The activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase is directly linked to the stimulation of bone resorption by parathyroid hormone

Activation of Protein Kinase A in Mature Osteoblasts Promotes a Major Bone Anabolic Response

Protein kinase A (PKA) regulates osteoblast cell function in vitro and is activated by important bone mass modulating agents. We determined whether PKA activation in osteoblasts is sufficient to mediate a bone anabolic response. Thus, a mouse model conditionally expressing a constitutively active PKA (CA-PKA) in osteoblasts (CA-PKA-OB mouse) was developed by crossing a 2.3-kb α1 (I)-collagen promoter-Cre mouse with a floxed-CA-PKA mouse. Primary osteoblasts from the CA-PKA-OB mice exhibited higher basal PKA activity than those from control mice. Microcomputed tomographic analysis revealed that CA-PKA-OB female mice had an 8.6-fold increase in femoral but only 1.16-fold increase in lumbar 5 vertebral bone volume/total volume. Femur cortical thickness and volume were also higher in the CA-PKA-OB mice. In contrast, alterations in many femoral microcomputed tomographic parameters in male CA-PKA-OB mice were modest. Interestingly, the 3-dimensional structure model index was substantially lower both in femur and lumbar 5 of male and female CA-PKA-OB mice, reflecting an increase in the plate to rod-like structure ratio. In agreement, femurs from female CA-PKA-OB mice had greater load to failure and were stiffer compared with those of control mice. Furthermore, the CA-PKA-OB mice had higher levels of serum bone turnover markers and increased osteoblast and osteoclast numbers per total tissue area compared with control animals. In summary, constitutive activation of PKA in osteoblasts is sufficient to increase bone mass and favorably modify bone architecture and improve mechanical properties. PKA activation in mature osteoblasts is, therefore, an important target for designing anabolic drugs for treating diseases with bone loss.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A mediates parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related protein receptor regulation of osteoclastogenesis and expression of RANKL and osteoprotegerin mRNAs by marrow stromal cells

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a major regulator of osteoclast formation and activation, effects that are associated with reciprocal up- and down-regulation of RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG), respectively. The roles of specific downstream signals generated by the activated PTH/PTH-related protein (PTHrP) receptor (PTH1R), such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) and phospholipase C/protein kinase C (PLC/PKC), in controlling RANKL and OPG expression and osteoclastogenesis remain uncertain. In MS1 conditionally transformed clonal murine marrow stromal cells, which support PTH-induced osteoclast formation from cocultured normal spleen cells, PTH(1-34) increased RANKL and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) mRNA expression and decreased that of OPG when present continuously for 7-20 days at 37 degrees C in the presence of dexamethasone (Dex). In cells precultured for 7 days and then treated with PTH(1-34), similar reciprocal regulation of RANKL and OPG occurred, maximally at 6-24 h, that was of greater amplitude than the changes induced by chronic (7-10 days) PTH exposure. These acute effects of PTH(1-34) were mimicked by PKA stimulators (8-bromoadenosine [8Br]-cAMP or forskolin [FSK]), blocked by the PKA inhibitor Rp-cAMPs but unaffected by the PKC inhibitor GF109203X. Amino-truncated PTH(1-34) analogs PTH(5-34) and PTH(7-34) neither increased cAMP production in MS1 cells nor regulated RANKL or OPG mRNA. Reciprocal RANKL/OPG mRNA regulation was induced in MS1 cells by PTH(3-34) but only at high concentrations that also increased cAMP. The highly PKA-selective PTH analog [Gly1,Arg19]human PTH(1-28) exerted effects similar to PTH(1-34) on RANKL and OPG mRNAs and on osteoclast formation, both in MS1/spleen cell cocultures and in normal murine bone marrow cultures. The direct PKC stimulator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (PMA) did not induce RANKL mRNA in MS1 cells, but it did up-regulate OPG mRNA and also antagonized osteoclast formation induced by PTH(1-34) in both MS1/spleen cocultures and normal bone marrow cultures. Thus, cAMP/PKA signaling via the PTH1R is the primary mechanism for controlling RANKL-dependent osteoclastogenesis, although direct PKC activation may negatively regulate this effect of PTH by inducing expression of OPG.

Identification of signal transduction pathways and promoter sequences that mediate parathyroid hormone 1-38 inhibition of osteoprotegerin gene expression

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a secreted member of the tumor necrosis receptor superfamily, is a potent inhibitor of osteoclast formation and bone resorption. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), a potent inducer of osteoclast formation, suppresses OPG mRNA expression in vitro and in vivo. To determine the molecular basis of this inhibition, we analyzed the effects of PTH on the human OPG promoter (-5917 to +19) fused with beta-galactosidase reporter gene in stable and transient transfections into rat osteoblast-like UMR106 cells. The effect of PTH on OPG promoter expression was biphasic and concentration-dependent. PTH (1-100 nM) induced the transcriptional activity of the OPG promoter (1.7-fold) at 8 h followed by a gradual decrease with maximal inhibition (6.6-fold) at 24-48 h. To ascertain the signal transduction pathways mediating PTH (1-38) effects on OPG gene expression, we compared the effects of PTH with PTH analogs, parathyroid hormone-related protein 1-34 (PTHrP 1-34), forskolin, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), dibutyryl cAMP, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), thapsigargin and calcium ionophore A23187. PTH 1-31 and PTHrP 1-34, which stimulate the cAMP/PKA pathway, and other activators of cAMP/PKA, forskolin, IBMX, N(6), O(2')-dibityryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (dibutyryl cAMP), all elicited a similar biphasic response on OPG promoter expression. PTH analogs PTH 3-34 and PTH 7-34, that do not stimulate cAMP production, had no effect on OPG expression. In contrast, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), an activator of PKC, stimulated OPG promoter expression, while thapsigargin and calcium ionophore A23187, which increase intracellular Ca(2+), showed a dose-dependent inhibition of OPG promoter expression. To delineate the promoter sequences that mediate the inhibitory effects of PTH on OPG transcription, we analyzed systematic deletions of the OPG promoter for responsiveness in transient transfection assays. The major inhibitory effects of PTH were localized to 391 bp (-372 to +19) of the proximal promoter. Deletions of the promoter region led to a complete loss of responsiveness. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the inhibitory effects of PTH on OPG are mediated at the transcriptional level through cis elements in the proximal promoter. The similar biphasic response of OPG to PTH, PTH 1-31, PTHrP 1-34, forskolin, IBMX and dibutyryl cAMP suggests that PTH regulates OPG transcription via activation of the cAMP/PKA signal transduction pathway.

Inhibited longitudinal growth of bones in young male rats by clenbuterol

PURPOSE

Clenbuterol is one of the beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonists with potent anabolic properties in muscles, yet the concomitant effects on muscle and bone in young animals remain to be resolved. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of clenbuterol administration on muscles and bones of young rats.

METHODS

Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats (9-wk-old) were randomly assigned to either a control (CON, N = 6) or clenbuterol group (CLE, N = 6). Clenbuterol of 2 mg x kg body wt x d(-1) was administered subcutaneously for 4 wk. After treatment, the soleus (SOL), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and ventricle (VENT) muscles and the femurs (FE) and tibiae (TI) bones were excised and analyzed. The bone mineral content (BMC), area, and bone mineral density (BMD) of FE and TI were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The longitudinal lengths of bones were measured with the Vernier calipers.

RESULTS

CLE showed smaller body weight than CON (P < 0.05) after the treatment. The muscle wet weights in CLE tended (P = 0.08) to be higher than CON in SOL (9%) and EDL (12%), but the ratio of muscle wet weight-to-body weight were higher (SOL: P < 0.05, EDL: P < 0.01) than CON. VENT of CLE showed increases in both the wet weight and the ratio (P < 0.01). FEs in CLE showed smaller values in BMC (P < 0.01), area (P < 0.01), and length (P < 0.05) than CON but not in BMD. TIs showed significant decreases (P < 0.01) in BMC, area, and length but not in BMD.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that clenbuterol induced the muscular hypertrophy but inhibited the longitudinal growth of bones in young male rats, which may be a serious concern in any ergogenic use.

Oligomeric forms of the metastasis-related Mts1 (S100A4) protein stimulate neuronal differentiation in cultures of rat hippocampal neurons

Neuronal differentiation and axonal growth are controlled by a variety of factors including neurotrophic factors, extracellular matrix components, and cell adhesion molecules. Here we describe a novel and very efficient neuritogenic factor, the metastasis-related Mts1 protein, belonging to the S100 protein family. The oligomeric but not the dimeric form of Mts1 strongly induces differentiation of cultured hippocampal neurons. A mutant with a single Y75F amino acid substitution, which stabilizes the dimeric form of Mts1, is unable to promote neurite extension. Disulfide bonds do not play an essential role in the Mts1 neuritogenic activity. Mts1-stimulated neurite outgrowth involves activation of phospholipase C and protein kinase C, depends on the intracellular level of Ca(2+), and requires activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2.

ADAMTS-1: A cellular disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs is a target for parathyroid hormone in bone

PTH stimulates bone formation in animals and humans, and the expressions of a number of genes have been implicated in the mediation of this effect. To discover new bone factors that initiate and support this phenomenon we used differential display RT-PCR and screened for genes that are selectively expressed in osteoblast-enriched femoral metaphyseal primary spongiosa of young male rats after a single s.c. injection of human PTH-(1-38) (8 microg/100 g). We show that one of the messenger RNAs that is up-regulated in bone is ADAMTS-1, a new member of the ADAM (A disintegrin and metalloprotease) gene family containing thrombospondin type I motifs. ADAMTS-1 consists of multiple domains common to ADAM family of proteins, including pro-, metalloprotease-like, and disintegrin-like domains. However, unlike other ADAMs, ADAMTS-1 does not possess a transmembrane or cytoplasmic domain and is a secreted protein. Northern blot analysis confirmed that ADAMTS-1 was up-regulated in both metaphyseal (14- to 35-fold) and diaphyseal (4.2-fold) bone 1 h after PTH-(1-38) injection and returned to control levels by 24 h. We also analyzed the regulation of ADAMTS-1 in response to various PTH/PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) analogs and found that PTH-(1-31) and PTHrP-(1-34), which activate the protein kinase A (PKA) pathway, induce ADAMTS-1 expression 1 h after injection, whereas PTH-(3-34) and PTH-(7-34), which do not activate the PKA pathway, did not regulate expression. To investigate the effect of other osteotropic agents, we analyzed ADAMTS-1 expression after a single dose of PGE2 (6 mg/kg) and found that it was up-regulated 1 h after injection and returned to control levels by 6 h. In vitro ADAMTS-1 is expressed in primary osteoblasts and osteoblastic cell lines, but was not detectable in osteoclasts generated from macrophage colony-stimulating factor/receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand/transforming growth factor-beta1-treated bone marrow cells. Treatment of UMR 106 osteosarcoma cells with PTH, PGE2, forskolin, or (Bu)2cAMP increased ADAMTS-1 expression 7-, 4-, 5-, and 5-fold, respectively. Also, in vitro treatment with 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 increased ADAMTS-1 expression 3-fold. Tissue distribution analysis showed that ADAMTS-1 is expressed at high levels in many tissues, including the heart, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, and kidney. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ADAMTS-1 is specifically up-regulated in bone and osteoblasts by the osteotropic agents PTH, PTHrP, and PGE2 possibly via the cAMP/PKA pathway. We speculate that the rapid and transient increase in ADAMTS-1 expression may contribute to some of the effects of PTH on bone turnover.

Role of protein kinases in the prolactin-induced intracellular calcium rise in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the prolactin receptor

There is still only limited understanding of the early steps of prolactin signal transduction in target cells. It has been shown that prolactin actions are associated with cell protein phosphorylation, Ca2+ increases, and so on. However, the link between the activation of kinases and calcium influx or intracellular Ca2+ mobilization has not yet been clearly established. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, stably transfected with the long form of rabbit mammary gland prolactin receptor (PRL-R) cDNA were used for PRL-R signal transduction studies. Spectrofluorimetric techniques were used to measure intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in cell populations with Indo1 as a calcium fluorescent probe. We demonstrate that, although protein kinase C activation (PMA or DiC8) caused a calcium influx in CHO cells, prolactin-induced PKC activation was not responsible for the early effect of prolactin on [Ca2+]i. Activation of protein kinase A (PKA) or protein kinase G did not modify [Ca2+]i and inhibition of PKA pathway did not affect the prolactin response. In the same way, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinaseinhibition had no effect on the prolactin-induced Ca2+ increase. On the other hand, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (herbimycin A, lavendustin A, and genistein) completely blocked the effect of prolactin on [Ca2+]i (influx and release). W7, a calmodulin-antagonist, and a specific inhibitor of calmodulin kinases (KN-62), only blocked prolactin-induced Ca2+ influx but had no significant effect on Ca2+ release. Using pharmacological agents, we present new data concerning the involvement of protein phosphorylations in the early effects of prolactin on ionic channels in CHO cells expressing the long form of PRL-R. Our results suggest that, at least in the very early steps of prolactin signal transduction, serine-threonine phosphorylation does not participate in the prolactin-induced calcium increase. On the other hand, tyrosine phosphorylation is a crucial, very early step, since it controls K+ channel activation, calcium influx, and intracellular calcium mobilization. Calmodulin acts later, since its inhibition only blocks the prolactin-induced Ca2+ influx.

In vivo demonstration that human parathyroid hormone 1-38 inhibits the expression of osteoprotegerin in bone with the kinetics of an immediate early gene

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a potent inhibitor of osteoclast formation and function. To elucidate how OPG is regulated in bone, we examined (1) the expression and localization of OPG protein in bone tissue, (2) the effect of human parathyroid hormone 1-38 (hPTH 1-38) on OPG messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in rat femur metaphyseal and diaphyseal bone, and (3) the effect of hPTH(1-38) on expression of OPG mRNA in cultured osteoblast-like cells derived from the metaphysis and diaphysis, and in ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cells. Because PTH has been shown to stimulate osteoblast activity via the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signal transduction pathway we also investigated whether PTH action on OPG in vivo is dependent on activation of cAMP/PKA pathway. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate OPG protein expression and Northern blot hybridization was used to analyze OPG mRNA expression both in vivo and in vitro. Immunohistochemistry of OPG protein expression in the rat distal femur metaphysis revealed that it was localized predominantly in preosteoblasts, osteoblasts, lining cells, and the osteoid layer, with occasional immunoreactivity in osteocytes and cells of the bone marrow. Subcutaneous (sc) administration of a single injection of hPTH(1-38) at 80 microg/kg induced a rapid and transient decrease in OPG mRNA expression in both metaphyseal and diaphyseal bone. The decrease in OPG message was evident by 1 h and mRNA levels returned to baseline after 3 h. PTH analog PTH(1-31), which stimulates intracellular cAMP accumulation, inhibited OPG expression, whereas PTH analogs (3-34 and 7-34) that do not stimulate cAMP production had no effect on expression. In contrast to PTH, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) had no effect on OPG mRNA expression in vivo in the metaphyseal bone cells, under conditions in which PGE2 does promote expression of the c-fos gene. The in vivo effects of hPTH(1-38) on OPG mRNA were confirmed in isolated primary osteoblast cultures derived from either metaphyseal or diaphyseal bone as well as in ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cells. We propose that the rapid and transient decrease in OPG expression may initiate a cascade of events resulting in the differentiation of osteoclast progenitor. Such a spatially and temporally programmed effect of PTH might contribute to bone turnover.

Bone resorption induced by A23187 is abolished by indomethacin: implications for second messenger utilised by parathyroid hormone

Parathyroid hormone acts on the osteoblast to induce osteoclastic bone resorption. Parathyroid hormone utilises cyclic AMP as a second messenger in osteoblasts, but may also cause an increase in cytoplasmatic free calcium ions ([Ca2+]i) in the same cell. To investigate the role of osteoblastic [Ca2+]i in the induction of bone resorption, we have compared the effects of parathyroid hormone and the Ca2+-ionophore, A23187, as well as the adenylate cyclase stimulating agent, forskolin, and the phorbol ester, phorbole 12,13 dibutyrate (PDB), on bone resorption in neonatal mouse calvarial bones. Parathyroid hormone (0.1 and 1 nM) dose dependently stimulated the release of prelabelled 45Ca2+ in 72 h culture. Parathyroid hormone-induced bone resorption was not affected by the addition of 1 microM indomethacin to the incubation media, and was therefore, not mediated by local prostaglandin formation. A23187 stimulated the release of 45Ca2+ at 1-10 nM. Above 100 nM, A23187 inhibited bone resorption. The A23187 (3 and 10 nM)-induced bone resorption was abolished by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (1 microM), indicating that the stimulatory effect was mediated via prostaglandin formation. The adenylate cyclase stimulating agent, forskolin, dose dependently stimulated bone resorption at and above 1 microM. There was no additive or synergistic effect of forskolin and A23187 on 45Ca2+ release. Forskolin-induced bone resorption was, as with parathyroid hormone but in contrast to ionophore-induced bone resorption, not abolished by indomethacin (1 microM). The protein kinase C activator, PDB, at 10 and 1000 nM stimulated the release of prelabelled 45Ca2+. The stimulatory effect of the protein kinase C stimulating phorbol ester, PDB, on bone resorption was abolished by the addition of indomethacin. In summary, bone resorption induced by a Ca2+-ionophore is abolished by indomethacin. This indicates that bone resorbing agents known to increase [Ca2+]i subsequently enhance local prostaglandin formation. Bone resorption induced by the protein kinase C activator, PDB, was also abolished by indomethacin, whereas, forskolin and parathyroid hormone-induced bone resorption was unaffected. These data indicate that cyclic AMP, but not [Ca2+]i, is involved as a second messenger in parathyroid-induced bone resorption.

A new action of parathyroid hormone. receptor-mediated stimulation of extracellular acidification in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells

The major physiological function of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the maintenance of Ca2+/Pi homeostasis via the parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related protein receptor (PTHR) in kidney and bone. An important consequence of PTHR activation in bone is enhanced local acidification of the extracellular space. Agonist activation of some seven transmembrane-domain receptors increases the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). We utilized microphysiometry to investigate PTH-stimulated, receptor-mediated increases in ECAR in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. PTH-(1-34) elicited a large, acute, dose-dependent increase in ECAR with an EC50 of about 2 nM. The PTH-induced increase in ECAR was specific to cells expressing the PTHR and was inhibited by PTHR antagonists. Rapid, partial, homologous desensitization of the PTH-induced increase in ECAR was observed. Incubation of SaOS-2 cells with 8-bromo-cyclic AMP neither mimicked nor abrogated the PTH effect, and PTH stimulated an acute increase in ECAR in cAMP-resistant SaOS-2 Ca#4A cells. Stimulation of ECAR by PTH was independent of transient increases in cytosolic free calcium. Both inhibition and down-regulation of PKC reduced the PTH-induced increase in ECAR. Inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange did not affect the PTH-induced ECAR response. We conclude that PTH caused a receptor-mediated, concentration-dependent, increase in ECAR, which was not dependent on the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway or the Na+/H+ exchanger but involved the action of PKC. Thus, acid production in bone, a physiologically important action of PTH, is not confined to osteoclasts as previously considered but is also mediated by osteoblasts.

Involvement of different second messengers in parathyroid hormone- and interleukin-1-induced interleukin-6 and interleukin-11 production in human bone marrow stromal cells

Previous studies have suggested that increased secretion of bone active cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-11 (IL-11), from osteoblasts and stromal cells play a pivotal role in the activation of osteoclasts and the genesis of osteoporosis. Various systemic and local factors can stimulate IL-6/IL-11 production, but the intracellular mechanism for such stimulation is largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the second messenger signaling in parathyroid hormone (PTH)- and IL-1-induced production of IL-6/IL-11 and studied the possible modulating effects of estrogen. rhPTH(1-34) and rhIL-1 alpha dose-dependently stimulated IL-6 and IL-11 production from human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs). Agonists for protein kinase A (PKA) (forskolin), and protein kinase C (PKC) (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; PMA) also stimulated IL-6/IL-11 production. Rp-diastereoisomer of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphorothioate (Rp-cAMPS) and H-8, inhibitors of PKA, significantly inhibited PTH-stimulated IL-6/IL-11 production, but did not inhibit IL-1-stimulated IL-6/IL-11 production. In contrast, staurosporine and calphostin C, inhibitors of PKC, suppressed IL-1-stimulated, but not PTH-stimulated, IL-6/ IL-11 production. Pretreatment of cells with 17 beta-estradiol (17 beta-E2) antagonized IL-1-stimulated IL-6 production. However, PTH-stimulated IL-6 production and IL-1- and PTH-stimulated IL-11 production were not affected by 17 beta-E2. Similarly, 17 beta-E2 inhibited PMA-stimulated IL-6 production, whereas neither forskolin-stimulated IL-6/ IL-11 production nor PMA-stimulated IL-11 production was affected by 17 beta-E2. These results indicate that different second messengers are involved in PTH- and IL-1-induced IL-6 and IL-11 production by hBMSCs: PTH and IL-1 stimulate IL-6/IL-11 production via a PKA-dependent and PKC-dependent pathway, respectively. Furthermore, our results suggest that regulation of cytokine production by estrogen in hBMSCs is selective; only the IL-1-induced IL-6 production, which is mediated by PKC pathway, is inhibited, but PTH-induced IL-6 production and PTH/IL-1-induced IL-11 production are not inhibited by estrogen.

Dexamethasone stimulates osteoclast-like cell formation by directly acting on hemopoietic blast cells and enhances osteoclast-like cell formation stimulated by parathyroid hormone and prostaglandin E2

Although an excess of glucocorticoid induces secondary osteoporosis, the mechanism still remains unclear, particularly in regard to glucocorticoid-stimulated bone resorption. We examined the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity by employing mouse bone and spleen cell cultures and further investigated whether Dex would modulate osteoclast-like cell formation stimulated by several bone-resorbing factors. Dex stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation in stromal cell-containing mouse bone cell cultures in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, Dex significantly stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation from hemopoietic blast cells in spleen cell cultures derived from 5-fluorouracil-pretreated mice. In contrast, Dex (10(-8) M) did not affect the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts. Pretreatment with 10(-8) M Dex significantly enhanced osteoclast-like cell formation in unfractionated mouse bone cell cultures stimulated by 10(-8) M human (h) parathyroid hormone (PTH) (1-34), 10(-8) M hPTH-related protein (1-34) and 10(-6) M prostaglandin E2, but not by 10(-8) M 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). Moreover, pretreatment with 10(-8) M Dex significantly enhanced osteoclast-like cell formation stimulated by both forskolin and dbcAMP. In contrast, pretreatment with 10(-8) M Dex significantly inhibited osteoclast-like cell formation in mouse spleen cell cultures stimulated by both 10(-8) M hPTH(1-34) and 10(-8) M 1,25(OH)2D3. These findings suggest that Dex stimulates osteoclast-like cell formation, at least in part by directly acting on hemopoietic blast cells. They further suggest that Dex enhances osteoclast-like cell formation stimulated by PTH and prostaglandin E2 through an indirect pathway via cells other than hemopoietic blast cells.

Truncation of the amino terminus of PTH alters its anabolic activity on bone in vivo

In vitro studies of parathyroid hormone (PTH) structure and function have suggested that the anabolic effect of PTH on bone requires the presence of amino acid residues 28-34 (domains for protein kinase C activation and mitogenic activity), but not amino acid residues 1-7 (adenylate cyclase activation domain). We have tested this hypothesis with in vivo studies of human PTH (hPTH) analogs. Serum biomarkers and selected histomorphometric parameters of bone formation and resorption were assessed in adult, female, Sprague-Dawley rats following 19 daily injections of vehicle, 10 micrograms/kg body weight (bw) of hPTH(1-38), or a dose range of 10, 40, and 100 micrograms/100 g bw of hPTH(2-38) or hPTH(3-38). Treatment with hPTH(1-38) increased serum osteocalcin, the percentage of osteoblast surface, percentage of osteoid surface, percentage of bone volume, trabecular thickness, and bone formation rate, while it decreased the percentage of osteoclast surface. The hPTH(2-38) fragment exhibited 10%-25% of the in vivo anabolic activity of hPTH(1-38), while it had no effect on the percentage of osteoclast surface. The hPTH(3-38) fragment exhibited no biological activity on bone. In contrast, serum INS-PTH (intact-N-terminal specific PTH) levels were similarly and significantly increased above control in rats treated with hPTH(1-38), hPTH(2-38), or hPTH(3-38) at the same dose. This preliminary finding suggests that the differential activity of these peptides on bone is not due to differences in the circulating level of immunoreactive PTH (intact and amino-terminal fragments of PTH from endogenous and exogenous sources) several hours after PTH injection. However, we can draw no conclusion regarding the relative clearance rates of these peptides. Last, because hPTH(3-38) was without any detectable biological activity on rat bone in vivo, its mitogenic activity was confirmed in two osteoblast-like cell lines. In summary, the anabolic effect of hPTH(1-38) on bone in vivo was (1) diminished by removal of amino acid residue 1, and (2) abolished by the removal of amino acid residues 1 and 2. Although these findings suggest that the therapeutic benefits of exogenous PTH administration may depend upon activation of not only protein kinase C, but also adenylate cyclase, they do not rule out a differential PTH response due to other causes, e.g., metabolic inactivation.

High extracellular calcium stimulates osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity in the presence of osteoblastic cells

The present study was performed to examine the effect of the high concentration of extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]e) on osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity in the presence or absence of osteoblasts. High [Ca2+]e (3 and 5 mM) significantly stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation in osteoblast-containing mouse bone cell cultures, although high [Ca2+]e did not affect the formation of osteoclast-like cells from hemopoietic blast cells supported by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in mouse spleen cell cultures. The osteoclast-like cells, newly formed by high [Ca2+]e in the presence of osteoblasts, possessed the ability to form pits on the dentine slices. The conditioned medium from osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells treated with high [Ca2+]e (5 mM) significantly increased the formation of osteoclast-like cells from hemopoietic blast cells, compared with the control medium. Dantrolene, an inhibitor of calcium mobilization from the intracellular calcium pool, and indomethacin significantly blocked high [Ca2+]e-stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation in the presence of osteoblasts, although voltage-dependent calcium channel blockers and anti-insulin-like growth factor I antibody did not affect it. High [Ca2+]e, however, significantly stimulated the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts in osteoblast-containing mouse bone cell cultures, although high [Ca2+]e inhibited bone-resorbing activity in isolated rabbit osteoclasts. An increase in the extracellular magnesium concentration (5 mM) affected neither osteoclast-like cell formation nor bone-resorbing activity. In conclusion, high [Ca2+]e stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts, presumably via osteoblasts.

Stimulation by parathyroid hormone of interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor expression in osteoblasts is an immediate-early gene response induced by cAMP signal transduction

Parathyroid hormone and other agents that stimulate bone resorption function, at least in part, by inducing osteoblasts to secrete cytokines that stimulate osteoclast differentiation and activity. We previously demonstrated that parathyroid hormone induces expression by osteoblasts of interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor without affecting the 16 other cytokines that were examined. We also showed that stimulation of osteoclast activity by parathyroid hormone is dependent on activation of the cAMP signal transduction pathway and secretion of interleukin-6 by osteoblasts. In the current study, we demonstrate that the rapid and transient stimulation of interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor is inhibited by actinomycin D and superinduced by protein synthesis inhibitors, the classical characteristics of an immediate-early gene response. Moreover, activation of cAMP signal transduction by parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone-related protein is necessary and sufficient to induce both interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor. In addition, cAMP analogues as well as vasoactive intestinal peptide and isoproterenol, two neuropeptides that stimulate bone resorption by activating cAMP signal transduction in osteoblasts, also induce interleukin-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor in these cells. Taken together with our previous results, this study suggests that interleukin-6 is crucial for stimulation of bone resorption not only by parathyroid hormone, but also by parathyroid hormone-related protein, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and beta-adrenergic agonists, like isoproterenol.

Prostaglandin E2 stimulates osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity via osteoblasts: role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an important local regulator in bone. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of PGE2 on osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts in the presence or absence of osteoblasts, PGE2 (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) significantly stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation in osteoblast-containing mouse bone cell cultures, although it did not affect osteoclast-like cell formation from hemopoietic blast cells supported by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in osteoblast-free mouse spleen cell cultures. The conditioned medium from osteoblastic UMR-106 cells pretreated with PGE2 (10(-8) and 10(-6) M) significantly stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation from hemopoietic blast cells. PGE2 also significantly stimulated the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts in osteoblast-containing mouse bone cell cultures. In contrast, PGE2 significantly inhibited the bone-resorbing activity and osteopontin mRNA expression in isolated rabbit osteoclasts. Rp-cAMPS, a direct protein kinase (PKA) antagonist, significantly inhibited PGE2-stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation and the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts, although protein kinase C inhibitors, dantrolene (an inhibitor of calcium release from the intracellular calcium pool) and voltage-dependent calcium channel blockers did not affect PGE2-stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation. In conclusion, PGE2 stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity in mouse bone cell cultures presumably through osteoblasts. The activation of PKA is linked to PGE2-stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity.

Adenyl cyclase and interleukin 6 are downstream effectors of parathyroid hormone resulting in stimulation of bone resorption

Parathyroid hormone and other bone resorptive agents function, at least in part, by inducing osteoblasts to secrete cytokines that stimulate both differentiation and resorptive activity of osteoclasts. We previously identified two potentially important cytokines by demonstrating that parathyroid hormone induces expression by osteoblasts of IL-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor without affecting levels of 14 other cytokines. Although parathyroid hormone activates multiple signal transduction pathways, induction of IL-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor is dependent on activation of adenyl cyclase. This study demonstrates that adenyl cyclase is also required for stimulation of osteoclast activity in cultures containing osteoclasts from rat long bones and UMR106-01 rat osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells. Since the stimulation by parathyroid hormone of both cytokine production and bone resorption depends on the same signal transduction pathway, we hypothesized that IL-6 might be a downstream effector of parathyroid hormone. We found that addition of exogenous IL-6 mimics the ability of parathyroid hormone to stimulate bone resorption. More importantly, an antibody directed against the IL-6 receptor blocks moderate stimulation of osteoclast activity induced by the hormone. Interestingly, strong stimulation of resorption overcomes this dependence on IL-6. Thus, parathyroid hormone likely induces multiple, redundant cytokines that can overcome the IL-6 requirement associated with moderate stimulation. Taken together with studies showing that many other bone resorptive agents also stimulate IL-6 production, our results suggest that IL-6 may be a downstream effector of these agents as well as of parathyroid hormone.

Retinoic acid induces osteoclast-like cell formation by directly acting on hemopoietic blast cells and stimulates osteopontin mRNA expression in isolated osteoclasts

Although retinoic acid (RA) has been considered to be a bone-resorbing agent both in vivo and in vitro, its mechanism remains still unclear. The present study was performed to examine the effect of RA on osteoclast-like cell formation in the presence or absence of osteoblasts and to study whether RA would affect osteopontin mRNA expression in isolated rabbit osteoclasts. RA (10(-8) and 10(-6) M) significantly stimulated the formation of osteoclast-like cell in osteoblast-containing mouse bone cell cultures. Also, RA caused a stimulation of osteoclast-like cell formation from hemopoietic blast cells supported by granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in mouse spleen cell cultures. However, RA did not affect blast cell number in these cultures and significantly inhibited GM-CSF-stimulated proliferation of hemopoietic blast cells. On the other hand, RA stimulated the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts in mouse bone cell cultures. Moreover, RA caused a stimulation of osteopontin mRNA expression in isolated rabbit osteoclasts. The present study demonstrated for the first time that RA stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation, presumably through directly acting on the hemopoietic blast cells, and that RA stimulated osteopontin mRNA expression in isolated rabbit osteoclasts.

Cross-talk of parathyroid hormone-responsive dual signal transduction systems in osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells: its role in PTH-induced homologous desensitization of intracellular calcium response

The present study was designed to characterize the cross-talk of parathyroid hormone (PTH)-responsive dual signal transduction systems (cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and calcium/protein kinase C [PKC]) and its participation in PTH-induced homologous desensitization of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in osteoblastic UMR-106 cells. Although our recent study revealed that prolonged (more than 2 h) pretreatment with PKC-activating phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) significantly decreased the PTH-stimulated cAMP production, pretreatment with PMA (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) but not 10(-6) M 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (PDD), incapable of activating PKC for 30 min significantly augmented 10(-7) M hPTH-(1-34)-stimulated cAMP production. H-7 (50 microM), a PKC inhibitor, significantly antagonized this PMA-induced effect. Pretreatment with 10(-6) M PMA for 30 min did not affect PTH receptor binding but significantly augmented a cAMP responsiveness to 10(-5) M forskolin and 1 microgram/ml cholera toxin. Pertussis toxin (0.5 microgram/ml) did not affect the PMA-induced augmentation of the PTH-stimulated cAMP production. PTH caused a complete homologous desensitization of [Ca2+]i response within 30 min. Pretreatment with 10(-4) M dibutyryl cAMP for 30 min and 6 h significantly reduced and completely blocked the PTH-induced increase in [Ca2+]i, respectively. Pretreatment with 10(-4) M Sp-cAMPs, a direct PKA activator, for 30 min completely blocked the PTH-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. Rp-cAMPS (10(-4) M), an antagonist of PKA, slightly but significantly antagonized the PTH-induced homologous desensitization of [Ca2+]i response. The present study indicates that the time of exposure to PKC activation is a critical determinant in modulating the cAMP system, while PKA activation counterregulatorily acts on the [Ca2+]i system, and that PKA activation is linked to the PTH-induced homologous desensitization of [Ca2+]i response.

Second messenger signaling of PTH- and PTHRP-stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation from hemopoietic blast cells

The second messenger signaling mechanisms of parathyroid hormone (PTH)- and PTH-related peptide (PTHRP)-stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation were investigated in mouse hemopoietic blast cells that possessed PTH binding sites. Human (h) PTH-(1-34) or hPTHRP-(1-34) resulted in a dose-dependent stimulation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated cells (MNC) formation. Pretreatment with [Nle8,18Tyr34]hPTH-(3-34) significantly blocked hPTH-(1-34)- and hPTHRP-(1-34)-stimulated MNC formation. Dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (10(-4) M) and forskolin (10(-5) M) as well as the stimulatory diastereoisomer of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphorothioate (Sp-cAMPS), a direct activator of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) (10(-4) M), stimulated MNC formation, and Rp-cAMPS, an inhibitor of PKA activation (10(-4) M), almost completely inhibited MNC formation stimulated by the aforementioned agents but not by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Moreover, Rp-cAMPS significantly blocked PTH- and PTHRP-stimulated MNC formation. Treatment with calcium ionophores (10(-8) and 10(-7) M) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a protein kinase C (PKC) activator (10(-8) to 10(-6) M), but not 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, a phorbol incapable of activating PKC, stimulated MNC formation. Two PKC inhibitors [1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride and staurosporine] equally blocked PTH- and PTHRP-stimulated MNC formation. The combined pretreatment with Rp-cAMPS and PKC inhibitors completely blocked PTH- and PTHRP-stimulated MNC formation. Present findings indicate that the activation of PKA and PKC is directly linked to PTH- and PTHRP-stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation from hemopoietic blast cells.

Interaction of parathyroid hormone-related peptide-responsive dual signal transduction systems in osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells: role in PTHrP-induced homologous desensitization

In osteoblastic UMR-106 cells, 10(-7) M human (h) PTH-related peptide (PTHrP)-(1-34) significantly induced the formation of total inositol phosphates to the same degree as 10(-7) M hPTH-(1-34), confirming that in addition to cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), PTHrP possesses another signal transduction system, calcium/protein kinase C (Ca/PKC). Experiments were therefore performed to characterize the cross talk of these dual-signal transduction systems and its participation in the PTHrP-induced homologous desensitization of cAMP and cytosolic calcium (Cai) response in osteoblasts. Preincubation with 10(-7) M hPTHrP-(1-34) caused homologous desensitization, resulting in a remarkable decrease in cAMP accumulation in response to further exposure to PTHrP. This effect was significant after 2 h pretreament and reached a maximum at 6 h. Pretreatment with the PKC-activating phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA, 10(-6) M) for 30 minutes and 6 h caused a significant increase and decrease in cAMP responsiveness to PTHrP, respectively. Pretreatment with calcium ionophores (A23187 or ionomycin, 10(-6) M), not for 30 minutes but for 6 h, caused a significant decrease in cAMP responsiveness to PTHrP. H-7 (an inhibitor of PKC, 50 microM) significantly blocked not only PMA- but also PTHrP-induced desensitization of the cAMP response. PTHrP caused the complete homologous desensitization of an increase in Cai within 30 minutes. Pretreatment with dibutyryl-cAMP (10(-4) M) for 30 minutes caused significant inhibition of the PTHrP-induced increase in Cai, and pretreatment with Sp-cAMPS (10(-4) M), a direct activator of PKA, for 30 minutes completely blocked the PTHrP-induced increase in Cai.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)