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Sclerostin blockade inhibits bone resorption through PDGF receptor signaling in osteoblast lineage cells
Cyril Thouverey, … , Joseph Caverzasio, Serge Ferrari
Cyril Thouverey, … , Joseph Caverzasio, Serge Ferrari
Published May 7, 2024
Citation Information: JCI Insight. 2024;9(10):e176558. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.176558.
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Research Article Bone biology

Sclerostin blockade inhibits bone resorption through PDGF receptor signaling in osteoblast lineage cells

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Abstract

While sclerostin-neutralizing antibodies (Scl-Abs) transiently stimulate bone formation by activating Wnt signaling in osteoblast lineage cells, they exert sustained inhibition of bone resorption, suggesting an alternate signaling pathway by which Scl-Abs control osteoclast activity. Since sclerostin can activate platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) in osteoblast lineage cells in vitro and PDGFR signaling in these cells induces bone resorption through M-CSF secretion, we hypothesized that the prolonged anticatabolic effect of Scl-Abs could result from PDGFR inhibition. We show here that inhibition of PDGFR signaling in osteoblast lineage cells is sufficient and necessary to mediate prolonged Scl-Ab effects on M-CSF secretion and osteoclast activity in mice. Indeed, sclerostin coactivates PDGFRs independently of Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibition, by forming a ternary complex with LRP6 and PDGFRs in preosteoblasts. In turn, Scl-Ab prevents sclerostin-mediated coactivation of PDGFR signaling and consequent M-CSF upregulation in preosteoblast cultures, thereby inhibiting osteoclast activity in preosteoblast/osteoclast coculture assays. These results provide a potential mechanism explaining the dissociation between anabolic and antiresorptive effects of long-term Scl-Ab.

Authors

Cyril Thouverey, Pierre Apostolides, Julia Brun, Joseph Caverzasio, Serge Ferrari

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Figure 1

Scl-Ab–induced bone formation peaked more strongly in Pdgfr-cKO mice than in control mice after 2 weeks of treatment, but declined to baseline after 6 weeks of Scl-Ab treatment in mice of both genotypes.

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Scl-Ab–induced bone formation peaked more strongly in Pdgfr-cKO mice tha...
(A) Four-month-old Osx-Cre and Pdgfr-cKO (Pdgfra cKO;Pdgfrb cKO) male mice received subcutaneous injections of saline solution (Veh) or 25 mg/kg Scl-Ab twice a week for 2 or 6 weeks. Cre expression and/or conditional gene deletion was induced (by stopping doxycycline treatment) 1 week prior the beginning of Scl-Ab treatment. (B) Quantitative RT-PCR analyses of Pdgfra and Pdgfrb expression in bone marrow–free proximal tibial metaphyses at baseline (n = 5 per group). Differences between the 2 genotypes were analyzed using unpaired, 2-tailed t tests. (C) Cortical bone volume (Ct.BV) and thickness (Ct.Th) measured at tibial midshaft (n = 5–6 per group). (D) Trabecular bone microarchitecture measured at proximal tibiae (n = 5–6 per group). μCT parameters include bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular number (Tb.N). (E) Histomorphometric parameters of trabecular bone formation measured at the secondary spongiosa of distal femurs (n = 5–6 per group). Tb.BFR, trabecular bone formation rate; Tb.MS/BS, trabecular mineralizing surfaces/bone surfaces. (F) Serum levels of PINP (n = 5–6 per group). Data in C–F were analyzed by 3-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc tests.

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