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1.
Hum Gene Ther ; 35(9-10): 329-341, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38661537

ABSTRACT

The development of bone-targeting drug delivery systems holds immense promise for improving the treatment of skeletal diseases. By precisely delivering therapeutic agents to the affected areas of bone, these strategies can enhance drug efficacy, minimize off-target effects, and promote patient adherence, ultimately leading to improved treatment outcomes and an enhanced quality of life for patients. This review aims to provide an overview of the current state of affinity-based bone-targeting agents and recent breakthroughs in innovative bone-targeting adeno-associated virus (AAV) strategies to treat skeletal diseases in mice. In particular, this review will delve into advanced AAV engineering, including AAV serotype selection for bone targeting and capsid modifications for bone-specific tropism. Additionally, we will highlight recent advancements in AAV-mediated gene therapy for skeletal diseases and discuss challenges and future directions of this promising therapeutic approach.


Subject(s)
Bone Diseases , Dependovirus , Drug Delivery Systems , Genetic Therapy , Genetic Vectors , Dependovirus/genetics , Humans , Animals , Genetic Therapy/methods , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Genetic Vectors/administration & dosage , Genetic Vectors/genetics , Bone Diseases/therapy , Bone and Bones/metabolism , Gene Transfer Techniques , Mice
2.
bioRxiv ; 2024 Mar 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38585880

ABSTRACT

Lead (Pb(II)) is a pervasive heavy metal toxin with many well-established negative effects on human health. Lead toxicity arises from cumulative, repeated environmental exposures. Thus, prophylactic strategies to protect against the bioaccumulation of lead could reduce lead-associated human pathologies. Here we show that DNA and RNA aptamers protect C. elegans from toxic phenotypes caused by lead. Reproductive toxicity, as measured by brood size assays, is prevented by co-feeding of animals with DNA or RNA aptamers. Similarly, lead-induced behavioral anomalies are also normalized by aptamer feeding. Further, cultured human HEK293 and primary murine osteoblasts are protected from lead toxicity by transfection with DNA aptamers. The osteogenic development, which is decreased by lead exposure, is maintained by prior transfection of lead-binding DNA aptamers. Aptamers may be an effective strategy for the protection of human health in the face of increasing environmental toxicants.

3.
Hum Gene Ther ; 35(9-10): 317-328, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38534217

ABSTRACT

Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors have emerged as crucial tools in advancing gene therapy for skeletal diseases, offering the potential for sustained expression with low postinfection immunogenicity and pathogenicity. Preclinical studies support both the therapeutic efficacy and safety of these vectors, illustrating the promise of AAV-mediated gene therapy. Emerging technologies and innovations in AAV-mediated gene therapy strategies, such as gene addition, gene replacement, gene silencing, and gene editing, offer new approaches to clinical application. Recently, the increasing preclinical applications of AAV to rare skeletal diseases, such as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) and osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), and prevalent bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, bone fracture, critical-sized bone defects, and osteoarthritis, have been reported. Despite existing limitations in clinical use, such as high cost and safety, the AAV-mediated gene transfer platform is a promising approach to deliver therapeutic gene(s) to the skeleton to treat skeletal disorders, including those otherwise intractable by other therapeutic approaches. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic advancements, challenges, limitations, and solutions within AAV-based gene therapy for prevalent and rare skeletal diseases.


Subject(s)
Bone Diseases , Dependovirus , Genetic Therapy , Genetic Vectors , Humans , Dependovirus/genetics , Genetic Therapy/methods , Genetic Vectors/genetics , Bone Diseases/therapy , Bone Diseases/genetics , Animals , Gene Transfer Techniques , Gene Editing/methods
4.
Mol Ther Nucleic Acids ; 35(1): 102111, 2024 Mar 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38261950

ABSTRACT

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder characterized by bone fragility, low bone mass, fractures, and extraskeletal manifestations. Since OI is commonly caused by single-nucleotide mutation(s) in the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes encoding type I collagens, we developed a genome-editing strategy to correct a Col1a2 mutation in an OIM mouse model resembling a severe dominant form of human type III OI. Using a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV), we delivered CRISPR-Cas9 to bone-forming osteoblast-lineage cells in the skeleton. Homology-directed repair (HDR)-mediated gene editing efficiency in these cells was improved when CRISPR-Cas9 was coupled with a donor AAV vector containing a promoterless partial mouse Col1a2 complementary DNA sequence. This approach effectively reversed the dysregulation of osteogenic differentiation by a Col1a2 mutation in vitro. Furthermore, systemic administration of dual rAAVs in OIM mice lowered bone matrix turnover rates by reducing osteoblast and osteoclast development while improving the cellular network of mechano-sensing osteocytes embedded in the bone matrix. This strategy significantly improved bone architecture/mass/mineralization, skeletal deformities, grip strength, and spontaneous fractures. Our study is the first demonstration that HDR-mediated gene editing via AAV-mediated delivery effectively corrects a collagen mutation in OI osteoblasts and reverses skeletal phenotypes in OIM mice.

5.
Biomolecules ; 13(9)2023 09 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37759764

ABSTRACT

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an ultra-rare genetic disorder characterized by progressive disabling heterotopic ossification (HO) at extra-skeletal sites. Here, we developed adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy that suppresses trauma-induced HO in FOP mice harboring a heterozygous allele of human ACVR1R206H (Acvr1R206H/+) while limiting the expression in non-skeletal organs such as the brain, heart, lung, liver, and kidney. AAV gene therapy carrying the combination of codon-optimized human ACVR1 (ACVR1opt) and artificial miRNAs targeting Activin A and its receptor ACVR1R206H ablated the aberrant activation of BMP-Smad1/5 signaling and the osteogenic differentiation of Acvr1R206H/+ skeletal progenitors. The local delivery of AAV gene therapy to HO-causing cells in the skeletal muscle resulted in a significant decrease in endochondral bone formation in Acvr1R206H/+ mice. These mice showed little to no expression in a major AAV-targeted organ, the liver, due to liver-abundant miR-122-mediated repression. Thus, AAV gene therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy to explore in suppressing HO in FOP.


Subject(s)
Activin Receptors, Type I , Myositis Ossificans , Animals , Humans , Mice , Activin Receptors, Type I/genetics , Activins , Dependovirus/genetics , Myositis Ossificans/genetics , Myositis Ossificans/therapy , Osteogenesis
6.
Sensors (Basel) ; 23(18)2023 Sep 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37765961

ABSTRACT

Chronic exposure to low concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as chlorobenzene, is not being monitored in industrializing countries, although VOC exposure is associated with carcinogenic, organ-toxic, and endocrine-disrupting effects. Current VOC-sensing technologies are inaccessible due to high cost, size, and maintenance or are ineffective due to poor sensitivity or reliability. In particular, marginalized individuals face barriers to traditional prescription VOC treatments due to cost, lack of transportation, and limited access to physicians; thus, alternative treatments are needed. Here, we created a novel cumulative wearable color-changing VOC sensor with a paper-based polydiacetylene sensor array for chlorobenzene. With a single smartphone picture, the sensor displays 14 days of logged chlorobenzene exposure data, interpreted by machine-learning (ML) techniques, including principal component analysis. Further, we explored the efficacy of affordable and accessible treatment options to mitigate a VOC's toxic effects. Vitamin D and sulforaphane are naturally found in cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, and can be used to treat chlorobenzene-mediated bone degradation. Our platform combines these components into a smartphone app that photographs the sensor's colorimetric data, analyzes the data via ML techniques, and offers accessible treatments based on exposure data.


Subject(s)
Volatile Organic Compounds , Wearable Electronic Devices , Humans , Reproducibility of Results , Chlorobenzenes
7.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 120(19): e2218019120, 2023 05 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37141171

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to systemic and articular bone loss by activating bone resorption and suppressing bone formation. Despite current therapeutic agents, inflammation-induced bone loss in RA continues to be a significant clinical problem due to joint deformity and lack of articular and systemic bone repair. Here, we identify the suppressor of bone formation, Schnurri-3 (SHN3), as a potential target to prevent bone loss in RA. SHN3 expression in osteoblast-lineage cells is induced by proinflammatory cytokines. Germline deletion or conditional deletion of Shn3 in osteoblasts limits articular bone erosion and systemic bone loss in mouse models of RA. Similarly, silencing of SHN3 expression in these RA models using systemic delivery of a bone-targeting recombinant adenoassociated virus protects against inflammation-induced bone loss. In osteoblasts, TNF activates SHN3 via ERK MAPK-mediated phosphorylation and, in turn, phosphorylated SHN3 inhibits WNT/ß-catenin signaling and up-regulates RANKL expression. Accordingly, knock-in of a mutation in Shn3 that fails to bind ERK MAPK promotes bone formation in mice overexpressing human TNF due to augmented WNT/ß-catenin signaling. Remarkably, Shn3-deficient osteoblasts are not only resistant to TNF-induced suppression of osteogenesis, but also down-regulate osteoclast development. Collectively, these findings demonstrate SHN3 inhibition as a promising approach to limit bone loss and promote bone repair in RA.


Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid , Bone Resorption , Mice , Humans , Animals , beta Catenin/metabolism , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Bone and Bones/metabolism , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Osteogenesis/genetics , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/metabolism , Bone Resorption/metabolism , Inflammation/metabolism , Osteoclasts/metabolism
8.
Bone ; 172: 116761, 2023 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37030497

ABSTRACT

Often, disorders of impaired bone formation involve not only a cell intrinsic defect in the ability of osteoblasts to form bone, but moreover a broader dysfunction of the skeletal microenvironment that limits osteoblast activity. Developing approaches to osteoanabolic therapy that not only augment osteoblast activity but moreover correct this microenvironmental dysfunction may enable both more effective osteoanabolic therapies and also addressing a broader set of indications where vasculopathy or other forms microenvironment dysfunction feature prominently. We here review evidence that SHN3 acts as a suppressor of not only the cell intrinsic bone formation activity of osteoblasts, but moreover of the creation of a local osteoanabolic microenvironment. Mice lacking Schnurri3 (SHN3, HIVEP3) display a very robust increase in bone formation, that is due to de-repression of ERK pathway signaling in osteoblasts. In addition to loss of SHN3 augmenting the differentiation and bone formation activity of osteoblasts, loss of SHN3 increases secretion of SLIT3 by osteoblasts, which in a skeletal context acts as an angiogenic factor. Through this angiogenic activity, SLIT3 creates an osteoanabolic microenvironment, and accordingly treatment with SLIT3 can increase bone formation and enhance fracture healing. These features both validate vascular endothelial cells as a therapeutic target for disorders of low bone mass alongside the traditionally targeted osteoblasts and osteoclasts and indicate that targeting the SHN3/SLIT3 pathway provides a new mechanism to induce therapeutic osteoanabolic responses.


Subject(s)
DNA-Binding Proteins , Endothelial Cells , Mice , Animals , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Osteoclasts/metabolism , Bone and Bones/metabolism , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Osteogenesis/physiology , Cell Differentiation , Membrane Proteins/metabolism
9.
Mol Ther ; 31(2): 435-453, 2023 02 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36184851

ABSTRACT

Treating osteoporosis and associated bone fractures remains challenging for drug development in part due to potential off-target side effects and the requirement for long-term treatment. Here, we identify recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated gene therapy as a complementary approach to existing osteoporosis therapies, offering long-lasting targeting of multiple targets and/or previously undruggable intracellular non-enzymatic targets. Treatment with a bone-targeted rAAV carrying artificial microRNAs (miRNAs) silenced the expression of WNT antagonists, schnurri-3 (SHN3), and sclerostin (SOST), and enhanced WNT/ß-catenin signaling, osteoblast function, and bone formation. A single systemic administration of rAAVs effectively reversed bone loss in both postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis. Moreover, the healing of bone fracture and critical-sized bone defects was also markedly improved by systemic injection or transplantation of AAV-bound allograft bone to the osteotomy sites. Collectively, our data demonstrate the clinical potential of bone-specific gene silencers to treat skeletal disorders of low bone mass and impaired fracture repair.


Subject(s)
Fractures, Bone , Osteoporosis , Humans , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics , Osteoporosis/genetics , Osteoporosis/therapy , Fractures, Bone/genetics , Fractures, Bone/therapy , Bone and Bones , Genetic Therapy
10.
Nat Commun ; 13(1): 6869, 2022 11 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36369293

ABSTRACT

Although skeletal progenitors provide a reservoir for bone-forming osteoblasts, the major energy source for their osteogenesis remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate a requirement for mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the osteogenic commitment and differentiation of skeletal progenitors. Deletion of Evolutionarily Conserved Signaling Intermediate in Toll pathways (ECSIT) in skeletal progenitors hinders bone formation and regeneration, resulting in skeletal deformity, defects in the bone marrow niche and spontaneous fractures followed by persistent nonunion. Upon skeletal fracture, Ecsit-deficient skeletal progenitors migrate to adjacent skeletal muscle causing muscle atrophy. These phenotypes are intrinsic to ECSIT function in skeletal progenitors, as little skeletal abnormalities were observed in mice lacking Ecsit in committed osteoprogenitors or mature osteoblasts. Mechanistically, Ecsit deletion in skeletal progenitors impairs mitochondrial complex assembly and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and elevates glycolysis. ECSIT-associated skeletal phenotypes were reversed by in vivo reconstitution with wild-type ECSIT expression, but not a mutant displaying defective mitochondrial localization. Collectively, these findings identify mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation as the prominent energy-driving force for osteogenesis of skeletal progenitors, governing musculoskeletal integrity.


Subject(s)
Oxidative Phosphorylation , Stem Cells , Mice , Animals , Stem Cells/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Osteogenesis/genetics , Cell Differentiation , Oxidative Stress , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism
11.
Nat Commun ; 13(1): 6175, 2022 10 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36258013

ABSTRACT

Heterotopic ossification is the most disabling feature of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, an ultra-rare genetic disorder for which there is currently no prevention or treatment. Most patients with this disease harbor a heterozygous activating mutation (c.617 G > A;p.R206H) in ACVR1. Here, we identify recombinant AAV9 as the most effective serotype for transduction of the major cells-of-origin of heterotopic ossification. We use AAV9 delivery for gene replacement by expression of codon-optimized human ACVR1, ACVR1R206H allele-specific silencing by AAV-compatible artificial miRNA and a combination of gene replacement and silencing. In mouse skeletal cells harboring a conditional knock-in allele of human mutant ACVR1 and in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, AAV gene therapy ablated aberrant Activin A signaling and chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation. In Acvr1(R206H) knock-in mice treated locally in early adulthood or systemically at birth, trauma-induced endochondral bone formation was markedly reduced, while inflammation and fibroproliferative responses remained largely intact in the injured muscle. Remarkably, spontaneous heterotopic ossification also substantially decreased in in Acvr1(R206H) knock-in mice treated systemically at birth or in early adulthood. Collectively, we develop promising gene therapeutics that can prevent disabling heterotopic ossification in mice, supporting clinical translation to patients with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.


Subject(s)
MicroRNAs , Myositis Ossificans , Ossification, Heterotopic , Adult , Animals , Humans , Mice , Activin Receptors, Type I/genetics , Activin Receptors, Type I/metabolism , Genetic Therapy , Mice, Transgenic , Mutation , Myositis Ossificans/genetics , Myositis Ossificans/therapy , Ossification, Heterotopic/genetics , Ossification, Heterotopic/therapy , Ossification, Heterotopic/metabolism , Osteogenesis/genetics , Adenoviridae/genetics
12.
Elife ; 112022 08 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35975983

ABSTRACT

Emerging evidence supports that osteogenic differentiation of skeletal progenitors is a key determinant of overall bone formation and bone mass. Despite extensive studies showing the function of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in osteoblast differentiation, none of these studies show in vivo evidence of a role for MAPKs in osteoblast maturation subsequent to lineage commitment. Here, we describe how the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in osteoblasts controls bone formation by suppressing the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. We also show that, while ERK inhibition blocks the differentiation of osteogenic precursors when initiated at an early stage, ERK inhibition surprisingly promotes the later stages of osteoblast differentiation. Accordingly, inhibition of the ERK pathway using a small compound inhibitor or conditional deletion of the MAP2Ks Map2k1 (MEK1) and Map2k2 (MEK2), in mature osteoblasts and osteocytes, markedly increased bone formation due to augmented osteoblast differentiation. Mice with inducible deletion of the ERK pathway in mature osteoblasts also displayed similar phenotypes, demonstrating that this phenotype reflects continuous postnatal inhibition of late-stage osteoblast maturation. Mechanistically, ERK inhibition increases mitochondrial function and SGK1 phosphorylation via mTOR2 activation, which leads to osteoblast differentiation and production of angiogenic and osteogenic factors to promote bone formation. This phenotype was partially reversed by inhibiting mTOR. Our study uncovers a surprising dichotomy of ERK pathway functions in osteoblasts, whereby ERK activation promotes the early differentiation of osteoblast precursors, but inhibits the subsequent differentiation of committed osteoblasts via mTOR-mediated regulation of mitochondrial function and SGK1.


Subject(s)
Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases , Osteogenesis , Animals , Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism , Mice , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Phosphorylation , TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics , TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism
13.
Mol Ther Nucleic Acids ; 29: 296-311, 2022 Sep 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35950212

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis occurs due to a dysregulation in bone remodeling, a process requiring both bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Current leading osteoporosis therapies suppress osteoclast-mediated bone resorption but show limited therapeutic effects because osteoblast-mediated bone formation decreases concurrently. We developed a gene therapy strategy for osteoporosis that simultaneously promotes bone formation and suppresses bone resorption by targeting two microRNAs (miRNAs)-miR-214-3p and miR-34a-5p. We modulated the expression of these miRNAs using systemically delivered recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors targeting the bone. rAAV-mediated overexpression of miR-214-3p or inhibition of miR-34a-5p in the skeleton resulted in bone loss in adult mice, resembling osteoporotic bones. Conversely, rAAV-mediated inhibition of miR-214-3p or overexpression of miR-34a-5p reversed bone loss in mouse models for postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis by increasing osteoblast-mediated bone formation and decreasing osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Notably, these mice did not show any apparent pathological phenotypes in non-skeletal tissues. Mechanistically, inhibiting miR-214-3p upregulated activating transcription factor 4 in osteoblasts and phatase and tensin homolog in osteoclasts, while overexpressing miR-34a-5p downregulated Notch1 in osteoblasts and TGF-ß-induced factor homeobox 2 in osteoclasts. In summary, bone-targeting rAAV-mediated regulation of miR-214-3p or miR-34a-5p is a promising new approach to treat osteoporosis, while limiting adverse effects in non-skeletal tissues.

14.
Hum Gene Ther ; 33(15-16): 782-788, 2022 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35502479

ABSTRACT

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare and devastating genetic disease, in which soft connective tissue is converted into heterotopic bone through an endochondral ossification process. Patients succumb early as they gradually become trapped in a second skeleton of heterotopic bone. Although the underlying genetic defect is long known, the inherent complexity of the disease has hindered the discovery of effective preventions and treatments. New developments in the gene therapy field have motivated its consideration as an attractive therapeutic option for FOP. However, the immune system's role in FOP activation and the as-yet unknown primary causative cell, are crucial issues which must be taken into account in the therapy design. While gene therapy offers a potential therapeutic solution, more knowledge about FOP is needed to enable its optimal and safe application.


Subject(s)
Myositis Ossificans , Ossification, Heterotopic , Activin Receptors, Type I/genetics , Feasibility Studies , Genetic Therapy/adverse effects , Humans , Myositis Ossificans/complications , Myositis Ossificans/genetics , Myositis Ossificans/therapy , Ossification, Heterotopic/genetics
15.
J Bone Metab ; 29(1): 1-15, 2022 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35325978

ABSTRACT

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) are evolutionarily ancient signal transducers of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family that have long been linked to the regulation of osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Here, we review the physiological functions, biochemistry, upstream activators, and downstream substrates of the ERK pathway. ERK is activated in skeletal progenitors and regulates osteoblast differentiation and skeletal mineralization, with ERK serving as a key regulator of Runt-related transcription factor 2, a critical transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation. However, new evidence highlights context-dependent changes in ERK MAPK pathway wiring and function, indicating a broader set of physiological roles associated with changes in ERK pathway components or substrates. Consistent with this importance, several human skeletal dysplasias are associated with dysregulation of the ERK MAPK pathway, including neurofibromatosis type 1 and Noonan syndrome. The continually broadening array of drugs targeting the ERK pathway for the treatment of cancer and other disorders makes it increasingly important to understand how interference with this pathway impacts bone metabolism, highlighting the importance of mouse studies to model the role of the ERK MAPK pathway in bone formation.

16.
Cell Death Differ ; 29(8): 1625-1638, 2022 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35169297

ABSTRACT

Osteocytes play a critical role in bone remodeling through the secretion of paracrine factors regulating the differentiation and activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Sclerostin is a key osteocyte-derived factor that suppresses bone formation and promotes bone resorption, therefore regulators of sclerostin secretion are a likely source of new therapeutic strategies for treatment of skeletal disorders. Here, we demonstrate that protein kinase CK2 (casein kinase 2) controls sclerostin expression in osteocytes via the deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific peptidase 4 (USP4)-mediated stabilization of Sirtuin1 (SIRT1). Deletion of CK2 regulatory subunit, Csnk2b, in osteocytes (Csnk2bDmp1) results in low bone mass due to elevated levels of sclerostin. This phenotype in Csnk2bDmp1 mice was partly reversed when sclerostin expression was downregulated by a single intravenous injection with bone-targeting adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) carrying an artificial-microRNA that targets Sost. Mechanistically, CK2-induced phosphorylation of USP4 is important for stabilization of SIRT1 by suppressing ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation. Upregulated expression of SIRT1 inhibits sclerostin transcription in osteocytes. Collectively, the CK2-USP4-SIRT1 pathway is crucial for the regulation of sclerostin expression in osteocytes to maintain bone homeostasis.


Subject(s)
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing , Osteocytes , Sirtuin 1 , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism , Animals , Mice , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Osteocytes/metabolism , Osteogenesis , Sirtuin 1/metabolism
17.
Int J Mol Sci ; 22(19)2021 Sep 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34638628

ABSTRACT

Disturbance in a differentiation program of skeletal stem cells leads to indecorous skeletogenesis. Growing evidence suggests that a fine-tuning of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation is crucial for skeletal stem cells to maintain their stemness and osteogenic potential. Here, we demonstrate that the deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) ubiquitin-specific protease 8 (USP8) stabilizes the Wnt receptor frizzled 5 (FZD5) by preventing its lysosomal degradation. This pathway is essential for Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and the differentiation of osteoprogenitors to mature osteoblasts. Accordingly, deletion of USP8 in osteoprogenitors (Usp8Osx) resulted in a near-complete blockade in skeletal mineralization, similar to that seen in mice with defective Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Likewise, transplanting USP8-deficient osteoprogenitors under the renal capsule in wild-type secondary hosts did not to induce bone formation. Collectively, this study unveils an essential role for the DUB USP8 in Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in osteoprogenitors and osteogenesis during skeletal development.


Subject(s)
Endopeptidases/metabolism , Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport/metabolism , Osteogenesis/physiology , Ubiquitin Thiolesterase/metabolism , Wnt Signaling Pathway/physiology , Animals , Cell Differentiation/physiology , Female , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Osteoblasts/physiology , Stem Cells/metabolism , Stem Cells/physiology , beta Catenin/metabolism
18.
Int J Med Sci ; 18(15): 3353-3360, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34522160

ABSTRACT

Background: Despite several studies on the effect of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based therapeutics on osteoarthritis (OA), information on the transduction efficiency and applicable profiles of different AAV serotypes to chondrocytes in hard cartilage tissue is still limited. Moreover, the recent discovery of additional AAV serotypes makes it necessary to screen for more suitable AAV serotypes for specific tissues. Here, we compared the transduction efficiencies of 14 conventional AAV serotypes in human chondrocytes, mouse OA models, and human cartilage explants obtained from OA patients. Methods: To compare the transduction efficiency of individual AAV serotypes, green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression was detected by fluorescence microscopy or western blotting. Likewise, to compare the transduction efficiencies of individual AAV serotypes in cartilage tissues, GFP expression was determined using fluorescence microscopy or immunohistochemistry, and GFP-positive cells were counted. Results: Only AAV2, 5, 6, and 6.2 exhibited substantial transduction efficiencies in both normal and OA chondrocytes. All AAV serotypes except AAV6 and rh43 could effectively transduce human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. In human and mouse OA cartilage tissues, AAV2, AAV5, AAV6.2, AAV8, and AAV rh39 showed excellent tissue specificity based on transduction efficiency. These results indicate the differences in transduction efficiencies of AAV serotypes between cellular and tissue models. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that AAV2 and AAV6.2 may be the best choices for AAV-mediated gene delivery into intra-articular cartilage tissue. These AAV vectors hold the potential to be of use in clinical applications to prevent OA progression if appropriate therapeutic genes are inserted into the vector.


Subject(s)
Cartilage, Articular/virology , Chondrocytes/virology , Dependovirus/genetics , Osteoarthritis/genetics , Transduction, Genetic/methods , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Gene Expression/genetics , Gene Transfer Techniques , Genetic Therapy , Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics , Humans , Mice , Osteoarthritis/virology , Serogroup
19.
Nat Commun ; 12(1): 4611, 2021 07 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34326333

ABSTRACT

Hedgehog signaling is essential for bone formation, including functioning as a means for the growth plate to drive skeletal mineralization. However, the mechanisms regulating hedgehog signaling specifically in bone-forming osteoblasts are largely unknown. Here, we identified SLIT and NTRK-like protein-5(Slitrk5), a transmembrane protein with few identified functions, as a negative regulator of hedgehog signaling in osteoblasts. Slitrk5 is selectively expressed in osteoblasts and loss of Slitrk5 enhanced osteoblast differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Loss of SLITRK5 in vitro leads to increased hedgehog signaling and overexpression of SLITRK5 in osteoblasts inhibits the induction of targets downstream of hedgehog signaling. Mechanistically, SLITRK5 binds to hedgehog ligands via its extracellular domain and interacts with PTCH1 via its intracellular domain. SLITRK5 is present in the primary cilium, and loss of SLITRK5 enhances SMO ciliary enrichment upon SHH stimulation. Thus, SLITRK5 is a negative regulator of hedgehog signaling in osteoblasts that may be attractive as a therapeutic target to enhance bone formation.


Subject(s)
Cilia/metabolism , Hedgehog Proteins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Osteogenesis/physiology , Patched-1 Receptor/metabolism , Animals , Cell Differentiation , Cells, Cultured , Hedgehog Proteins/genetics , Humans , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Osteoblasts/cytology , Patched-1 Receptor/genetics , Signal Transduction
20.
Sci Adv ; 7(4)2021 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33523925

ABSTRACT

Trabecular bone maintains physiological homeostasis and consistent structure and mass through repeated cycles of bone remodeling by means of tightly localized regulation. The molecular and cellular processes that regulate localized bone remodeling are poorly understood because of a lack of relevant experimental models. A tissue-engineered model is described here that reproduces bone tissue complexity and bone remodeling processes with high fidelity and control. An osteoid-inspired biomaterial-demineralized bone paper-directs osteoblasts to deposit structural mineralized bone tissue and subsequently acquire the resting-state bone lining cell phenotype. These cells activate and shift their secretory profile to induce osteoclastogenesis in response to chemical stimulation. Quantitative spatial mapping of cellular activities in resting and activated bone surface coculture showed that the resting-state bone lining cell network actively directs localized bone remodeling by means of paracrine signaling and cell-to-cell contact. This model may facilitate further investigation of trabecular bone niche biology.


Subject(s)
Cancellous Bone , Organoids , Bone Remodeling , Bone and Bones , Osteoblasts
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