Abstract

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important mediators of osteoclast differentiation. Although accumulating evidence has implicated BMPs in osteoblastogenesis, the mechanisms by which BMPs regulate osteoclastogenesis remain unclear. Activin A receptor type 1 (ACVR1) is a BMP type 1 receptor essential for skeletal development. Here, we observed that BMP-7, which preferentially binds to ACVR1, promotes osteoclast differentiation, suggesting ACVR1 is involved in osteoclastogenesis. To investigate this further, we isolated osteoclasts from either Acvr1-floxed mice or mice with constitutively-activated Acvr1 (caAcvr1) carrying tamoxifen-inducible Cre driven by a ubiquitin promotor and induced Cre activity in culture. Osteoclasts from the Acvr1-floxed mice had reduced osteoclast numbers and demineralization activity, whereas those from the caAcvr1-mutant mice formed large osteoclasts and demineralized pits, suggesting that BMP signaling through ACVR1 regulates osteoclast fusion and activity. It is reported that BMP-2 binds to BMPR1A, another BMP type 1 receptor, whereas BMP-7 binds to ACVR1 to activate SMAD1/5/9 signaling. Here, Bmpr1a-disrupted osteoclasts displayed reduced phospho-SMAD1/5/9 (pSMAD1/5/9) levels when induced by BMP-2, whereas no impacts on pSMAD1/5/9 were observed when induced by BMP-7. In contract, Acvr1-disrupted osteoclasts displayed reduced pSMAD1/5/9 levels when induced either by BMP-2 or BMP-7, suggesting that ACVR1 is the major receptor for transducing BMP-7 signals in osteoclasts. Indeed, LDN-193189 and LDN-212854, which specifically block SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation, inhibited osteoclastogenesis of caAcvr1-mutant cells. Moreover, increased BMP signaling promoted nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-activated T-cells 1 (NFATc1), which was inhibited by LDN treatments. Taken together, ACVR1-mediated BMP-SMAD signaling activates NFATc1, a regulatory protein crucial for receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis.

Highlights

  • Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important mediators of osteoclast differentiation

  • These results indicate that Acvr1 is highly expressed both in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, whereas Bmpr1a is expressed at higher levels only in osteoblasts

  • Our findings demonstrate that ACVR1-mediated BMP signaling regulates RANKL-dependent osteoclastogenesis via the canonical SMAD-signaling pathway

Read more

Summary

The abbreviations used are

M-CSF, macrophage colony–stimulating factor; BMP, bone morphogenetic protein; ACVR1, activin type 1 receptor; RANK, receptor activator of NF-␬B; RANKL, receptor activator of nuclear factor-␬B ligand; M-CSF, macrophage colony–stimulating factor, BMM, bone marrow mononuclear cells; TRAP, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase; NFATc1, nuclear factor–activated T-cell 1; ANOVA, analysis of variance; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; OB, osteoblast; qRT-PCR, quantitative reverse-transcribed PCR; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; BMSC, bone marrow stromal cell; BMOC, bone marrow osteoclast; SPOC, spleen osteoclast; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; TM, tamoxifen; IL, interleukin; TGF, transforming growth factor-␤; 4-OHT, (Z)-4-hydroxytamoxifen; LDN-19, LDN-193189; LDN-21, LDN-212854; rh, recombinant human; DAPI, 4Ј,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. Bmpr1b KO mice displayed no changes in osteoclast numbers in vivo, whereas osteoclasts from Bmpr1b KO mice displayed an increase in osteoclast formation and a decrease in bone-resorbing activity in vitro [17] These results suggest BMPR1A and BMPR1B play a distinct role in the differentiation and function of osteoclasts. These data suggest that ACVR1-mediated BMP signaling regulates RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis via the canonical SMAD-signaling pathway

Results
Discussion
Experimental procedures

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.