Ermond van Beek

The role of geranylgeranylation in bone resorption and its suppression by bisphosphonates in fetal bone explants in vitro : A clue to the mechanism of action of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates

Bisphosphonates, synthetic compounds used in the treatment of skeletal disorders, suppress osteoclast‐mediated bone resorption by a yet unidentified mechanism. Previous studies showed that some bisphosphonates can inhibit enzymes of the mevalonate pathway, and nitrogen‐containing bisphosphonates inhibit protein prenylation in mouse macrophages. In the present study, we examined the involvement of the mevalonate pathway in basal and bisphosphonate‐inhibited osteoclastic resorption in fetal mouse long bone explants, an experimental model representative of the in vivo action of bisphosphonates. Mevastatin inhibited bone resorption at concentrations similar to those of the potent bisphosphonate ibandronate. This effect could be totally reversed by the addition of mevalnate and geranylgeraniol but not farnesol. The first two intermediates but not the latter could also stimulate basal bone resorption. The inhibitory effect of ibandronate on bone resorption could be totally reversed by the addition of geranylgeraniol and to a small extent only by mevalonate and farnesol, indicating that the bisphosphonate acts at a level of the mevalonate pathway different from that of mevastatin. Histologic sections of ibandronate‐treated bone explants showed further rescue of functioning osteoclasts during concomitant treatment with geranylgeraniol. Finally, the reversibility of bisphosphonate inhibited osteoclastic resorption by geranylgeraniol was also demonstrated for the potent nitrogen‐containing bisphosphonates alendronate, olpadronate, and risedronate but not for the non–nitrogen‐containing bisphosphonates clodronate and etidronate. These studies demonstrate that protein geranylgeranylation but not farnesylation is important for osteoclast‐mediated bone resorption and that nitrogen‐containing bisphosphonates exert their antiresorptive action probably by affecting enzymes of the mevalonate pathway involved in the generation of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate.

Lipophilic bisphosphonates as dual farnesyl/geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase inhibitors: an X-ray and NMR investigation.

Considerable effort has focused on the development of selective protein farnesyl transferase (FTase) and protein geranylgeranyl transferase (GGTase) inhibitors as cancer chemotherapeutics. Here, we report a new strategy for anticancer therapeutic agents involving inhibition of farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) and geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS), the two enzymes upstream of FTase and GGTase, by lipophilic bisphosphonates. Due to dual site targeting and decreased polarity, the compounds have activities far greater than do current bisphosphonate drugs in inhibiting tumor cell growth and invasiveness, both in vitro and in vivo. We explore how these compounds inhibit cell growth and how cell activity can be predicted based on enzyme inhibition data, and using X-ray diffraction, solid state NMR, and isothermal titration calorimetry, we show how these compounds bind to FPPS and/or GGPPS.

Dissociation of angiogenesis and osteoclastogenesis during endochondral bone formation in neonatal mice

Invasion of the mineralized matrix by endothelial cells and osteoclasts is a key event in endochondral bone formation. To examine the putative role of osteoclast activity in the angiogenic process, we used two in vivo models of suppressed bone resorption: mice treated with the bisphosphonate clodronate and in osteoclast‐deficient, osteopetrotic mice. Angiogenesis was assessed in caudal vertebrae of these neonatal mice. This model enables us to study the interaction between osteoclasts and endothelial cells during endochondral bone formation. In control conditions, sinusoid‐like structures were detected in the vicinity of tartrate resistance acid phosphatase positive (TRAcP+) osteoclasts. Treatment with clodronate completely abolished osteoclastic bone resorption, whereas angiogenesis remained unaffected. In line with these observations, in the osteopetrotic mouse mutants c‐fos knockout mice and op/op mice, capillaries invaded the calcified cartilage in the absence of osteoclasts. In conclusion, our data strongly suggest that during endochondral bone formation, vascular invasion can occur in the absence of osteo(chondro)clastic resorption. In addition, bisphosphonates show no apparent effect on angiogenesis in this in vivo model. These findings may have important clinical implications in the management of skeletal disorders such as metastatic bone disease, in which both osteoclastic bone resorption and angiogenesis contribute to tumor growth. On the other hand, our results confirm that bisphosphonates can be used safely in the treatment of disorders that affect the growing skeleton, such as in juvenile osteoporosis.

Ceramic hydroxyapatite implants for the release of bisphosphonate.

Maintaining bone mass after extraction of teeth is a major problem in the prevention of oral disease. Maintenance theoretically could be enhanced by immediate implantation of submerged ceramic hydroxyapatite (HA) implants releasing the bone resorption-inhibiting agent bisphosphonate (P-C-P). Four different types of ceramic HA implants were designed as release systems for an in vitro study and assayed in saline at a temperature of 37 degrees C during 3 months. The implants were either rod- or tube-shaped, with densities of 3.104 g/cm3 and 1.408 g/cm3 (microporous) or 2.369 g/cm3 (macro/microporous). Loading of the implants with the P-C-P was done by adsorption into the ceramic (rod-shaped implants) or by filling the reservoir of the implant (tube-shaped implants). Despite the fact that P-C-P has a high bonding affinity to HA it appeared that the release of adsorbed P-C-P from the ceramic HA occurred steady, controlled and over a long period of time. The rod-shaped implants had much better release properties than the tube-shaped implants. Microporous ceramic HA rods sintered at 800 degrees C and macro/microporous rods sintered at 1300 degrees C are considered to be promising release systems for P-C-Ps.

Degradable Bisphosphonate-Alkaline Phosphatase-Complexed Hydroxyapatite Implants In Vitro

Degradable hydroxyapatite (HA) implants complexed with the resorption inhibiting agent bisphosphonate (PCP) and the mineralizing agent alkaline phosphatase (ALP) can theoretically maintain alveolar bone mass directly after extraction of teeth. The present in vitro study investigated the surface properties of PCP–ALP‐complexed HA implants in relation to the requirements of implant behavior and action. Adsorbed PCP (pH 3.49) resulted in a flattening and broadening of the phosphate peaks and the formation of carbonate peaks in the HA pattern of the implant indicating a chemical alteration of the HA surface. Adsorption of ALP onto PCP‐altered HA surfaces was 26% lower than onto HA implant blank surfaces. PCP–ALP‐complexed HA implants released the PCP and ALP steadily and continuously over observation periods of, respectively, 75 and 14 days. During these observation periods, the ceramic grains of the HA implant became smaller and intergrain boundaries became broader. These morphologic characteristics suggested preconditioning of the HA implant surface for future bonding and degradation in vivo. Individual grains were no longer bonded to other grains and detached from the implant which had become rounded in shape. From in vitro mice experiments we found that PCP concentrations between 10−4 and 10−3 M resulted in45Ca‐release from the bone HA. Our calculations showed, however, that only a total concentration of 1.4 × 10−4 M PCP was gradually released over the whole observation period. In another experiment, it appeared that a PCP concentration in solution <10−3 M did not reduce ALP activity. It is concluded that release of PCP by the PCP–ALP‐complexed implants is maintained at levels in the range to impair osteoclast bone resorption but not high enough to block osteoblast activity. The amount of ALP released can lead to induction of bone formation onto implant surfaces. pH‐induced alterations in the microstructure and chemistry of the HA surface allow for controlled degradation of the HA implants in vitro. A PCP–ALP‐complexed HA implant acting as temporary scaffolding for alveolar bone growth enhancement, mineralization, and maintenance seems to be a reasonable concept for preservation of the edentulous alveolus.

Dual-wavelength imaging of tumor progression by activatable and targeting near-infrared fluorescent probes in a bioluminescent breast cancer model.

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) has shown its appeal as a sensitive technique for in vivo whole body optical imaging. However, the development of injectable tumor-specific near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) probes makes fluorescence imaging (FLI) a promising alternative to BLI in situations where BLI cannot be used or is unwanted (e.g., spontaneous transgenic tumor models, or syngeneic mice to study immune effects). In this study, we addressed the questions whether it is possible to detect tumor progression using FLI with appropriate sensitivity and how FLI correlates with BLI measurements. In addition, we explored the possibility to simultaneously detect multiple tumor characteristics by dual-wavelength FLI (∼700 and ∼800 nm) in combination with spectral unmixing. Using a luciferase-expressing 4T1-luc2 mouse breast cancer model and combinations of activatable and targeting NIRF probes, we showed that the activatable NIRF probes (ProSense680 and MMPSense680) and the targeting NIRF probes (IRDye 800CW 2-DG and IRDye 800CW EGF) were either activated by or bound to 4T1-luc2 cells. In vivo, we implanted 4T1-luc2 cells orthotopically in nude mice and were able to follow tumor progression longitudinally both by BLI and dual-wavelength FLI. We were able to reveal different probe signals within the tumor, which co-localized with immuno-staining. Moreover, we observed a linear correlation between the internal BLI signals and the FLI signals obtained from the NIRF probes. Finally, we could detect pulmonary metastases both by BLI and FLI and confirmed their presence histologically. Taken together, these data suggest that dual-wavelength FLI is a feasible approach to simultaneously detect different features of one tumor and to follow tumor progression with appropriate specificity and sensitivity. This study may open up new perspectives for the detection of tumors and metastases in various experimental models and could also have clinical applications, such as image-guided surgery.

Multicolor fluorescence imaging of traumatic brain injury in a cryolesion mouse model.

Traumatic brain injury is characterized by initial tissue damage, which then can lead to secondary processes such as cell death and blood-brain-barrier disruption. Clinical and preclinical studies of traumatic brain injury typically employ anatomical imaging techniques and there is a need for new molecular imaging methods that provide complementary biochemical information. Here, we assess the ability of a targeted, near-infrared fluorescent probe, named PSS-794, to detect cell death in a brain cryolesion mouse model that replicates certain features of traumatic brain injury. In short, the model involves brief contact of a cold rod to the head of a living, anesthetized mouse. Using noninvasive whole-body fluorescence imaging, PSS-794 permitted visualization of the cryolesion in the living animal. Ex vivo imaging and histological analysis confirmed PSS-794 localization to site of brain cell death. The nontargeted, deep-red Tracer-653 was validated as a tracer dye for monitoring blood-brain-barrier disruption, and a binary mixture of PSS-794 and Tracer-653 was employed for multicolor imaging of cell death and blood-brain-barrier permeability in a single animal. The imaging data indicates that at 3 days after brain cryoinjury the amount of cell death had decreased significantly, but the integrity of the blood-brain-barrier was still impaired; at 7 days, the blood-brain-barrier was still three times more permeable than before cryoinjury.

Effect of PLGA NP size on efficiency to target traumatic brain injury.

Necrotic cell death occurs exclusively under pathological conditions, such as ischemic diseases. Necrosis imaging is of diagnostic value and enables early measurement of treatment efficiency in ischemic patients. Here we explored the targeted delivery of particles, with diameters of approximately 100nm, 200nm and 800nm, consisting of a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticle (NP) core coated with a polyethylene glycol-lipid (PEG) layer. Targeted delivery was facilitated by coupling the amino end group of the polyethylene glycol-layer to 800CW imaging agent, which specifically binds to intracellular proteins of cells that have lost membrane integrity, thus revealing the extent of the damaged area. We found that smaller NPs (100nm), with an appropriate coating, diffuse throughout the traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice. Optical imaging revealed that smaller (100-nm) PEG-coated NPs carrying 800CW penetrated deeper into the mouse brain than large 800CW containing NPs (800nm). The importance of the 800CW as a ligand to target the necrotic tissue was further confirmed in living mice. The ability to achieve brain penetration with smaller NPs is expected to allow more uniform, longer-lasting, and effective delivery of drugs within the brain, and may find application in the treatment of stroke, brain tumors, neuroinflammation, and other brain diseases where the blood-brain barrier is compromised or where local delivery strategies are feasible.

Novel Late Response Genes of PTHrP in Chondrocytes

To gain more insight into the downstream effectors of parathyroid hormone (PTH) related peptide (PTHrP) signaling in chondrocytes, we performed microarray analysis to identify late PTHrP response genes using the chondrogenic ATDC5 cell line and studied their response in the osteoblastic KS483 cell line and explanted metatarsals. At day 8 of micromass culture, ATDC5 cells have pre-hypertrophic-like characteristics and at this time point the cells were stimulated with PTHrP for 24 and 72 h and RNA was isolated. PTHrP treatment inhibited outgrowth of cartilage matrix and decreased the expression of Col10a1 mRNA, which is in line with the inhibitory effects of PTHrP on chondrocyte differentiation. Using cDNA microarray analysis, a list of 9 genes (p< 10–3) was generated, including 3 upregulated (IGFBP4, Csrp2, and Ecm1) and 6 downregulated (Col9a1, Col2a1, Agc, Hmgn2, Calm1, and Mxd4) response genes. Four out of 9 genes are novel PTHrP response genes and 2 out of 9 have not yet been identified in cartilage. Four out of 9 genes are components of the extra-cellular matrix and the remaining genes are involved in signal transduction and transcription regulation. The response to PTHrP was validated by quantitative PCR, using the same RNA samples as labeled in the microarray experiments and RNA samples isolated from a new experiment. In addition, we examined whether these genes also reacted to PTHrP in other PTHrP responsive models, like KS483 osteoblasts and explanted metatarsals. The expression of late PTHrP response genes varied between ATDC5 chondrocytes, KS483 osteoblasts and metatarsals, suggesting that the expression of late response genes is dependent on the cellular context of the PTHrP responsive cells.

Necrosis avid near infrared fluorescent cyanines for imaging cell death and their use to monitor therapeutic efficacy in mouse tumor models.

Quantification of tumor necrosis in cancer patients is of diagnostic value as the amount of necrosis is correlated with disease prognosis and it could also be used to predict early efficacy of anti-cancer treatments. In the present study, we identified two near infrared fluorescent (NIRF) carboxylated cyanines, HQ5 and IRDye 800CW (800CW), which possess strong necrosis avidity. In vitro studies showed that both dyes selectively bind to cytoplasmic proteins of dead cells that have lost membrane integrity. Affinity for cytoplasmic proteins was confirmed using quantitative structure activity relations modeling. In vivo results, using NIRF and optoacoustic imaging, confirmed the necrosis avid properties of HQ5 and 800CW in a mouse 4T1 breast cancer tumor model of spontaneous necrosis. Finally, in a mouse EL4 lymphoma tumor model, already 24 h post chemotherapy, a significant increase in 800CW fluorescence intensity was observed in treated compared to untreated tumors. In conclusion, we show, for the first time, that the NIRF carboxylated cyanines HQ5 and 800CW possess strong necrosis avid properties in vitro and in vivo. When translated to the clinic, these dyes may be used for diagnostic or prognostic purposes and for monitoring in vivo tumor response early after the start of treatment.