ABSTRACT
Osteoimmunology is the crosstalk between the skeletal and immune systems. We have previously shown in vitro that osteoclasts (OC) crosspresent antigens to induce FoxP3 in CD8 T-cells (OC-iTc(REG)), which then suppress osteoclast activity. Here we assessed the ability of OC-iTc(REG) to limit bone resorption in vivo. Mice lacking CD8 T-cells lose more bone in response to RANKL (Tnfsf11) administration. Using adoptive transfer experiments we demonstrate that FoxP3(+) CD8 T-cells limit bone loss by RANKL administration. In ovariectomized mice, a murine model of postmenopausal osteoporosis, OC-iTc(REG) limited bone loss and increased bone density as assessed by serum markers, micro computed tomography (µCT) and histomorphometry. Indeed, OC-iTc(REG)-treated ovariectomized mice had decreased levels of effector T-cells in the bone marrow compared to untreated mice, and increased bone formation rates relative to bisphosphonate-treated mice. Our results provide the first in vivo evidence that OC-iTc(REG) have anti-resorptive activity and repress the immune system, thus extending the purview of osteoimmunology.
Subject(s)
Bone Resorption/immunology , Bone Resorption/pathology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/pathology , Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism , Osteoclasts/pathology , Animals , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Cell Count , Female , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Osteoclasts/drug effects , Osteoclasts/metabolism , Osteogenesis/drug effects , Ovariectomy , RANK Ligand/pharmacology , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/drug effects , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Osteoclasts are the body's sole bone resorbing cells. Cytokines produced by pro-inflammatory effector T-cells (T(EFF)) increase bone resorption by osteoclasts. Prolonged exposure to the T(EFF) produced cytokines leads to bone erosion diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The crosstalk between T-cells and osteoclasts has been termed osteoimmunology. We have previously shown that under non-inflammatory conditions, murine osteoclasts can recruit naïve CD8 T-cells and activate these T-cells to induce CD25 and FoxP3 (Tc(REG)). The activation of CD8 T-cells by osteoclasts also induced the cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ. Individually, these cytokines can activate or suppress osteoclast resorption. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To determine the net effect of Tc(REG) on osteoclast activity we used a number of in vitro assays. We found that Tc(REG) can potently and directly suppress bone resorption by osteoclasts. Tc(REG) could suppress osteoclast differentiation and resorption by mature osteoclasts, but did not affect their survival. Additionally, we showed that Tc(REG) suppress cytoskeletal reorganization in mature osteoclasts. Whereas induction of Tc(REG) by osteoclasts is antigen-dependent, suppression of osteoclasts by Tc(REG) does not require antigen or re-stimulation. We demonstrated that antibody blockade of IL-6, IL-10 or IFN-γ relieved suppression. The suppression did not require direct contact between the Tc(REG) and osteoclasts. SIGNIFICANCE: We have determined that osteoclast-induced Tc(REG) can suppress osteoclast activity, forming a negative feedback system. As the CD8 T-cells are activated in the absence of inflammatory signals, these observations suggest that this regulatory loop may play a role in regulating skeletal homeostasis. Our results provide the first documentation of suppression of osteoclast activity by CD8 regulatory T-cells and thus, extend the purview of osteoimmunology.
Subject(s)
Bone Resorption/physiopathology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism , Lymphocyte Activation/physiology , Osteoclasts/physiology , Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Bone Resorption/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Cell Differentiation/physiology , Cytokines/immunology , DNA Primers/genetics , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Flow Cytometry , Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism , In Vitro Techniques , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Knockout , Neutralization Tests , Osteoclasts/metabolism , RANK Ligand , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
Bone is remodeled throughout the life of an animal by the action of osteoclasts, which resorb bone, and osteoblasts, which form new bone. It has recently been recognized that T cells regulate osteoclasts by secreting a number of cytokines including type I and II IFNs and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand. In this study, we show that osteoclasts produce chemokines that recruit CD8(+) T cells. Using transgenic OT-I mice, we found that in the presence of OVA, osteoclasts induced the secretion of IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-gamma as well as the proliferation of CD8(+) T cells. CD8(+) T cells activated by osteoclasts expressed FoxP3, CTLA4, and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand. The FoxP3(+)CD8(+) T cells were anergic and suppressed dendritic cell priming of naive responder CD8(+) T cells. These results provide two novel observations for osteoimmunology: first, we demonstrate that osteoclasts can cross-present Ags to CD8(+) T cells. Second, these data show that osteoclasts are not only regulated by T cells, but they also can regulate T cells forming a feedback control loop. The induction of FoxP3 in T cells through a MHC class I-dependent manner provides a new mechanism to peripherally produce a regulatory T cell. These observations open a new avenue of investigation for the pathogenesis of autoimmune-mediated inflammatory bone diseases.
