Aline Bozec

Osteoclast size is controlled by Fra-2 through LIF/LIF-receptor signalling and hypoxia

Osteoclasts are multinucleated haematopoietic cells that resorb bone. Increased osteoclast activity causes osteoporosis, a disorder resulting in a low bone mass and a high risk of fractures. Increased osteoclast size and numbers are also a hallmark of other disorders, such as Paget’s disease and multiple myeloma. The protein c-Fos, a component of the AP-1 transcription factor complex, is essential for osteoclast differentiation. Here we show that the Fos-related protein Fra-2 controls osteoclast survival and size. The bones of Fra-2-deficient newborn mice have giant osteoclasts, and signalling through leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and its receptor is impaired. Similarly, newborn animals lacking LIF have giant osteoclasts, and we show that LIF is a direct transcriptional target of Fra-2 and c-Jun. Moreover, bones deficient in Fra-2 and LIF are hypoxic and express increased levels of hypoxia-induced factor 1α (HIF1α) and Bcl-2. Overexpression of Bcl-2 is sufficient to induce giant osteoclasts in vivo, whereas Fra-2 and LIF affect HIF1α through transcriptional modulation of the HIF prolyl hydroxylase PHD2. This pathway is operative in the placenta, because specific inactivation of Fra-2 in the embryo alone does not cause hypoxia or the giant osteoclast phenotype. Thus placenta-induced hypoxia during embryogenesis leads to the formation of giant osteoclasts in young pups. These findings offer potential targets for the treatment of syndromes associated with increased osteoclastogenesis.

Directed differentiation of hematopoietic precursors and functional osteoclasts from human ES and iPS cells

The directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells offers the unique opportunity to generate a broad spectrum of human cell types and tissues for transplantation, drug discovery, and studying disease mechanisms. Here, we report the stepwise generation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. Generation of a primitive streak-like population in embryoid bodies, followed by specification to hematopoiesis and myelopoiesis by vascular endothelial growth factor and hematopoietic cytokines in serum-free media, yielded a precursor population enriched for cells expressing the monocyte-macrophage lineage markers CD14, CD18, CD11b, and CD115. When plated in monolayer culture in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), these precursors formed large, multinucleated osteoclasts that expressed tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and were capable of resorption. No tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated cells or resorption pits were observed in the absence of RANKL. Molecular analyses confirmed the expression of the osteoclast marker genes NFATc1, cathepsin K, and calcitonin receptor in a RANKL-dependent manner, and confocal microscopy demonstrated the coexpression of the alphavbeta3 integrin, cathepsin K and F-actin rings characteristic of active osteoclasts. Generating hematopoietic and osteoclast populations from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells will be invaluable for understanding embryonic bone development and postnatal bone disease.

Phosphate-Dependent Regulation of MGP in Osteoblasts: Role of ERK1/2 and Fra-1†‡

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) and the matrix Gla protein (MGP) are key regulators of bone formation. We have recently shown that Pi upregulates MGP in growth plate chondrocytes, which may represent a negative feedback loop for the control of mineralization. Osteoblasts from Fra‐1‐deleted mice express low levels of MGP, whereas the expression of MGP is elevated in Fra‐1 transgenic osteoblasts, suggesting a role for Fra‐1 in MGP expression and bone formation. In this study, we aimed at deciphering the relationships between Pi and MGP in osteoblasts to determine the molecular mechanisms involved in the Pi‐dependent regulation of MGP. In MC3T3‐E1 cells and primary calvaria‐derived osteoblasts, Pi increased MGP and Fra‐1 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. We also found that Pi enhanced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. U0126 (MEK1/2 inhibitor) suppressed Pi‐stimulated MGP and Fra‐1 expression, indicating that ERK1/2 is required for Pi‐dependent regulation of MGP and Fra‐1. In addition, using in vitro DNA binding and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we showed that Fra‐1 interacts with the MGP promoter in response to Pi in MC3T3‐E1 cells. Finally, we found that in fra‐1 knockdown MC3T3‐E1 osteoblasts, the level of MGP expression is no more significantly upregulated by Pi. We further showed that primary osteoblasts from Fra‐1‐deficient mice failed to exhibit a Pi‐dependent stimulation of MGP expression. These data show, for the first time, that Pi regulates MGP expression in osteoblasts through the ERK1/2‐Fra‐1 pathway.

FOSL2 promotes leptin gene expression in human and mouse adipocytes

The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin is a critical regulator of many physiological functions, ranging from satiety to immunity. Surprisingly, very little is known about the transcriptional pathways that regulate adipocyte-specific expression of leptin. Here, we report studies in which we pursued a strategy integrating BAC transgenic reporter mice, reporter assays, and chromatin state mapping to locate an adipocyte-specific cis-element upstream of the leptin (LEP) gene in human fat cells. Quantitative proteomics with affinity enrichment of protein-DNA complexes identified the transcription factor FOS-like antigen 2 (FOSL2) as binding specifically to the identified region, a result that was confirmed by ChIP. Knockdown of FOSL2 in human adipocytes decreased LEP expression, and overexpression of Fosl2 increased Lep expression in mouse adipocytes. Moreover, the elevated LEP expression observed in obesity correlated well with increased FOSL2 levels in mice and humans, and adipocyte-specific genetic deletion of Fosl2 in mice reduced Lep expression. Taken together, these data identify FOSL2 as a critical regulator of leptin expression in adipocytes.

The Nuclear Receptor Nr4a1 Mediates Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Apoptotic Cells

Uptake of apoptotic cells (ACs) by macrophages ensures the nonimmunogenic clearance of dying cells, as well as the maintenance of self-tolerance to AC-derived autoantigens. Upon ingestion, ACs exert an inhibitory influence on the inflammatory signaling within the phagocyte. However, the molecular signals that mediate these immune-modulatory properties of ACs are incompletely understood. In this article, we show that the phagocytosis of apoptotic thymocytes was enhanced in tissue-resident macrophages where this process resulted in the inhibition of NF-κB signaling and repression of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-12. In parallel, ACs induced a robust expression of a panel of immediate early genes, which included the Nr4a subfamily of nuclear receptors. Notably, deletion of Nr4a1 interfered with the anti-inflammatory effects of ACs in macrophages and restored both NF-κB signaling and IL-12 expression. Accordingly, Nr4a1 mediated the anti-inflammatory properties of ACs in vivo and was required for maintenance of self-tolerance in the murine model of pristane-induced lupus. Thus, our data point toward a key role for Nr4a1 as regulator of the immune response to ACs and of the maintenance of tolerance to “dying self.”

Th2 and eosinophil responses suppress inflammatory arthritis

Th2–eosinophil immune responses are well known for mediating host defence against helminths. Herein we describe a function of Th2–eosinophil responses in counteracting the development of arthritis. In two independent models of arthritis, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection leads to Th2 and eosinophil accumulation in the joints associated with robust inhibition of arthritis and protection from bone loss. Mechanistically, this protective effect is dependent on IL-4/IL-13-induced STAT6 pathway. Furthermore, we show that eosinophils play a central role in the modulation of arthritis probably through the increase of anti-inflammatory macrophages into arthritic joints. The presence of these pathways in human disease is confirmed by detection of GATA3-positive cells and eosinophils in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Taken together, these results demonstrate that eosinophils and helminth-induced activation of the Th2 pathway axis effectively mitigate the course of inflammatory arthritis.

Osteoblast-specific expression of Fra-2/AP-1 controls adiponectin and osteocalcin expression and affects metabolism.

Summary Recent studies have established that the skeleton functions as an endocrine organ affecting metabolism through the osteoblast-derived hormone osteocalcin (Ocn). However, it is not fully understood how many transcription factors expressed in osteoblasts regulate the endocrine function. Here, we show that mice with osteoblast-specific deletion of Fra-2 (Fosl2) have low bone mass but increased body weight. In contrast, transgenic expression of Fra-2 in osteoblasts leads to increased bone mass and decreased body weight accompanied by reduced serum glucose and insulin levels, improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. In addition, mice lacking Fra-2 have reduced levels of circulating Ocn, but high adiponectin (Adipoq), whereas Fra-2 transgenic mice exhibit high Ocn and low Adipoq levels. Moreover, we found that Adipoq was expressed in osteoblasts and that this expression was transcriptionally repressed by Fra-2. These results demonstrate that Fra-2 expression in osteoblasts represents a novel paradigm for a transcription factor controlling the endocrine function of the skeleton.

Fra-2/AP-1 controls adipocyte differentiation and survival by regulating PPARγ and hypoxia.

Adipocyte cell number is a crucial factor for controlling of body weight and metabolic function. The regulation of adipocyte numbers in the adult organism is not fully understood but is considered to depend on the homeostasis of cell differentiation and apoptosis. Herein, we show that targeted deletion of the activator protein (AP-1)-related transcription factor Fra-2 in adipocytes in vivo (Fra-2Δadip mice) induces a high-turnover phenotype with increased differentiation and apoptosis of adipocytes, leading to a decrease in body weight and fat pad mass. Importantly, adipocyte cell numbers were significantly reduced in Fra-2Δadip mice. At the molecular level, Fra-2 directly binds to the PPARγ2 promoter and represses PPARγ2 expression. Deletion of Fra-2 leads to increased PPARγ2 expression and adipocyte differentiation as well as increased adipocyte apoptosis through upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). These findings suggest that Fra-2 is an important checkpoint to control adipocyte turnover. Therefore, inhibition of Fra-2 may emerge as a useful strategy to increase adipocyte turnover and to reduce adipocyte numbers and fat mass in the body.

The AP-1 transcription factor Fra1 inhibits follicular B cell differentiation into plasma cells

Grötsch et al. find that the AP-1 transcription factor Fra-1 limits the generation of antibody-producing plasma cells. Absence of Fra1 in B cells results in abnormally high numbers of plasma cells and increased antibody responses after vaccination.

Interstitial lung disease induced by gefitinib and Toll-like receptor ligands is mediated by Fra-1

The role of the AP-1 transcription factor Fra-1 (encoded by Fosl1) in inflammatory responses associated with lung disease is largely unknown. Here, we show that Fra-1 overexpression in mice reduced proinflammatory cytokine production in response to injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a Toll-like receptor (TLR)-ligand. Unexpectedly, Fra-1 transgenic mice died rapidly following LPS treatment, showing severe interstitial lung disease and displaying massive accumulation of macrophages and overproduction of several chemokines, including macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, encoded by Ccl2). To assess the clinical relevance of Fra-1 in lung pathology, mice were treated with the anticancer drug gefitinib (Iressa), which can lead to interstitial lung disease in patients. Gefitinib-treated mice showed increased Fosl1 and Ccl2 expression and developed interstitial lung disease in response to LPS, endogenous TLR ligands and chemotherapy. Moreover, deletion of Fra-1 or blocking MCP-1 receptor signaling in mice attenuated gefitinib-enhanced lethality in response to LPS. Importantly, human alveolar macrophages showed enhanced LPS-induced FOSL1 and CCL2 expression after gefitinib treatment. These results indicate that Fra-1 is an important mediator of interstitial lung disease following gefitinib treatment.