAF release is preceded by cAMP accumulation in the lymphocytes, and when cAMP accumulation is impaired by treatment of activated leukocytes with indomethacin, OAF is not released. OAF release in these cultures is restored by the addition of agents that mimic or increase lymphocyte cAMP content by different mechanisms. When activated purified lymphocytes that do not release OAF by themselves were cultured with these agents, OAF appeared in the culture media. These results suggest that cyclic AMP accumulation in lymphocytes is required for OAF to be released after activation.

The production of osteoclast-activating factor (OAF) by normal human peripheral blood leukocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin was inhibited by a series of structurally unrelated inhibitors of prostaglandin synthetase. Inhibition of OAF production by these agents was reversed by adding prostaglandins of the E series back to the leukocyte suspension. These results indicate that prostaglandin synthesis is necessary for OAF production.

Oxidative stress is associated with age-related reactions. The anti-oxidative effects of a reduced form of co-enzyme Q10 (rCoQ10) suppress oxidative stress, which may contribute to the prevention of age-related inflammatory reactions. We examined the effects of topically applied rCoQ10 on periodontal inflammatory reactions in a rat aging model. Male Fischer 344 rats, 2 (n = 6) and 4 mos (n = 18) of age, were used. All of the two-month-old rats and 6 of the four-month-old rats were sacrificed and 12 remaining four-month-old rats received topically applied ointment with or without 1% rCoQ10 on the gingival surface until they reached 6 mos of age. The rats showed an age-dependent increase in circulating oxidative stress. RCoQ10 decreased oxidative DNA damage and tartrate-resistant acid-phosphatase-positive osteoclasts in the periodontal tissue at 6 mos of age as compared with the control. The same conditions lowered gene expression of caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in the periodontal tissue. Furthermore, Nod-like receptor protein 3 inflammasomes were less activated in periodontal tissues from rCoQ10-treated rats as compared with the control rats. Our results suggest that rCoQ10 suppresses age-related inflammatory reactions and osteoclast differentiation by inhibiting oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]