Hyunil Ha

TRAF-mediated TNFR-family signaling.

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily consists of a wide variety of cell‐bound and secreted proteins that regulate numerous cellular processes. In particular, TNF‐family proteins regulate the proliferation and death of tumor cells, as well as activated immune cells. This overview discusses the mammalian TNF receptor‐associated factors (TRAFs), of which TRAF1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 have been shown to interact directly or indirectly with members of the TNF receptor superfamily. Structural features of TRAF proteins are described along with a discussion of TRAF‐interacting proteins and the signaling pathways activated by the TRAF proteins. Finally, we examine the phenotypes observed in TRAF‐knockout mice. Curr. Protoc. Immunol. 87:11.9D.1‐11.9D.19.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis by Down-Regulating c-Fos Expression and Suppressing the Nuclear Factor-κB Signal

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major anti-inflammatory compound in green tea, has been shown to suppress osteoclast differentiation. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibitory action of EGCG in osteoclastogenesis and the effect of EGCG on inflammation-mediated bone destruction remain unclear. In this study, we found that EGCG inhibited osteoclast formation induced by osteoclastogenic factors in bone marrow cell-osteoblast cocultures but did not affect the ratio of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL) to osteoprotegerin induced by osteoclastogenic factors in osteoblasts. We also found that EGCG inhibited osteoclast formation from bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) induced by macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus RANKL in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with EGCG significantly inhibited RANKL-induced the gene expression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATc1), essential transcription factors for osteoclast development. EGCG suppressed RANKL-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) pathway, among the three well known mitogen-activated protein kinases and also inhibited RANKL-induced phosphorylation of the NF-κB p65 subunit at Ser276 and NF-κB transcriptional activity without affecting the degradation of IκBα and NF-κB DNA-binding in BMMs. The inhibitory effect of EGCG on osteoclast formation was somewhat reversed by retroviral c-Fos overexpression, suggesting that c-Fos is a downstream target for antiosteoclastogenic action of EGCG. In addition, EGCG treatment reduced interleukin-1-induced osteoclast formation and bone destruction in mouse calvarial bone in vivo. Taken together, our data suggest that EGCG has an antiosteoclastogenic effect by inhibiting RANKL-induced the activation of JNK/c-Jun and NF-κB pathways, thereby suppressing the gene expression of c-Fos and NFATc1 in osteoclast precursors.

Reciprocal Cross-Talk Between RANKL and Interferon-γ-Inducible Protein 10 Is Responsible for Bone-Erosive Experimental Arthritis

OBJECTIVE Interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10; also called CXCL10), a chemokine important in the migration and proliferation of T cells, is induced in a wide variety of cell types. However, the role of IP-10 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential role of IP-10 in bone resorption and RA through examination of a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS The effects of IP-10 on mouse T cells during osteoclast differentiation were examined in migration assays. The bone-erosive activity of IP-10 was determined in vivo in a mouse model of CIA by histologic and immunostaining analyses. Cytokine levels in serum and culture medium were measured with sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS Serum concentrations of IP-10 were significantly higher in mice with CIA than in control mice. RANKL greatly induced IP-10 expression in osteoclast precursors, but not in mature osteoclasts. IP-10 stimulated the expression of RANKL and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in CD4+ T cells and induced osteoclastogenesis in cocultures of CD4+ T cells and osteoclast precursors. However, IP-10 did not induce RANKL or TNFalpha in CD8+ T cells. Treatment with neutralizing antibody to IP-10 significantly inhibited the infiltration of CD4+ T cells and F4/80+ macrophages into the synovium and attenuated bone destruction in mice with CIA. Furthermore, levels of RANKL and TNFalpha were inhibited by antibody to IP-10. Bone erosion was observed in mice infected with an IP-10 retrovirus. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that IP-10 plays a critical role in the infiltration of CD4+ T cells and F4/80+ macrophages into inflamed joints and causes bone destruction. Our results provide the first evidence that IP-10 contributes to the recruitment of inflammatory cells and is involved in bone erosion in inflamed joints.

α-Lipoic Acid Inhibits Inflammatory Bone Resorption by Suppressing Prostaglandin E2 Synthesis

α-Lipoic acid (LA) has been intensely investigated as a therapeutic agent for several pathological conditions, including diabetic polyneuropathy. In the present study, we examined the effects of LA on osteoclastic bone loss associated with inflammation. LA significantly inhibited IL-1-induced osteoclast formation in cocultures of mouse osteoblasts and bone marrow cells, but LA had only a marginal effect on osteoclastogenesis from bone marrow macrophages induced by receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). LA inhibited both the sustained up-regulation of RANKL expression and the production of PGE2 induced by IL-1 in osteoblasts. In addition, treatment with either prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or RANKL rescued IL-1-induced osteoclast formation inhibited by LA or NS398, a specific cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, in cocultures. LA blocked IL-1-induced PGE2 production even in the presence of arachidonic acid, without affecting the expression of COX-2 and membrane-bound PGE2 synthase. Dihydrolipoic acid (the reduced form of LA), but not LA, attenuated recombinant COX-2 activity in vitro. LA also inhibited osteoclast formation and bone loss induced by IL-1 and LPS in mice. Our results suggest that the reduced form of LA inhibits COX-2 activity, PGE2 production, and sustained RANKL expression, thereby inhibiting osteoclast formation and bone loss in inflammatory conditions.

Trolox Prevents Osteoclastogenesis by Suppressing RANKL Expression and Signaling

Excessive receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) signaling causes enhanced osteoclast formation and bone resorption. Thus, down-regulation of RANKL expression or its downstream signals may be a therapeutic approach to the treatment of pathological bone loss. In this study, we investigated the effects of Trolox, a water-soluble vitamin E analogue, on osteoclastogenesis and RANKL signaling. Trolox potently inhibited interleukin-1-induced osteoclast formation in bone marrow cell-osteoblast coculture by abrogating RANKL induction in osteoblasts. This RANKL reduction was attributed to the reduced production of prostaglandin E2 via a down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 activity. We also found that Trolox inhibited osteoclast formation from bone marrow macrophages induced by macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus RANKL in a reversible manner. Trolox was effective only when present during the early stage of culture, which implies that it targets early osteoclast precursors. Pretreatment with Trolox did not affect RANKL-induced early signaling pathways, including MAPKs, NF-κB, and Akt. We found that Trolox down-regulated the induction by RANKL of c-Fos protein by suppressing its translation. Ectopic overexpression of c-Fos rescued the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis by Trolox in bone marrow macrophages. Trolox also suppressed interleukin-1-induced osteoclast formation and bone loss in mouse calvarial bone. Taken together, our findings indicate that Trolox prevents osteoclast formation and bone loss by inhibiting both RANKL induction in osteoblasts and c-Fos expression in osteoclast precursors.

Tanshinone IIA inhibits osteoclast differentiation through down-regulation of c-Fos and NFATc1

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is regulated by the activity of bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Excessive osteoclast formation causes diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Natural substances may be useful as therapeutic drugs to prevent many diseases in humans because they avoid the many side effects of treatment with chemical compounds. Here we show that tanshinone IIA isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge inhibits the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-mediated osteoclast differentiation of osteoclast precursors. Tanshinone IIA suppressed the expression levels of c-Fos and NFATc1 induced by RANKL. However, retrovirus-mediated overexpression of c-Fos induced the expression of NFATc1 despite the presence of tanshinone IIA and reversed the inhibitory effect of tanshinone IIA on osteoclast differentiation. Also, the introduction of osteoclast precursors with the NFATc1 retrovirus led to osteoclast differentiation in the presence of tanshinone IIA. Our results suggest that tanshinone IIA may have a role as a therapeutic drug in the treatment of bone disease such as osteoporosis.

CXCL10 Promotes Osteolytic Bone Metastasis by Enhancing Cancer Outgrowth and Osteoclastogenesis

Amplification of the chemokines CXCL10 and RANKL has been suggested to promote osteoclast differentiation and osteolytic bone metastasis, but a function for endogenous CXCL10 in these processes is not well established. In this study, we show that endogenous CXCL10 is critical to recruit cancer cells to bone, support osteoclast differentiation and promote for the formation of osteolytic bone metastases. Neutralizing CXCL10 antibody reduced migration of cancer cells expressing the CXCL10 receptor CXCR3, and loss of CXCR3 or CXCL10 decreased bone tumor burden in vivo. Bone colonization augmented host production of CXCL10, which was required for cancer growth and subsequent osteolysis. Direct interactions between cancer cells and macrophages further stimulated CXCL10 production from macrophages. Growth of bone metastases required CXCL10-stimulated adhesion of cancer cells to type I collagen as well as RANKL-mediated osteoclast formation. Together, our findings show that CXCL10 facilitates trafficking of CXCR3-expressing cancer cells to bone, which augments its own production and promotes osteoclastic differentiation. CXCL10 therefore may represent a therapeutic target for osteolytic bone metastasis.

Stimulation by TLR5 Modulates Osteoclast Differentiation through STAT1/IFN-β

Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing cells that are differentiated from hemopoietic precursors of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. Stimulation of TLRs has been shown to positively or negatively modulate osteoclast differentiation, depending on the experimental condition. However, the molecular mechanism by which this modulation takes place remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the effects of flagellin, a specific microbial ligand of TLR5, on the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-stimulated osteoclastogenesis. Flagellin suppressed RANKL induction of c-Fos protein expression in bone marrow-derived macrophages without affecting c-Fos mRNA expression. Ectopic overexpression of c-Fos and a constitutively active form of NFATc1 reversed the flagellin-induced anti-osteoclastogenic effect. The inhibitory effect of flagellin was mediated by IFN-β production. Flagellin stimulated IFN-β expression and release in bone marrow-derived macrophages, and IFN-β-neutralizing Ab prevented the flagellin-induced c-Fos down-regulation and the anti-osteoclastogenic effect. IFN-β gene induction by flagellin, LPS, or RANKL was dependent on STAT1 activation. Treatment with flagellin or RANKL stimulated STAT1 activation, and STAT1 deficiency or the JAK2 inhibitor AG490 dramatically prevented IFN-β induction in response to flagellin or RANKL. In addition, STAT1 deficiency abolished the anti-osteoclastogenic effect induced by flagellin or LPS. In contrast, flagellin stimulated osteoclast differentiation in cocultures of osteoblasts and bone marrow cells without inducing IFN-β. Thus, IFN-β acts as a critical modulator of osteoclastogenesis in response to TLR5 activation.

α-Tocotrienol inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption by suppressing RANKL expression and signaling and bone resorbing activity

Vitamin E, an essential nutrient with powerful antioxidant activity, is the mixture of two classes of compounds, tocopherols (TPs) and tocotrienols (TTs). Although TTs exhibit better bone protective activity than α-TP, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether α-TT and α-TP can modulate osteoclastic bone resorption. We found that α-TT but not α-TP inhibits osteoclastogenesis in coculture of osteoblasts and bone marrow cells induced by either IL-1 or combined treatment with 1α,25(OH)(2) vitamin D(3) and prostaglandin E(2). In accordance with this, only α-TT inhibited receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) expression in osteoblasts. In addition, α-TT but not α-TP inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation from precursors by suppression of c-Fos expression, possibly through inhibiting ERK and NF-κB activation. This anti-osteoclastogenic effect was reversed when c-Fos or an active form of NFATc1, a critical downstream of c-Fos during osteoclastogenesis, was overexpressed. Furthermore, only α-TT reduced bone resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts without affecting their survival. Overall, our results demonstrate that α-TT but not α-TP has anti-bone resorptive properties by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and activation, suggesting that α-TT may have therapeutic value for treating and preventing bone diseases characterized by excessive bone destruction.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 stimulates bone formation in part by enhancing Dhx36-mediated TNAP transcription.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) deacetylate both histones and nonhistone proteins and play a key role in the regulation of physiologic and aberrant gene expression. Inhibition of HDACs has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for cancer and neurologic diseases. In this study we investigated the osteogenic effect and mechanism of action of MS‐275, a class I HDAC inhibitor with preference for HDAC1. Both local and systemic administration of MS‐275 stimulated bone regeneration in animal models. MS‐275 stimulated mRNA expression and activity of the early osteogenic marker tissue‐nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) in bone tissue and osteogenic cells. By using a series of TNAP promoter deletion constructs and a DNA affinity precipitation assay, we identified DExH‐box helicase Dhx36 as a factor that binds to the MS‐275 response element in the TNAP promoter. We also found that Dhx36 binding to the MS‐275 response element is crucial for MS‐275 induction of TNAP transcription. Dhx36 physically interacted with a subset of HDACs (HDAC1 and ‐4) whose protein levels were downregulated by MS‐275, and forced expression of these HDACs blunted the stimulatory effects of MS‐275 by a deacetylase activity–independent mechanism(s). Taken together, the results of our study show that MS‐275 induces TNAP transcription by decreasing the interaction of HDAC1/4 with Dhx36, which can at least in part contribute to the bone anabolic effects of MS‐275.