Unique Distal Enhancers Linked to the Mouse Tnfsf11 Gene Direct Tissue-Specific and Inflammation-Induced Expression of RANKL.

Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) is expressed by a number of cell types to participate in diverse physiological functions. We have previously identified 10 distal RANKL enhancers. Earlier studies have shown that RL-D5 is a multifunctional RANKL enhancer. Deletion of RL-D5 from the mouse genome leads to lower skeletal and lymphoid tissue RANKL, causing a high bone mass phenotype. Herein, we determine the physiological role and lineage specificity of 2 additional RANKL enhancers, RL-D6 and RL-T1, which are located 83 and 123 kb upstream of the gene's transcriptional start site, respectively. Lack of RL-D6 or RL-T1 did not alter skeletal RANKL or bone mineral density up to 48 weeks of age. Although both RL-D5 and RL-T1 contributed to activation induction of T-cell RANKL, RL-T1 knockout mice had drastically low lymphocyte and lymphoid tissue RANKL levels, indicating that RL-T1 is the major regulator of lymphocyte RANKL. Moreover, RL-T1 knockout mice had lower circulating soluble RANKL, suggesting that lymphocytes are important sources of circulating soluble RANKL. Under physiological conditions, lack of RL-D6 did not alter RANKL expression. However, lack of RL-D5 or RL-D6, but not of RL-T1, blunted the oncostatin M and lipopolysaccharide induction of RANKL ex vivo and in vivo, suggesting that RL-D5 and RL-D6 coregulate the inflammation-mediated induction of RANKL in osteocytes and osteoblasts while lack of RL-D6 did not alter secondary hyperparathyroidism or lactation induction of RANKL or bone loss. These results suggest that although RL-D5 mediates RANKL expression in multiple lineages, other cell type- or factor-specific enhancers are required for its appropriate control, demonstrating the cell type-specific and complex regulation of RANKL expression.

Androgens suppress osteoclast formation induced by RANKL and macrophage-colony stimulating factor.

Androgen deficiency in males leads to an increase in osteoclastic bone resorption and a progressive decrease in bone mineral density. In the current studies, we examined the ability of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone to suppress osteoclast formation induced by receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage-colony stimulating factor in vitro. 5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone suppressed the differentiation of bone marrow monocytes into osteoclasts from both sham-operated and orchidectomized mice. Androgen deficiency also led to an increase in the number of hematopoietic precursors capable of forming osteoclasts and increased the relative responsiveness of these cells to androgens in vitro. Interestingly, E2 was as effective as 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in suppressing osteoclast formation in bone marrow monocytes from both sham and orchidectomized mice. As with bone marrow monocytes, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone also suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast formation in the monocyte-macrophagic cell line RAW264.7. In RAW264.7 cells, androgens appear to block RANKL-induced osteoclast formation through selective regulation of c-JUN: Accordingly, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone suppressed RANKL-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation and reduced c-Jun expression levels. These effects resulted in a reduction in RANKL-induced activator protein-1 DNA binding activity and a corresponding suppression in activator protein-1-mediated transcriptional activation. These studies indicate that both E and androgens can suppress osteoclast formation via a direct, stromal cell-independent action on osteoclast precursors to block key transcription factors such as c-Jun essential for osteoclast differentiation.

IL-4 inhibits osteoclast formation through a direct action on osteoclast precursors via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 1.

IL-4 is a pleiotropic immune cytokine secreted by activated T(H)2 cells that inhibits bone resorption both in vitro and in vivo. The cellular targets of IL-4 action as well as its intracellular mechanism of action remain to be determined. We show here that IL-4 inhibits receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand-induced osteoclast differentiation through an action on osteoclast precursors that is independent of stromal cells. Interestingly, this inhibitory effect can be mimicked by both natural as well as synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma1 (PPARgamma1) ligands and can be blocked by the irreversible PPARgamma antagonist GW 9662. These findings suggest that the actions of IL-4 on osteoclast differentiation are mediated by PPARgamma1, an interpretation strengthened by the observation that IL-4 can activate a PPARgamma1-sensitive luciferase reporter gene in RAW264.7 cells. We also show that inhibitors of enzymes such as 12/15-lipoxygenase and the cyclooxygenases that produce known PPARgamma1 ligands do not abrogate the IL-4 effect. These findings, together with the observation that bone marrow cells from 12/15-lipoxygenase-deficient mice retain sensitivity to IL-4, suggest that the cytokine may induce novel PPARgamma1 ligands. Our results reveal that PPARgamma1 plays an important role in the suppression of osteoclast formation by IL-4 and may explain the beneficial effects of the thiazolidinedione class of PPARgamma1 ligands on bone loss in diabetic patients.

Targeted overexpression of insulin-like growth factor I to osteoblasts of transgenic mice: increased trabecular bone volume without increased osteoblast proliferation.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is an important growth factor for bone, yet the mechanisms that mediate its anabolic activity in the skeleton are poorly understood. To examine the effects of locally produced IGF-I in bone in vivo, we targeted expression IGF-I to osteoblasts of transgenic mice using a human osteocalcin promoter. The IGF-I transgene was expressed in bone osteoblasts in OC-IGF-I transgenic mice at high levels in the absence of any change in serum IGF-I levels, or of total body growth. Bone formation rate at the distal femur in 3-week-old OC-IGF-I transgenic mice was approximately twice that of controls. By 6 weeks, bone mineral density as measured by dual energy x-ray, and quantitative computed tomography was significantly greater in OC-IGF-I transgenic mice compared with controls. Histomorphometric measurements revealed a marked (30%) increase femoral cancellous bone volume in the OC-IGF-I transgenic mice, but no change in the total number of osteoblasts or osteoclasts. Transgenic mice also demonstrated an increase in the osteocyte lacunea occupancy, suggesting that IGF-I may extend the osteocyte life span. We conclude that IGF-I produced locally in bone osteoblasts exerts its anabolic effect primarily by increasing the activity of resident osteoblasts.

Estrogens suppress RANK ligand-induced osteoclast differentiation via a stromal cell independent mechanism involving c-Jun repression.

Loss of ovarian function following menopause results in a substantial increase in bone turnover and a critical imbalance between bone formation and resorption. This imbalance leads to a progressive loss of trabecular bone mass and eventually osteoporosis, in part the result of increased osteoclastogenesis. Enhanced formation of functional osteoclasts appears to be the result of increased elaboration by support cells of osteoclastogenic cytokines such as IL-1, tumor necrosis factor, and IL-6, all of which are negatively regulated by estrogens. We show here that estrogen can suppress receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF)-induced differentiation of myelomonocytic precursors into multinucleated tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts through an estrogen receptor-dependent mechanism that does not require mediation by stromal cells. This suppression is dose-dependent, isomer-specific, and reversed by ICI 182780. Furthermore, the bone-sparing analogues tamoxifen and raloxifene mimic estrogen's effects. Estrogen blocks RANKL/M-CSF-induced activator protein-1-dependent transcription, likely through direct regulation of c-Jun activity. This effect is the result of a classical nuclear activity by estrogen receptor to regulate both c-Jun expression and its phosphorylation by c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Our results suggest that estrogen modulates osteoclast formation both by down-regulating the expression of osteoclastogenic cytokines from supportive cells and by directly suppressing RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation.

The inhibitory effect of interleukin-10 on mouse osteoclast formation involves novel tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) inhibits osteoclast (OC) formation in rat and mouse systems. However, little is known concerning the mechanism of this inhibitory effect. Using a coculture system of mouse bone marrow cells and primary osteoblastic cells (POB), we evaluated the potential target cells for IL-10 and components of the IL-10 activating pathway. In the coculture system, IL-10 treatment abolished OC differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect occurred regardless of the stage of cellular proliferation and differentiation, suggesting that IL-10 may act on a variety of genes participating in OC formation. IL-10 specifically abrogated the production of IL-6 by enriched bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMM) but not by osteoblastic cells. IL-10 treatment also stimulated the binding of a protein in the BMM to an IL-10 response element, whereas no such activation was induced in osteoblastic cells. In contrast, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), another inhibitory factor, stimulated tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins to bind to an IL-10 response element in both monocytes and osteoblastic cells. These data suggest that the BMM are the direct target of IL-10 action. Importantly, oligonucleotide-specific precipitation confirmed that IL-10 treatment strongly augmented 88, 85, and 70 kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in BMM. Taken together, these data show that IL-10 inhibits mouse OC formation by acting directly on hemopoietic OC precursor, through a novel signal transduction and activation pathway.

Vitamin D receptor as a candidate tumor-suppressor gene in severe hyperparathyroidism of uremia.

Most chronic renal failure patients with severe refractory hyperparathyroidism harbor at least one monoclonal parathyroid tumor, but the specific acquired genetic defects that confer this clonal selective advantage remain poorly understood. Somatic inactivation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene could contribute to clonal outgrowth, because a parathyroid cell containing this lesion would have an impaired response to the antiproliferative influence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Furthermore, diminished expression of VDR protein has been described in uremia-associated parathyroid tumors. Therefore, to assess VDR gene inactivation's potential pathogenetic role in this disease, we rigorously analyzed the VDR gene in 59 parathyroid tumors surgically resected from uremic patients. First, Southern blotting and/or PCR analyses of 29 tumor samples from 14 genetically informative patients revealed no allelic losses at the VDR locus. Next, direct DNA sequencing of all VDR splice junctions, associated intronic sequences, and virtually the entire VDR-coding region for all 59 tumors revealed no acquired mutations. Last, 37 tumor DNA samples were subjected to comparative genomic hybridization, and no chromosomal losses in the VDR region (12cen-q12) were observed. These observations suggest that inactivating defects within the VDR gene do not commonly contribute to the primary pathogenesis of severe refractory hyperparathyroidism in uremia.

The caudal-related homeodomain protein Cdx-2 regulates vitamin D receptor gene expression in the small intestine.

The actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2 D3) are mediated through the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR). The regulation of VDR abundance plays an important role in determining the magnitude of the target cell response to 1,25(OH)2D3. The major physiological activity of 1,25(OH)2D3 is the regulation of calcium absorption in the small intestine, and the level of VDR is an important factor in this regulation. However, the characterization of VDR gene expression in the small intestine remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the regulation of the human VDR (hVDR) gene expression in the small intestine. The 4.0 kb of the 5'-flanking region of the hVDR gene promoter was cloned and characterized by the measurement of luciferase activity and an electrophoretic mobility-shift assay (EMSA). With the EMSA, we found that Cdx-2 (a homeodomain protein-related caudal) binds to the sequence 5'-ATAAAAACTTAT-3' at -3731 to -3720 bp (hVD-SIF1) relative to the transcription start site of the hVDR promoter. This sequence is very similar to the human sucrase-isomaltase footprint 1 (SIF1) element. With a competition analysis and specific antibodies for Cdx-2, we demonstrated that Cdx-2 is able to activate VDR gene transcription by binding to this element. The mutation of the hVD-SIF1 sequence in the hVDR gene promoter markedly suppressed the transactivation of the reporter gene in Caco-2 cells. In addition, the DNA fragment (-3996 to -3286) containing the hVD-SIF1 binding site increased transcription when placed upstream of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter. These findings suggest that Cdx-2 plays an important role in the intestine-specific transcription of the hVDR gene.

Dexamethasone and interleukin-1 potently synergize to stimulate the production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in differentiated THP-1 cells.

The human monocytic leukemic cell line, THP-1, which differentiates toward macrophages in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was investigated for its ability to produce granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). G-CSF protein was neither produced during PMA-induced differentiation nor in response to dexamethasone (Dex) alone. However, when combined, PMA and Dex synergistically stimulated THP-1 cells to produce G-CSF. The synergistic interaction between PMA and Dex on G-CSF production appeared to be mediated through the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) since neutralization of IL-1 activity completely inhibited G-CSF production. Further experiments demonstrated that in THP-1 cells pretreated with PMA, Dex potently synergized with IL-1 to stimulate G-CSF production.

Analysis of osteocalcin expression in transgenic mice reveals a species difference in vitamin D regulation of mouse and human osteocalcin genes.

A line of transgenic mice expressing a human osteocalcin genomic fragment (hOClocus) and a murine MC3T3-E1 cell line containing a stably integrated human osteocalcin promoter construct have been developed to characterize the osteogenic and hormonal regulation of human osteocalcin in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we used these models to demonstrate a species difference in the regulation of the mouse and human osteocalcin genes by vitamin D. Repeated administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) to mice carrying the hOClocus transgene resulted in striking increases in serum human osteocalcin, whereas serum mouse osteocalcin levels were unchanged after 24 h and only modestly increased 48 h after the second dose of hormone. 1,25(OH)2D3 increased human calvarial mRNA expression by 1.8-fold and slightly decreased mouse osteocalcin mRNA levels by approximately 1.2-fold. Furthermore, treatment of primary calvarial osteoblasts from these mice with 1,25(OH)2D3 increased human osteocalcin production but inhibited mouse osteocalcin protein accumulation. To investigate further the mechanism for the apparent species difference in vitamin D3 induction of mouse and human osteocalcin, we examined the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 in an MC3T3-E1 cell line (MC4) containing a stably integrated 3900 bp osteocalcin promoter-luciferase construct. Treatment of MC4 cells with ascorbic acid resulted in parallel increases of the endogenous mouse osteocalcin protein and luciferase reporter activity over a 12-day period. Continuous exposure of MC4 cells to 1,25(OH)2D3 resulted in time-and dose-dependent increases in the activity of the phOC3900 luciferase construct. By contrast, the hormone had no effect on mouse osteocalcin protein concentrations and inhibited its induction by ascorbic acid. However, when cells were treated acutely with 1,25(OH)2D3 at later times during growth in ascorbic acid, the induction of mouse osteocalcin protein was only partially inhibited. In conclusion, our results indicate that common osteogenic signals regulate both mouse and human osteocalcin gene expression, but the mouse gene is resistant to induction by vitamin D. This species difference in vitamin D regulation of osteocalcin appears to result from the failure of 1,25(OH)2D3 to transcriptionally activate the mouse osteocalcin gene.

Dexamethasone potently enhances phorbol ester-induced IL-1beta gene expression and nuclear factor NF-kappaB activation.

The synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone, an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agent, was investigated for its effect on PMA-mediated expression of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta in the human monocytic leukemic cell line THP-1. PMA alone induced the production of low levels of IL-1beta in THP-1 cells, whereas dexamethasone alone had no effect. However, dexamethasone potently enhanced PMA-mediated IL-1beta production. Using a selective and potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, we found that synergistic interaction between PMA and dexamethasone requires protein kinase C activation. PMA has been known to activate nuclear factor NF-kappaB in THP-1 cells. Using an oligonucleotide probe corresponding to an NF-kappaB DNA-binding motif of the IL-1beta gene promoter in gel electrophoresis mobility shift assays, we demonstrated that PMA-induced NF-kappaB activation was greatly potentiated by dexamethasone. Our results indicate that glucocorticoids can be positive regulators of inflammatory cytokine gene expression during monocytic cell differentiation.

Structural organization of the human vitamin D receptor chromosomal gene and its promoter.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is known to mediate the pleiotropic biological actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 through its ability to modulate the expression of target genes. The regulation of this ligand-activated cellular transcription factor is reported to occur at both transcriptional and posttranslational levels. To begin to address the molecular basis by which the VDR gene is regulated transcriptionally, we report here an initial characterization of the human VDR gene and its promoter. We isolated several overlapping A-phage and cosmid clones that cover more than 100 kb of human DNA and contained the entire VDR gene. The gene is comprised of 11 exons that, together with intervening introns, span approximately 75 kb. The noncoding 5'-end of the gene includes exons 1A, 1B, and 1C. Eight additional exons (exons 2-9) encode the structural portion of the VDR gene product. While primer extension and S1 nuclease-mapping studies reveal several common transcriptional start sites, three unique mRNA species are produced as a result of the differential splicing of exons 1B and 1C. The DNA sequence lying upstream of exon 1A is GC rich and does not contain an apparent TATA box. Several potential binding sites for the transcription factor SP1 and other activators are evident. Fusion of DNA fragments containing putative promoter sequences upstream of the luciferase structural gene followed by transient transfection of these plasmids into several mammalian cell lines resulted in significant reporter activity. Due to the size and complexity of the 5'-end of the VDR gene, we examined the activity of a DNA fragment surrounding exon 1C. An intron fragment 3' of exon 1C conferred retinoic acid responsivity when fused to a reporter gene plasmid, suggesting a molecular mechanism for the previously observed ability of retinoic acid to induce the VDR. The recovery of the gene for the human VDR will enable further studies on the transcriptional regulation of this gene.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 9-cis-retinoic acid act synergistically to inhibit the growth of LNCaP prostate cells and cause accumulation of cells in G1.

Recent studies have suggested that the active metabolite of vitamin D3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, can inhibit the growth and/or induce the differentiation of a variety of cell types and that these characteristics might be useful in the treatment of some cancers. Retinoids also promote the differentiation and inhibit the growth of some cells. That the vitamin D receptor acts as a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) suggests that there may be functional interactions between 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and retinoids. In this study, we show that the combination of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 9-cis retinoic acid synergistically inhibits the growth of LNCaP prostate cancer cells. That this effect is mediated by RXR rather than retinoic acid receptors was shown using RXR- and retinoic acid receptor-specific ligands. The vitamin D3 analog, EB1089, inhibited growth more effectively than 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and also acted synergistically with 9-cis-retinoic acid. These treatments caused cells to accumulate in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, suggesting that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 can regulate one or more factors critical for the G1/S transition.

In vitro binding of vitamin D receptor occupied by 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to vitamin D responsive element of human osteocalcin gene.

We previously reported that 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24R,25(OH)2D3] activates the human osteocalcin gene (hOC) through vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D responsive element (VDRE) in the same manner as 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25(OH)2 D3] [17]. In the present study, the interaction of 24R,25(OH)2D3-liganded VDR [24R,25(OH)2D3-VDR] with the hOC VDRE in vitro was investigated. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) revealed that the binding of 24R,25(OH)2D3-liganded VDR to the hOC VDRE was weak, even at concentrations of 24R,25(OH)2D3 10(5)-fold higher than 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3. The effect of the nuclear accessory factor (NAF), which is required for the high affinity interaction of the VDR to the VDRE, on the binding of the 24R,25(OH)2D3-VDR to the VDRE was studied using hOC VDRE affinity column chromatographic assays. In the absence of NAF, the 24R,25(OH)2D3-VDR associated weakly with the VDRE compared to the 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3-liganded VDR [1 alpha,25(OH)2D3-VDR], whereas the NAF enhanced the binding of the 24R,25(OH)2D3-VDR for the VDRE. In the absence of the hOC VDRE, the binding affinity of the 24R,25(OH)2D3-VDR for the NAF was weaker than that of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3-VDR. These results suggest that the weak interaction of the 24R,25(OH)2D3-VDR with both NAF and hOC VDRE is responsible for the weak binding of the 24R,25(OH)2D3-VDR to the VDRE detected in EMSA. In terms of VDR function, 24R,25(OH)2D3 was more potent in transactivation than in vitro binding.

Transcriptional activation and dimerization functions in the human vitamin D receptor.

The C-terminal domain of the human vitamin D receptor (hVDR) is essential for dimerization with retinoid X receptors and for transcriptional activation. To define the dimerization domain of the hVDR, a series of internal deletion mutants of the receptor were prepared beginning within the E domain and extending through the F domain to the C terminus. These mutant receptors were tested for dimerization and transcriptional activities by means of gel shift assay and beta-galactosidase assay, respectively, in a yeast system. The dimerization domain of the hVDR was localized to two separate but adjacent regions of the receptor molecule. In these experiments, the activation domain colocalized with dimerization. To more precisely delineate a relationship between these domains, region-specific random mutagenesis was carried out to detect mutants using error-prone PCR and a functional screen strategy employed using transformed yeast. Two classes of inactive receptors were identified: one in which both transcriptional activation and dimerization were compromised and a second in which only transcriptional activation was abolished. Most of the mutations responsible for these phenotypes were single. The studies suggest a separation between dimerization and transactivation domains. We reconstituted each of these hVDR mutants in a mammalian expression vector and evaluated them individually in COS-1 cells. All VDR mutants were transcriptionally active in this cellular background in response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 although the potency of the hormone was reduced. The latter observation coincided with the observation that each mutant was compromised to some extent in binding affinity. These data clearly demonstrate the existence of an activation domain in hVDR that is separable from the domain involved in dimerization. Factors that couple hVDR to the general transcription apparatus in yeast through the activation domain in the hVDR, however, appear to be unrelated or dissimilar to those used in COS-1 cells.

Production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor by THP-1 cells in response to retinoic acid and phorbol ester is mediated through the autocrine production of interleukin-1.

The human monocytic leukemic cell line, THP-1, which differentiates toward macrophages in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was investigated for its ability to produce granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). G-CSF protein was neither produced during PMA-induced differentiation nor in response to retinoic acid (RA) alone. However, when combined, PMA and RA synergistically stimulated G-CSF production with optimal effect observed at 10(-7)M for both PMA and RA. The synergistic interaction between PMA and RA on G-CSF production appeared to be mediated primarily through production of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) since neutralization of IL-1 beta activity inhibited about 80% of G-CSF production. It has been previously reported that IL-1 potently synergizes with RA to stimulate G-CSF production by THP-1 cells pretreated with PMA Using synthetic ligands to RA receptors (RAR) and retinoid X receptors (RXR) that selectively bind and activate RAR-RXR and RXR-RXR dimers respectively, we showed that the ability of RA to synergize with IL-1 was signaled through RAR-RXR heterodimer pathway. Finally, we demonstrated that RA can also enhance IL-1-induced G-CSF production in primary monocytes of human peripheral blood.

Identification of a novel mutation in hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets causing exon skipping.

OBJECTIVE: Hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets (HVDRR) is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting in target organ resistance to the actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). In many cases, this disorder has been shown to be due to mutations in the gene encoding vitamin D receptors (VDR). In a patient with characteristic features of this disorder, we investigated the functional defect and sequenced the coding region of the gene for mutations. DESIGN: Skin fibroblasts from patient and control were used to measure binding of 1,25(OH)2D3 and functional responses to the hormone. These cells were also used to prepare RNA from which cDNA was prepared and sequenced. Furthermore, genomic DNA was prepared from the fibroblasts and the intron/exon boundaries sequenced. PATIENT: A child with classic features of HVDRR with alopecia diagnosed as having rickets due to resistance to 1,25(OH)2D3. MEASUREMENTS: Nuclear association of 1,25(OH)2D3 was determined in patient and control cells and the functional response to 1,25(OH)2D3 was assessed by measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase(24-hydroxylase) activity. VDR cDNA and genomic DNA prepared from patient and control cells were sequenced. RESULTS: Cells from the patient with HVDRR had undetectable amounts of VDR compared to control cells and did not show induction of 24-hydroxylase activity following treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3. Sequencing of the VDR coding region after RT-PCR of RNA revealed an absence of exon 4 in patient RNA which was not due to a deletion in genomic DNA but was caused by exon skipping during RNA processing. In addition, the deletion of exon 4 sequences from RNA leads to a frameshift in translation resulting in a premature stop codon. Amplification of genomic DNA around the intron/exon boundary of exon 4 revealed a point mutation in the 5' donor splice site of intron 4. CONCLUSION: In this study, we have identified a novel mutation in the gene for vitamin D receptors in a patient with the characteristic phenotype of hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets. The mutation at the +5 position in intron 4 is most likely to cause skipping of exon 4 in this patient.

Estrogen modulates the recruitment of myelopoietic cell progenitors in rat through a stromal cell-independent mechanism involving apoptosis.

Loss of ovarian function leads to a significant increase in the number of bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Estrogen replacement is known to manifest bone protective effects in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In the present study, we used ovariectomized rats to examine the effects of estrogen loss at the osteoclast progenitor colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) level. A significant increase in CFU-GM number was observed as early as 7 days following ovariectomy, and correlated directly with an increase in the number of osteoclast-like cells generated in marrow cultures. The increase in CFU-GM following ovariectomy was abrogated in animals that received estrogen treatment in vivo. A similar suppressive effect was observed on CFU-GM number when ovariectomized rat marrow was treated with estrogen in vitro. This effect was blocked in the presence of the estrogen antihormone ICI 164,384. Thus, the data suggest the possibility that estrogen exerts a direct effect on osteoclast progenitors, and does so through the estrogen receptor-mediated mechanism. Ovariectomy also led to an increase in the early hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell population (Thy 1.1+ cells) as determined by FLOW cytometry methods. Morphological changes as well as terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase assays revealed that estrogen treatment negated growth factor-induced proliferation of these early progenitors by promoting apoptosis. The cellular effects of estrogen in vitro together with the immunocytochemical detection of the estrogen receptor in these cells, strongly support the contention that in addition to osteoclast progenitors such as CFU-GM, earlier hematopoietic progenitors are also unique cellular targets for estrogen action.

Inhibition of vitamin D receptor-retinoid X receptor-vitamin D response element complex formation by nuclear extracts of vitamin D-resistant New World primate cells.

Most New World primate (NWP) genera evolved to require high circulating levels of steroid hormones and vitamin D. We hypothesized that an intracellular vitamin D binding protein (IDBP), present in both nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of NWP cells, or another protein(s) may cause or contribute to the steroid hormone-resistant state in NWP by disruption of the receptor dimerization process and/or by interference of receptor complex binding to the consensus response elements present in the enhancer regions of steroid-responsive genes. We employed electromobility shift assay (EMSA) to screen for the presence of proteins capable of binding to the vitamin D response element (VDRE). Nuclear and post-nuclear extracts were prepared from two B-lymphoblastoid cell lines known to be representative of the vitamin D-resistant and wild type phenotypes, respectively. The extracts were compared for their ability to retard the migration of radiolabeled double stranded oligomers representative of the VDREs of the human osteocalcin and the mouse osteopontin gene promoters. A specific, retarded band containing VDR-RXR was identified when wild type cell but not when vitamin D-resistant cell nuclear extract was used in the binding reaction with either probe. In addition, vitamin D-resistant cell nuclear extract contained a protein(s) which was bound specifically to the VDRE and was capable of completely inhibiting VDR-RXR-VDRE complex formation; these effects were not demonstrated with nuclear extract from the wild type cell line or with the post-nuclear extract of the vitamin D-resistant cell line. We conclude that a VDRE-binding protein(s), distinct from IDBP and present in nuclear extract of cells from a prototypical vitamin D-resistant NWP, is capable of inhibiting normal VDR-RXR heterodimer binding to the VDRE.