Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 2 regulates osteoclast fusion in a cell heterotypic manner.

Monocyte fusion into osteoclasts, bone resorbing cells, plays a key role in bone remodeling and homeostasis; therefore, aberrant cell fusion may be involved in a variety of debilitating bone diseases. Research in the last decade has led to the discovery of genes that regulate osteoclast fusion, but the basic molecular and cellular regulatory mechanisms underlying the fusion process are not completely understood. Here, we reveal a role for Dyrk2 in osteoclast fusion. We demonstrate that Dyrk2 down regulation promotes osteoclast fusion, whereas its overexpression inhibits fusion. Moreover, Dyrk2 also promotes the fusion of foreign-body giant cells, indicating that Dyrk2 plays a more general role in cell fusion. In an earlier study, we showed that fusion is a cell heterotypic process initiated by fusion-founder cells that fuse to fusion-follower cells, the latter of which are unable to initiate fusion. Here, we show that Dyrk2 limits the expansion of multinucleated founder cells through the suppression of the fusion competency of follower cells.

Inhibition of foreign body giant cell formation by 4- hexylresorcinol through suppression of diacylglycerol kinase delta gene expression.

Grafted macromolecules often induce granuloma formation with foreign body giant cell (FBGC) infiltration, and this is the main reason for graft failure. Diacylglycerol kinase (DAGK) is an important intracellular mediator of FBGC formation in macrophages. In this study, 4-hexylresorcinol (4HR) inhibited DAGKδ in a macrophage cell line (RAW264.7 cells). As a result of DAGK-δ inhibition by 4HR, FBGC formation was significantly inhibited in RAW264.7 cells. Silk fibroin is a well-known natural macromolecule, and when it is grafted into bone defects, it results in granuloma formation with massive FBGC formation. 4HR-incorporating silk graft materials displayed significant reduction of granuloma formation and increases in the extent of new bone formation in a rabbit calvarial defect model. In conclusion, 4HR could inhibit foreign body reaction via a DAGK-mediated pathway.

Paracrine and juxtacrine lymphocyte enhancement of adherent macrophage and foreign body giant cell activation.

Lymphocytes have been shown to be involved in modulating monocyte and macrophage behavior in the foreign body reaction. Lymphocyte effects on biomaterial-adherent macrophage and foreign body giant cell (FBGC) behavior were further investigated by culturing monocytes alone or together with lymphocytes, either in direct co-cultures or indirectly in transwells, on a series of polyethylene terephthalate-based photograft co-polymerized material surfaces displaying distinct hydrophobic, hydrophilic/neutral, hydrophilic/anionic, and hydrophilic/ cationic chemistries. After periods of 3, 7, and 10 days, cytokine production was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and normalized to adherent macrophage/FBGC density to yield a measure of adherent macrophage/FBGC activation. Interactions with lymphocytes enhanced adherent macrophage and FBGC production of pro-inflammatory IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and MIP-1beta on the hydrophobic and hydrophilic/cationic surfaces but had no effect on anti-inflammatory IL-10 production indicating lymphocytes promote a pro-inflammatory response to biomaterials. Lymphocytes also did not significantly influence MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 production. Interactions through indirect (paracrine) signaling showed a significant effect in enhancing adherent macrophage/FBGC activation at early time points whereas interactions via direct (juxtacrine) mechanisms dominated at later time points. Biomaterial surface chemistries differentially affected the observed responses as hydrophilic/neutral and hydrophilic/anionic surfaces, evoked the highest levels of activation relative to the other surfaces but did not facilitate lymphocyte enhancement of adherent macrophage/FBGC activation.

Multinucleated giant cells elicited around hydroxyapatite particles implanted in craniotomy defects are not osteoclasts.

BACKGROUND: The nature of the multinucleated giant cells (MNGC) elicited in contact with implantable biomaterials is still indecisive. METHOD: In Wistar rats the MNGC recruited after the implantation of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles in standardized skull defects were examined morphologically (at both the light and electron microscope levels), enzymatically (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase), and after a challenge with salmon calcitonin. RESULTS: The MNGC were of great size and contained abundant mitochondria, vacuoles, and vesicles throughout the cytoplasm; they were either tightly apposed to the HA surface or had long and thin processes penetrating the material. When processed for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, only a few cells were weakly stained. The staining was totally suppressed when samples were pretreated with cyanuric chloride in the MNGC but not in the host osteoclasts. Calcitonin induced the withdrawal of the host osteoclasts from the bone surface while the MNGC remained in contact with the HA material. CONCLUSION: The MNGC recruited to HA particles did not exhibit the morphologic, enzymatic and functional characteristics of the osteoclasts, and consequently must be regarded as macrophage polykaryons.