Cell-to-Cell adhesion via intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 pathway is involved in 1alpha,25(OH)2D3, PTH and IL-1alpha-induced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption.

Cell-to-cell interaction is required for the differentiation of osteoclast precursors as well as for osteoclast function. The present study was undertaken to determine whether 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D), PTH, IL-1alpha and PGE2 depend on cell-to-cell interactions through the intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1/leukocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1 pathway in osteoclast formation and bone resorption. We found that mouse osteoblasts expressed ICAM-1 and that the expression was increased by treatment with PTH, IL-1alpha or 1,25D, but not by PGE2. In resorption assays measuring either 45Ca release from bone organ cultures or pit formation in bone cell cultures, 1,25D-, PTH- and IL-1alpha-stimulated resorption was inhibited by anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and/or anti-LFA-1 mAb, while basal and PGE2-stimulated bone resorbing activities were not affected by these mAbs. Furthermore, in a mouse bone marrow culture system, stimulation of osteoclast-like (OCL) cell formation by 1,25D (10 nM), PTH (10 ng/ml) or IL-1alpha (10 ng/ml) was inhibited by the addition of anti-ICAM-1 mAb and/or anti-LFA-1 mAb. In a coculture system of murine spleen cells and osteoblasts, the ICAM-1/LFA-1 interaction was also involved in 1,25D-, PTH- and IL-1alpha-stimulated TRAP-positive MNC formation. However, anti-ICAM-1 mAb and anti-LFA-1 mAb did not alter either 1,25D- or PTH-stimulated receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) mRNA transcription in bone marrow cultures. Taken together, we here propose that ICAM-1-mediated cell-to-cell adhesion of osteoblasts and osteoclast precursors is involved in RANKL-dependent osteoclast maturation stimulated by 1,25D, PTH, and IL-1alpha.

Hepatic sarcoidosis associated with chronic hepatitis C.

A 57-year-old woman with sarcoidosis was referred because of the appearance of multiple small low-attenuation areas in the liver on computed tomography (CT). A liver biopsy specimen showed chronic active hepatitis accompanied by sarcoid granulomas. The patient received prednisolone and, later, interferon-alpha. CT at 5 months of prednisolone treatment showed disappearance of the hepatic low-attenuation nodules. During long-term follow-up, however, these nodules reappeared on CT and liver cirrhosis finally developed. We present this case for two reasons: (1) hepatic sarcoidosis was associated with chronic active hepatitis C; (2) hepatic nodular lesions were evaluated by CT throughout the entire course, with CT scans having been taken from 2 years prior to their appearance.

The mutual regulation of arginine-vasopressin and PTHrP secretion in dissociated supraoptic neurons.

PTHrP is detected in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus. We have recently demonstrated that PTHrP(1-34) is involved in AVP release and synthesis in the SON in vivo and in vitro. PTHrP and AVP, which act on blood vessels, may interact by autocrine and paracrine mechanisms in the central nervous system. The present study was undertaken to determine the mutual regulation of AVP and PTHrP secretion in dissociated magnocellular neurons of the SON. Both AVP and PTHrP existed in the dissociated SON neurons by immunohistochemistry. PTHrP(1-34) stimulated AVP secretion from the cells dose dependently, but PTHrP(7-34) and PTH(1-34) did not. PTHrP(1-34)-stimulated AVP secretion was associated with cAMP generation. PTHrP(1-34)-induced cAMP generation was inhibited by a 100-fold molar excess of PTHrP(7-34) but not by that of PTH(1-34). PTHrP(1-34) also stimulated AVP mRNA expression in the cells. These results are consistent with our previous observations that PTHrP(1-34) is involved in AVP secretion through a receptor distinct from type I PTH/PTHrP receptor. Next, AVP stimulated dose-dependent PTHrP release from the dissociated SON neurons. The AVP-induced PTHrP release was suppressed by both OPC-21268 (V(1a) receptor antagonist) and dP[Thy(Me)(2)]AVP (V(1a)/V(1b) receptor antagonist) but not by OPC-31260 (V(2) receptor antagonist). AVP increased PKC activity dose dependently but not cAMP generation in the SON neurons. The AVP-stimulated PTHrP release was blocked by staurosporine (PKC inhibitor), nicardipine (L-type calcium channel blocker) or omega-agatoxin IVA (N type). Furthermore, AVP stimulated PTHrP mRNA expression for 12 h in the SON neurons. These results indicate that AVP caused increases in PTHrP secretion and its mRNA levels through V(1a) and/or V(1b) receptors in the SON neurons. Our observations, taken together, suggest that PTHrP stimulates AVP secretion into the extracellular space of the SON, which in turn leads to further secretion of AVP and PTHrP by an autocrine/paracrine mechanism.