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Sclerostin blockade inhibits bone resorption through PDGF receptor signaling in osteoblast lineage cells
Cyril Thouverey, Pierre Apostolides, Julia Brun, Joseph Caverzasio, Serge Ferrari
Cyril Thouverey, Pierre Apostolides, Julia Brun, Joseph Caverzasio, Serge Ferrari
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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 3

Scl-Ab treatment durably decreased bone resorption and Csf1 expression in control mice, but did not exert any further anticatabolic effect in Pdgfr-cKO mice.

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Scl-Ab treatment durably decreased bone resorption and Csf1 expression i...
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 were induced (by stopping doxycycline treatment) 1 week prior the beginning of Scl-Ab treatment. (A) Representative images of TRAP-stained histological sections of distal femurs. Scale bars: 50 μm. Original magnification, ×200 (high-magnification insets). (B and C) Histomorphometric parameters of trabecular bone resorption measured at the secondary spongiosa of distal femurs (n = 5–6 per group). Oc.S/BS, osteoclast surface/bone surface; Oc.N/Pm, osteoclast number/bone perimeter. (D) Serum levels of TRAcP 5b (n = 5–6 per group). (E) Quantitative RT-PCR analyses of Csf1 (encoding M-CSF) expression in proximal tibial metaphyses (n = 5–6 per group). (F) M-CSF protein levels in bone marrow (BM) supernatants (n = 5–6 per group). (G and H) Quantitative RT-PCR analyses of (G) Rankl (receptor activator of NF-κB ligand) and (H) Opg (osteoprotegerin) expression in proximal tibial metaphyses (n = 5–6 per group). Data in B–D and F were analyzed by 3-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Data in E, G, and H were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test.

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