Absence of TRIC-B from type XIV Osteogenesis Imperfecta osteoblasts alters cell adhesion and mitochondrial function - A multi-omics study.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a heritable collagen-related bone dysplasia characterized by bone fractures, growth deficiency and skeletal deformity. Type XIV OI is a recessive OI form caused by null mutations in TMEM38B, which encodes the ER membrane intracellular cation channel TRIC-B. Previously, we showed that absence of TMEM38B alters calcium flux in the ER of OI patient osteoblasts and fibroblasts, which further disrupts collagen synthesis and secretion. How the absence of TMEM38B affects osteoblast function is still poorly understood. Here we further investigated the role of TMEM38B in human osteoblast differentiation and mineralization. TMEM38B-null osteoblasts showed altered expression of osteoblast marker genes and decreased mineralization. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that cell-cell adhesion was one of the most downregulated pathways in TMEM38B-null osteoblasts, with further validation by real-time PCR and Western blot. Gap and tight junction proteins were also decreased by TRIC-B absence, both in patient osteoblasts and in calvarial osteoblasts of Tmem38b-null mice. Disrupted cell adhesion decreased mutant cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. An important novel finding was that TMEM38B-null osteoblasts had elongated mitochondria with altered fusion and fission markers, MFN2 and DRP1. In addition, TMEM38B-null osteoblasts exhibited a significant increase in superoxide production in mitochondria, further supporting mitochondrial dysfunction. Together these results emphasize the novel role of TMEM38B/TRIC-B in osteoblast differentiation, affecting cell-cell adhesion processes, gap and tight junction, proliferation, cell cycle, and mitochondrial function.

Pulmonary function and structure abnormalities in children and young adults with osteogenesis imperfecta point to intrinsic and extrinsic lung abnormalities.

PURPOSE: Pulmonary disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). We investigated the contribution of intrinsic lung factors to impaired pulmonary function in children and young adults with OI types III, IV, VI. METHODS: Patients with type III (n=8), IV (n=21), VI (n=5), VII (n=2) or XIV (n=1) OI (mean age 23.6 years) prospectively underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and thoracic CT and radiographs. RESULTS: PFT results were similar using arm span or ulnar length as height surrogates. PFTs were significantly lower in type III than type IV or VI OI. All patients with type III and half of type IV OI had lung restriction; 90% of patients with OI had reduced gas exchange. Patients with COL1A1 variants had significantly lower forced expiratory flow (FEF)25%-75% compared with those with COL1A2 variants. PFTs correlated negatively with Cobb angle or age. CT scans revealed small airways bronchial thickening (100%, 86%, 100%), atelectasis (88%, 43%, 40%), reticulations (50%, 29%, 20%), ground glass opacities (75%, 5%, 0%), pleural thickening (63%, 48%, 20%) or emphysema (13%, 19%, 20%) in type III, IV or VI OI, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both lung intrinsic and extrinsic skeletal abnormalities contribute to OI pulmonary dysfunction. Most young adult patients have restrictive disease and abnormal gas exchange; impairment is greater in type III than type IV OI. Decreased FEF25%-75% and thickening of small bronchi walls indicate a critical role for small airways. Lung parenchymal abnormalities (atelectasis, reticulations) and pleural thickening were also detected. Clinical interventions to mitigate these impairments are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03575221.

CaMKII inhibition due to TRIC-B loss-of-function dysregulates SMAD signaling in osteogenesis imperfecta.

Ca2+ is a second messenger that regulates a variety of cellular responses in bone, including osteoblast differentiation. Mutations in trimeric intracellular cation channel B (TRIC-B), an endoplasmic reticulum channel specific for K+, a counter ion for Ca2+flux, affect bone and cause a recessive form of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) with a still puzzling mechanism. Using a conditional Tmem38b knock out mouse, we demonstrated that lack of TRIC-B in osteoblasts strongly impairs skeleton growth and structure, leading to bone fractures. At the cellular level, delayed osteoblast differentiation and decreased collagen synthesis were found consequent to the Ca2+ imbalance and associated with reduced collagen incorporation in the extracellular matrix and poor mineralization. The impaired SMAD signaling detected in mutant mice, and validated in OI patient osteoblasts, explained the osteoblast malfunction. The reduced SMAD phosphorylation and nuclear translocation were mainly caused by alteration in Ca2+ calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII)-mediated signaling and to a less extend by a lower TGF-ß reservoir. SMAD signaling, osteoblast differentiation and matrix mineralization were only partially rescued by TGF-ß treatment, strengthening the impact of CaMKII-SMAD axes on osteoblast function. Our data established the TRIC-B role in osteoblasts and deepened the contribution of the CaMKII-SMAD signaling in bone.

SMAD3 mutation in LDS3 causes bone fragility by impairing the TGF-ß pathway and enhancing osteoclastogenesis.

Loss-of-function mutations in SMAD3 cause Loeys-Dietz syndrome type 3 (LDS3), a rare autosomal-dominant connective tissue disorder characterized by vascular pathology and skeletal abnormalities. Dysregulation of TGF-ß/SMAD signaling is associated with abnormal skeletal features and bone fragility. To date, histomorphometric and ultrastructural characteristics of bone with SMAD3 mutations have not been reported in humans and the exact mechanism by which SMAD3 mutations cause the LDS3 phenotype is poorly understood. Here, we investigated bone histomorphometry and matrix mineralization in human bone with a SMAD3 mutation and explored the associated cellular defect in the TGF-ß/SMAD pathway in vitro. The index patient had recurrent fractures, mild facial dysmorphism, arachnodactyly, pectus excavatum, chest asymmetry and kyphoscoliosis. Bone histomorphometry revealed markedly reduced cortical thickness (-68 %), trabecular thickness (-32 %), bone formation rate (-50 %) and delayed mineralization. Quantitative backscattered electron imaging demonstrated undermineralized bone matrix with increased heterogeneity in mineralization. The patient's SMAD3 mutation (c.200 T > G; p.I67S), when expressed from plasmid vectors in HEK293 cells, showed reduced phosphorylation and transcription factor activity compared to normal control and SMAD3 (p.S264Y), a gain-of-function mutation, somatic mosaicism of which causes melorheostosis. Transfection study of the patients' SMAD3 (p.I67S) mutation displayed lower luciferase reporter activity than normal SMAD3 and reduced expression of TGF-ß signaling target genes. Patient fibroblasts also demonstrated impaired SMAD3 protein stability. Osteoclastogenic differentiation significantly increased and osteoclast-associated genes, including ACP5 (encoding TRAP), ATP6V0D2, and DCSTAMP, were up-regulated in CD14 (+) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with the SMAD3 (p.I67S) mutation. Upregulation of osteoclastogenic genes was associated with decreased expression of TGF-ß signaling target genes. We conclude that bone with the SMAD3 (p.I67S) mutation features reduced bone formation, and our functional studies revealed decreased SMAD3 activation and protein stability as well as increased osteoclastogenesis. These findings enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of LDS3 caused by SMAD3 mutations. Emerging therapies targeting in the TGF-ß/SMAD pathway also raise hope for treatment of LDS3.

Alterations of bone material properties in growing Ifitm5/BRIL p.S42 knock-in mice, a new model for atypical type VI osteogenesis imperfecta.

INTRODUCTION: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogenous group of heritable connective tissue disorders characterized by high bone fragility due to low bone mass and impaired bone material properties. Atypical type VI OI is an extremely rare and severe form of bone dysplasia resulting from a loss-of-function mutation (p.S40L) in IFITM5/BRIL,the causative gene of OI type V and decreased osteoblast secretion of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), as in OI type VI. It is not yet known which alterations at the material level might lead to such a severe phenotype. We therefore characterized bone tissue at the micrometer level in a novel heterozygous Ifitm5/BRIL p.S42L knock-in murine model at 4 and 8 weeks of age. METHODS: We evaluated in female mice, total body size, femoral and lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In the femoral bone we examined osteoid deposition by light microscopy, assessed bone histomorphometry and mineralization density distribution by quantitative backscattered electron imaging (qBEI). Osteocyte lacunae were examined by qBEI and the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Vasculature was examined indirectly by qBEI as 2D porosity in cortex, and as 3D porosity by micro-CT in third trochanter. Collagen orientation was examined by second harmonic generation microscopy. Two-way ANOVA was used to discriminate the effect of age and genotype. RESULTS: Ifitm5/BRIL p.S42L female mice are viable, do not differ in body size, fat and lean mass from wild type (WT) littermates but have lower whole-body, lumbar and femoral BMD and multiple fractures. The average and most frequent calcium concentration, CaMean and CaPeak, increased with age in metaphyseal and cortical bone in both genotypes and were always higher in Ifitm5/BRIL p.S42L than in WT, except CaMean in metaphysis at 4 weeks of age. The fraction of highly mineralized bone area, CaHigh, was also increased in Ifitm5/BRIL p.S42L metaphyseal bone at 8 weeks of age and at both ages in cortical bone. The fraction of lowly mineralized bone area, CaLow, decreased with age and was not higher in Ifitm5/BRIL p.S42L, consistent with lack of hyperosteoidosis on histological sections by visual exam. Osteocyte lacunae density was higher in Ifitm5/BRIL p.S42L than WT, whereas canalicular density was decreased. Indirect measurements of vascularity revealed a higher pore density at 4 weeks in cortical bone of Ifitm5/BRIL p.S42L than in WT and at both ages in the third trochanter. Importantly, the proportion of bone area with disordered collagen fibrils was highly increased in Ifitm5/BRIL p.S42L at both ages. CONCLUSIONS: Despite normal skeletal growth and the lack of a collagen gene mutation, the Ifitm5/BRIL p.S42L mouse shows major OI-related bone tissue alterations such as hypermineralization of the matrix and elevated osteocyte porosity. Together with the disordered lacuno-canalicular network and the disordered collagen fibril orientation, these abnormalities likely contribute to overall bone fragility.

Dissecting the phenotypic variability of osteogenesis imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous family of collagen type I-related diseases characterized by bone fragility. OI is most commonly caused by single-nucleotide substitutions that replace glycine residues or exon splicing defects in the COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes that encode the α1(I) and α2(I) collagen chains. Mutant collagen is partially retained intracellularly, impairing cell homeostasis. Upon secretion, it assembles in disorganized fibrils, altering mineralization. OI is characterized by a wide range of clinical outcomes, even in the presence of identical sequence variants. Given the heterotrimeric nature of collagen I, its amino acid composition and the peculiarity of its folding, several causes may underlie the phenotypic variability of OI. A deep analysis of entries regarding glycine and splice site collagen substitution of the largest publicly available patient database reveals a higher risk of lethal phenotype for carriers of variants in α1(I) than in α2(I) chain. However, splice site variants are predominantly associated with lethal phenotype when they occur in COL1A2. In addition, lethality is increased when mutations occur in regions of importance for extracellular matrix interactions. Both extracellular and intracellular determinants of OI clinical severity are discussed in light of the findings from in vitro and in vivo OI models. Combined with meticulous tracking of clinical cases via a publicly available database, the available OI animal models have proven to be a unique tool to shed light on new modulators of phenotype determination for this rare heterogeneous disease.

Antagonism Between PEDF and TGF-ß Contributes to Type VI Osteogenesis Imperfecta Bone and Vascular Pathogenesis.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous genetic disorder of bone and connective tissue, also known as brittle bone disease. Null mutations in SERPINF1, which encodes pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), cause severe type VI OI, characterized by accumulation of unmineralized osteoid and a fish-scale pattern of bone lamellae. Although the potent anti-angiogenic activity of PEDF has been extensively studied, the disease mechanism of type VI OI is not well understood. Using Serpinf1(-/-) mice and primary osteoblasts, we demonstrate that loss of PEDF delays osteoblast maturation as well as extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization. Barium sulfate perfusion reveals significantly increased vessel density in the tibial periosteum of Serpinf1(-/-) mouse compared with wild-type littermates. The increased bone vascularization in Serpinf1(-/-) mice correlated with increased number of CD31(+)/Endomucin(+) endothelial cells, which are involved in the coupling angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Global transcriptome analysis by RNA-Seq of Serpinf1(-/-) mouse osteoblasts reveals osteogenesis and angiogenesis as the biological processes most impacted by loss of PEDF. Intriguingly, TGF-ß signaling is activated in type VI OI cells, and Serpinf1(-/-) osteoblasts are more sensitive to TGF-ß stimulation than wild-type osteoblasts. TGF-ß stimulation and PEDF deficiency showed additive effects on transcription suppression of osteogenic markers and stimulation of pro-angiogenic factors. Furthermore, PEDF attenuated TGF-ß-induced expression of pro-angiogenic factors. These data suggest that functional antagonism between PEDF and TGF-ß pathways controls osteogenesis and bone vascularization and is implicated in type VI OI pathogenesis. This antagonism may be exploited in developing therapeutics for type VI OI utilizing PEDF and TGF-ß antibody. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Mechanisms and Signaling Pathways Connecting Classical and Rare OI Types.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous skeletal dysplasia characterized by bone fragility, growth deficiency, and skeletal deformity. Previously known to be caused by defects in type I collagen, the major protein of extracellular matrix, it is now also understood to be a collagen-related disorder caused by defects in collagen folding, posttranslational modification and processing, bone mineralization, and osteoblast differentiation, with inheritance of OI types spanning autosomal dominant and recessive as well as X-linked recessive. This review provides the latest updates on OI, encompassing both classical OI and rare forms, their mechanism, and the signaling pathways involved in their pathophysiology. There is a special emphasis on mutations in type I procollagen C-propeptide structure and processing, the later causing OI with strikingly high bone mass. Types V and VI OI, while notably different, are shown to be interrelated by the interferon-induced transmembrane protein 5 p.S40L mutation that reveals the connection between the bone-restricted interferon-induced transmembrane protein-like protein and pigment epithelium-derived factor pathways. The function of regulated intramembrane proteolysis has been extended beyond cholesterol metabolism to bone formation by defects in regulated membrane proteolysis components site-2 protease and old astrocyte specifically induced-substance. Several recently proposed candidate genes for new types of OI are also presented. Discoveries of new OI genes add complexity to already-challenging OI management; current and potential approaches are summarized.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta: The Impact of Genotype and Clinical Phenotype on Adiposity and Resting Energy Expenditure.

CONTEXT: Mutations in type I collagen or collagen-related proteins cause osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Energy expenditure and body composition in OI could reflect reduced mobility or intrinsic defects in osteoblast differentiation increasing adipocyte development. OBJECTIVE: This study compares adiposity and resting energy expenditure (REE) in OI and healthy controls (HC), for OI genotype- and Type-associated differences. METHODS: We studied 90 participants, 30 with OI (11 COL1A1 Gly, 8 COL1A2 Gly, 4 COL1A1 non-Gly, 1 COL1A2 non-Gly, 6 non-COL; 8 Type III, 16 Type IV, 4 Type VI, 1 Type VII, 1 Type XIV) and 60 HC with sociodemographic characteristics/BMI/BMIz similar to the OI group. Participants underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to determine lean mass and fat mass percentage (FM%) and REE. FM% and REE were compared, adjusting for covariates, to examine the relationship of OI genotypes and phenotypic Types. RESULTS: FM% did not differ significantly in all patients with OI vs HC (OI: 36.6% ± 1.9%; HC: 32.7% ± 1.2%; P = 0.088). FM% was, however, greater than HC for those with non-COL variants (P = 0.016). FM% did not differ from HC among OI Types (P values > 0.05).Overall, covariate-adjusted REE did not differ significantly between OI and HC (OI: 1376.5 ± 44.7 kcal/d; HC: 1377.0 ± 96 kcal/d; P = 0.345). However, those with non-COL variants (P = 0.016) and Type VI OI (P = 0.04) had significantly lower REE than HC. CONCLUSION: Overall, patients with OI did not significantly differ in either extra-marrow adiposity or REE from BMI-similar HC. However, reduced REE among those with non-COL variants may contribute to greater adiposity.

Stress Shielding in the Setting of Osteogenesis Imperfecta and the Effect of Downsizing an Intramedullary Rod: A Case Report.

CASE: Cortical atrophy, or stress shielding, secondary to a large-diameter femoral intramedullary rod was noted over almost a decade in a now 14-year-old girl with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). After an initial minimally invasive unsuccessful revision, we downsized the left femur rod with realignment and noted restoration of the left femur cortical thickness. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate the significant functional impact of stress shielding and its evolution over a protracted period and outline treatment principles. To our knowledge, this is the first report of treatment of stress shielding of a long bone in the setting of OI.

Targeting cellular stress in vitro improves osteoblast homeostasis, matrix collagen content and mineralization in two murine models of osteogenesis imperfecta.

Most cases of dominantly inherited osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) are caused by glycine substitutions in the triple helical domain of type I collagen α chains, which delay collagen folding, and cause the synthesis of collagen triple helical molecules with abnormal structure and post-translational modification. A variable extent of mutant collagen ER retention and other secondary mutation effects perturb osteoblast homeostasis and impair bone matrix quality. Amelioration of OI osteoblast homeostasis could be beneficial both to osteoblast anabolic activity and to the content of the extracellular matrix they deposit. Therefore, the effect of the chemical chaperone 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) on cell homeostasis, collagen trafficking, matrix production and mineralization was investigated in primary osteoblasts from two murine models of moderate OI, Col1a1+/G349C and Col1a2+/G610C. At the cellular level, 4-PBA prevented intracellular accumulation of collagen and increased protein secretion, reducing aggregates within the mutant cells and normalizing ER morphology. At the extracellular level, increased collagen incorporation into matrix, associated with more mature collagen fibrils, was observed in osteoblasts from both models. 4-PBA also promoted OI osteoblast mineral deposition by increasing alkaline phosphatase expression and activity. Targeting osteoblast stress with 4-PBA improved both cellular and matrix abnormalities in culture, supporting further in vivo studies of its effect on bone tissue composition, strength and mineralization as a potential treatment for classical OI.

Somatic SMAD3-activating mutations cause melorheostosis by up-regulating the TGF-ß/SMAD pathway.

Melorheostosis is a rare sclerosing dysostosis characterized by asymmetric exuberant bone formation. Recently, we reported that somatic mosaicism for MAP2K1-activating mutations causes radiographical "dripping candle wax" melorheostosis. We now report somatic SMAD3 mutations in bone lesions of four unrelated patients with endosteal pattern melorheostosis. In vitro, the SMAD3 mutations stimulated the TGF-ß pathway in osteoblasts, enhanced nuclear translocation and target gene expression, and inhibited proliferation. Osteoblast differentiation and mineralization were stimulated by the SMAD3 mutation, consistent with higher mineralization in affected than in unaffected bone, but differing from MAP2K1 mutation-positive melorheostosis. Conversely, osteoblast differentiation and mineralization were inhibited when osteogenesis of affected osteoblasts was driven in the presence of BMP2. Transcriptome profiling displayed that TGF-ß pathway activation and ossification-related processes were significantly influenced by the SMAD3 mutation. Co-expression clustering illuminated melorheostosis pathophysiology, including alterations in ECM organization, cell growth, and interferon signaling. These data reveal antagonism of TGF-ß/SMAD3 activation by BMP signaling in SMAD3 mutation-positive endosteal melorheostosis, which may guide future therapies.

Substitution of murine type I collagen A1 3-hydroxylation site alters matrix structure but does not recapitulate osteogenesis imperfecta bone dysplasia.

Null mutations in CRTAP or P3H1, encoding cartilage-associated protein and prolyl 3-hydroxylase 1, cause the severe bone dysplasias, types VII and VIII osteogenesis imperfecta. Lack of either protein prevents formation of the ER prolyl 3-hydroxylation complex, which catalyzes 3Hyp modification of types I and II collagen and also acts as a collagen chaperone. To clarify the role of the A1 3Hyp substrate site in recessive bone dysplasia, we generated knock-in mice with an α1(I)P986A substitution that cannot be 3-hydroxylated. Mutant mice have normal survival, growth, femoral breaking strength and mean bone mineralization. However, the bone collagen HP/LP crosslink ratio is nearly doubled in mutant mice, while collagen fibril diameter and bone yield energy are decreased. Thus, 3-hydroxylation of the A1 site α1(I)P986 affects collagen crosslinking and structural organization, but its absence does not directly cause recessive bone dysplasia. Our study suggests that the functions of the modification complex as a collagen chaperone are thus distinct from its role as prolyl 3-hydroxylase.

Bruck syndrome 2 variant lacking congenital contractures and involving a novel compound heterozygous PLOD2 mutation.

Bruck syndrome (BRKS) is the rare disorder that features congenital joint contractures often with pterygia and subsequent fractures, also known as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type XI (OMIM # 610968). Its two forms, BRKS1 (OMIM # 259450) and BRKS2 (OMIM # 609220), reflect autosomal recessive (AR) inheritance of FKBP10 and PLOD2 loss-of-function mutations, respectively. A 10-year-old girl was referred with blue sclera, osteopenia, poorly-healing fragility fractures, Wormian skull bones, cleft soft palate, congenital fusion of cervical vertebrae, progressive scoliosis, bell-shaped thorax, restrictive and reactive pulmonary disease, protrusio acetabuli, short stature, and additional dysmorphic features without joint contractures. Iliac crest biopsy after alendronate treatment that improved her bone density revealed low trabecular connectivity, abundant patchy osteoid, and active bone formation with widely-spaced tetracycline labels. Chromosome 22q11 deletion analysis for velocardiofacial syndrome, COL1A1 and COL1A2 sequencing for prevalent types of OI, and Sanger sequencing of LRP5, PPIB, FKBP10, and IFITM5 for rare pediatric osteoporoses were negative. Copy number microarray excluded a contiguous gene syndrome. Instead, exome sequencing revealed two missense variants in PLOD2 which encodes procollagen-lysine, 2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 2 (lysyl hydroxylase 2, LH2); exon 8, c.797G>T, p.Gly266Val (paternal), and exon 12, c.1280A>G, p.Asn427Ser (maternal). In the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) database, low frequency (Gly266Val, 0.0000419) and absence (Asn427Ser) implicated both variants as mutations of PLOD2. The father, mother, and sister (who carried the exon 12 defect) were reportedly well with normal parental DXA findings. BRKS2, characterized by under-hydroxylation of type I collagen telopeptides compromising their crosslinking, has been reported in at least 16 probands/families. Most PLOD2 mutations involve exons 17-19 (of 20 total) encoding the C-terminal domain with LH activity. However, truncating defects (nonsense, frameshift, splice site mutations) are also found throughout PLOD2. In three reports, AR PLOD2 mutations are not associated with congenital contractures. Our patient's missense defects lie within the central domain of unknown function of PLOD2. In our patient, compound heterozygosity with PLOD2 mutations is associated with a clinical phenotype distinctive from classic BRKS2 indicating that when COL1A1 and COL1A2 mutation testing is negative for OI without congenital contractures or pterygia, atypical BRKS should be considered.

Clinical Evaluation of Melorheostosis in the Context of a Natural History Clinical Study.

Melorheostosis is a rare dysostosis involving cortical bone overgrowth that affects the appendicular skeleton. Patients present with pain, deformities, contractures, range of motion limitation(s), and limb swelling. It has been described in children as well as adults. We recently identified somatic mosaicism for gain-of-function mutations in MAP2K1 in patients with melorheostosis. Despite these advances in genetic understanding, there are no effective therapies or clinical guidelines to help clinicians and patients in disease management. In a study to better characterize the clinical and genetic aspects of the disease, we recruited 30 adults with a radiographic appearance of melorheostosis and corresponding increased uptake on 18F-NaF positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. Patients underwent physical exam, imaging studies, and laboratory assessment. All patients underwent nerve conduction studies and ultrasound imaging of the nerve in the anatomic distribution of melorheostosis. We found sensory deficits in approximately 77% of patients, with evidence of focal nerve entrapment in five patients. All patients reported pain; 53% of patients had changes in skin overlying the affected bone. No significant laboratory abnormalities were noted. Our findings suggest that patients with melorheostosis may benefit from a multidisciplinary team of dermatologists, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, pain and palliative care specialists, and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists. Future studies focused on disease management are needed. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Melorheostosis: A Clinical, Pathologic, and Radiologic Case Series.

Melorheostosis is a rare sclerosing bone disease characterized by excessive cortical bone deposition that is frequently on the differential diagnosis for bone biopsies. Although the radiologic pattern of "dripping candle wax" is well known, the pathologic findings have been poorly defined. Here, we comprehensively describe the histology of melorheostosis in 15 patients who underwent bone biopsies. Common histologic findings included: dense cortical bone (73.3%), woven bone (60%), and hypervascular features and increased porosity (66.7%). One third of the patients (5/15) also had prominent cement lines. Multiple patients had >1 histologic pattern (ie, dense cortical bone and hypervascularity). Overall, this study suggests that melorheostosis exists with several histologically distinct patterns. When confronted with a case of suspected melorheostosis, the clinical pathologist should use the histologic features common to melorheostotic lesions presented here in conjunction with the patient's clinical presentation and radiographic findings to arrive at a diagnosis. An illustrative case is presented.

Sclerostin Antibody-Induced Changes in Bone Mass Are Site Specific in Developing Crania.

Sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) is an anabolic bone agent that has been shown to increase bone mass in clinical trials of adult diseases of low bone mass, such as osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Its use to decrease bone fragility in pediatric OI has shown efficacy in several growing mouse models, suggesting translational potential to pediatric disorders of low bone mass. However, the effects of pharmacologic inhibition of sclerostin during periods of rapid growth and development have not yet been described with respect to the cranium, where lifelong deficiency of functioning sclerostin leads to patterns of excessive bone growth, cranial compression, and facial palsy. In the present study, we undertook dimensional and volumetric measurements in the skulls of growing Brtl/+ OI mice treated with Scl-Ab to examine whether therapy-induced phenotypic changes were similar to those observed clinically in patients with sclerosteosis or Van Buchem disorder. Mice treated between 3 and 14 weeks of age with high doses of Scl-Ab show significant calvarial thickening capable of rescuing OI-induced deficiencies in skull thickness. Other changes in cranial morphology, such as lengths and distances between anatomic landmarks, intracranial volume, and suture interdigitation, showed minimal effects of Scl-Ab when compared with growth-induced differences over the treatment duration. Treatment-induced narrowing of foramina was limited to sites of vascular but not neural passage, suggesting patterns of local regulation. Together, these findings reveal a site specificity of Scl-Ab action in the calvaria with no measurable cranial nerve impingement or brainstem compression. This differentiation from the observed outcomes of lifelong sclerostin deficiency complements reports of Scl-Ab treatment efficacy at other skeletal sites with the prospect of minimal cranial secondary complications. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Bone biology: insights from osteogenesis imperfecta and related rare fragility syndromes.

The limited accessibility of bone and its mineralized nature have restricted deep investigation of its biology. Recent breakthroughs in identification of mutant proteins affecting bone tissue homeostasis in rare skeletal diseases have revealed novel pathways involved in skeletal development and maintenance. The characterization of new dominant, recessive and X-linked forms of the rare brittle bone disease osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and other OI-related bone fragility disorders was a key player in this advance. The development of in vitro models for these diseases along with the generation and characterization of murine and zebrafish models contributed to dissecting previously unknown pathways. Here, we describe the most recent advances in the understanding of processes involved in abnormal bone mineralization, collagen processing and osteoblast function, as illustrated by the characterization of new causative genes for OI and OI-related fragility syndromes. The coordinated role of the integral membrane protein BRIL and of the secreted protein PEDF in modulating bone mineralization as well as the function and cross-talk of the collagen-specific chaperones HSP47 and FKBP65 in collagen processing and secretion are discussed. We address the significance of WNT ligand, the importance of maintaining endoplasmic reticulum membrane potential and of regulating intramembrane proteolysis in osteoblast homeostasis. Moreover, we also examine the relevance of the cytoskeletal protein plastin-3 and of the nucleotidyltransferase FAM46A. Thanks to these advances, new targets for the development of novel therapies for currently incurable rare bone diseases have been and, likely, will be identified, supporting the important role of basic science for translational approaches.

Cyclophilin B control of lysine post-translational modifications of skin type I collagen.

Covalent intermolecular cross-linking of collagen is essential for tissue stability. Recent studies have demonstrated that cyclophilin B (CypB), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, modulates lysine (Lys) hydroxylation of type I collagen impacting cross-linking chemistry. However, the extent of modulation, the molecular mechanism and the functional outcome in tissues are not well understood. Here, we report that, in CypB null (KO) mouse skin, two unusual collagen cross-links lacking Lys hydroxylation are formed while neither was detected in wild type (WT) or heterozygous (Het) mice. Mass spectrometric analysis of type I collagen showed that none of the telopeptidyl Lys was hydroxylated in KO or WT/Het mice. Hydroxylation of the helical cross-linking Lys residues was almost complete in WT/Het but was markedly diminished in KO. Lys hydroxylation at other sites was also lower in KO but to a lesser extent. A key glycosylation site, α1(I) Lys-87, was underglycosylated while other sites were mostly overglycosylated in KO. Despite these findings, lysyl hydroxylases and glycosyltransferase 25 domain 1 levels were significantly higher in KO than WT/Het. However, the components of ER chaperone complex that positively or negatively regulates lysyl hydroxylase activities were severely reduced or slightly increased, respectively, in KO. The atomic force microscopy-based nanoindentation modulus were significantly lower in KO skin than WT. These data demonstrate that CypB deficiency profoundly affects Lys post-translational modifications of collagen likely by modulating LH chaperone complexes. Together, our study underscores the critical role of CypB in Lys modifications of collagen, cross-linking and mechanical properties of skin.