I Itonaga

Interleukin-6 and interleukin-11 support human osteoclast formation by a RANKL-independent mechanism.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-11 (IL-11) are known to influence osteoclast formation and bone resorption. In order to determine whether IL-6 and IL-11 could independently support human osteoclast formation, these factors were added to cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the monocyte (CD14(+)) fraction in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Under these conditions, IL-6 and IL-11 induced the formation of multinucleated cells which were positive for TRAP, VNR, and calcitonin receptor and capable of lacunar resorption. Osteoclastogenesis induced by IL-6 and IL-11 was inhibited by the addition of an anti-gp130 antibody but not by osteoprotegerin. These results indicate that IL-6 and IL-11, which are thought to play a role in several osteolytic bone disorders, are directly capable of inducing osteoclast formation by a RANKL-independent mechanism.

Proinflammatory cytokine (TNFalpha/IL-1alpha) induction of human osteoclast formation.

TNFα and IL‐1α are potent stimulators of bone resorption in vivo and in vitro. Recently, it has been demonstrated that these two cytokines directly induce osteoclastogenesis in mouse marrow cultures. This study determined whether TNFα (± IL‐1α) is also capable of inducing human osteoclastogenesis. The CD14+ monocyte fraction of human peripheral mononuclear cells was cultured with TNFα ± IL‐1α in the presence of M‐CSF. TNFα induced the formation of multinucleated cells (MNCs) which were positive for TRAP, VNR and cathepsin K and showed evidence of resorption pit formation. IL‐1α stimulated TNFα‐induced lacunar resorption two‐ to four‐fold. Osteoprotegerin, the decoy receptor for RANKL, did not inhibit this process. Anti‐human IL‐1α neutralizing antibodies significantly inhibited resorption without inhibiting the formation of TRAP+/VNR+ MNCs. These results suggest that, in the presence of M‐CSF, TNFα is sufficient for inducing human osteoclast differentiation from circulating precursors by a process which is distinct from the RANK/RANKL signalling pathway. Copyright

Rheumatoid arthritis synovial macrophage-osteoclast differentiation is osteoprotegerin ligand-dependent.

Osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL) is a newly discovered molecule which is essential for osteoclast differentiation. Both OPGL and its soluble decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin (OPG), which inhibits osteoclast formation, are known to be produced by osteoblasts and inflammatory cells found in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium. In this study, RA synovial macrophages were incubated in the presence or absence of OPGL, macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (M‐CSF), and dexamethasone for various time points. The results indicated that osteoclast formation from RA synovial macrophages is OPGL‐dependent and that OPGL and M‐CSF are the only humoral factors required for RA synovial macrophage–osteoclast differentiation. OPG was found to inhibit osteoclast formation by RA synovial macrophages in a dose‐dependent manner. This study has shown that macrophages isolated from the synovium of RA patients are capable of differentiating into osteoclastic bone‐resorbing cells; this process is OPGL‐ and M‐CSF‐dependent and is modulated by corticosteroids. Cellular (T and B cells, dendritic cells) and humoral factors in RA synovium and bone may influence osteoclast formation and bone resorption by controlling OPGL/OPG production. Copyright

The effect of macrophage-colony stimulating factor and other humoral factors (interleukin-1, -3, -6, and -11, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor) on human osteoclast formation from circulating cells.

Macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) is an essential requirement for human osteoclast formation, but its effect on the proliferation and differentiation of circulating osteoclast precursor cells is unknown. Other growth factors and cytokines are also known to support/stimulate osteoclast formation from mouse marrow precursors, but it is not certain whether these factors similarly influence human osteoclast formation. In this study, human monocytes were cocultured with osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells on coverslips and dentine slices for up to 21 days in the presence of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (10(-7) mol/L), dexamethasone (10(-8) mol/L), and various concentrations of either M-CSF or other humoral factors (interleukin [IL]-1beta, IL-3, IL-6, and IL-11; tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha]; and granulocyte macrophage [GM]-CSF). The effect on osteoclast formation was assessed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and vitronectin receptor staining and lacunar bone resorption. The results of time-course and proliferation studies showed that M-CSF stimulated both the proliferative and differentiation stages of human osteoclast formation from circulating osteoclast precursors in a dose-dependent manner. A high concentration of M-CSF (100 ng/mL) did not inhibit osteoclast formation. IL-3 and GM-CSF were also capable of stimulating human osteoclast formation, although these growth factors were much less potent than M-CSF. IL-3- and GM-CSF-stimulated osteoclast formation was inhibited by an antibody specific for human M-CSF. Osteoclast formation and lacunar resorption was not seen when either TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 (+ soluble IL-6 receptor), or IL-11 was substituted for M-CSF during coculture. These results confirm that M-CSF is essential for human osteoclast formation from circulating mononuclear precursors, and also shows that IL-3 and GM-CSF may support osteoclast differentiation via the stimulation of M-CSF production by human monocytes.

Bone stromal cells in pagetic bone and Paget's sarcoma express RANKL and support human osteoclast formation

Pagets disease is a focal disorder of bone remodelling, in which there is an increase in osteoclast formation. A rare complication of Pagets disease is the development of a sarcoma, most commonly an osteosarcoma. Osteoclast formation occurs in the presence of macrophage‐colony stimulating factor and receptor activator for nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL), and it has been shown that bone stromal cells in Pagets disease can influence osteoclast formation by modulating the expression of RANKL and its decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin (OPG). In this study we show that pagetic bone stromal cells express RANKL and that these cells promote osteoclast formation by a RANKL‐dependent mechanism. Osteoclast formation in co‐cultures of monocytes and either pagetic bone stromal cells or Pagets sarcoma stromal cells was not only induced by a contact‐dependent mechanism but also occurred via the release of a soluble factor. In contrast to bone stromal cells isolated from normal controls, stromal cells isolated from morphologically normal bone in one patient with Pagets disease also stimulated osteoclast formation in this way; this osteoclastogenesis was inhibited by OPG. Our results indicate that Pagets bone stromal cells support osteoclast formation by a RANKL‐dependent process which involves not only cell–cell contact but also secretion of soluble RANKL. Copyright

Cellular mechanisms of bone resorption in breast carcinoma

The cellular mechanisms that account for the increase in osteoclast numbers and bone resorption in skeletal breast cancer metastasis are unclear. Osteoclasts are marrow-derived cells which form by fusion of mononuclear phagocyte precursors that circulate in the monocyte fraction. In this study we have determined whether circulating osteoclast precursors are increased in number or have an increased sensitivity to humoral factors for osteoclastogenesis in breast cancer patients with skeletal metastases (± hypercalcaemia) compared to patients with primary breast cancer and age-matched normal controls. Monocytes were isolated and cocultured with UMR 106 osteoblastic cells in the presence of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] and human macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) on coverslips and dentine slices. Limiting dilution experiments showed that there was no increase in the number of circulating osteoclast precursors in breast cancer patients with skeletal metastases (± hypercalcaemia) compared to controls. Osteoclast precursors in these patients also did not exhibit increased sensitivity to 1,25(OH)2D3 or M-CSF in terms of osteoclast formation. The addition of parathyroid hormone-related protein and interleukin-6 did not increase osteoclast formation. The addition of the supernatant of cultured breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435), however, significantly increased monocyte-osteoclast formation in a dose-dependent fashion. These results indicate that the increase in osteoclast formation in breast cancer is not due to an increase in the number/nature of circulating osteoclast precursors. They also suggest that tumour cells promote osteoclast formation in the bone microenvironment by secreting soluble osteoclastogenic factor(s).

Isolation of Human Osteoclasts Formed In Vitro: Hormonal Effects on the Bone-Resorbing Activity of Human Osteoclasts

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that carry out bone resorption. Analysis of the direct effect of hormones on the bone-resorbing activity of human osteoclasts has been limited by difficulties in isolating these cells from the human skeleton. In this study, human osteoclasts formed from cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear precursors (PBMCs) on a Type-I collagen gel were isolated by collagenase treatment for investigating their resorptive activity. PBMCs were cultured in the presence of M-CSF, soluble RANKL, dexamethasone, and 1,25(OH)2D3. The isolated multinucleated cells expressed the osteoclast markers, TRAP, VNR, cathepsin K, calcitonin receptors and were capable of extensive lacunar resorption. Calcitonin inhibited the motility and resorptive activity of osteoclasts. RANKL significantly stimulated osteoclast resorption, but 1,25(OH)2D3, PTH, and OPG did not. These findings indicate that calcitonin and RANKL act directly on human osteoclasts to inhibit and stimulate osteoclast bone-resorbing activity, respectively, and that PTH, 1,25(OH)2D3, and OPG are more likely to influence osteoclast activity indirectly. This technique of human osteoclast isolation should permit the effects of cellular and hormonal/humoral factors on the bone-resorbing activity of mature human osteoclasts to be assessed independently of any effect such factors have on osteoclast formation. It should also make it possible to examine directly the resorptive activity and other characteristics of osteoclasts in specific bone disorders such as Pagets disease.

Stimulation of osteoclast formation by inflammatory synovial fluid

Peri-articular bone resorption is a feature of arthritis due to crystal deposition and rheumatoid disease. Under these conditions, the synovial fluid contains numerous inflammatory cells that produce cytokines and growth factors which promote osteoclast formation. The aim of this study was to determine whether inflammatory synovial fluid stimulates the formation of osteoclasts. Synovial fluid from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pyrophosphate arthropathy (PPA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients was added to cultures (n=8) of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the presence and absence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). Osteoclast formation was assessed by the formation of cells positive for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and vitronectin receptor (VNR) and the extent of lacunar resorption. The addition of 10% OA, RA and PPA synovial fluid to PBMC cultures resulted in the formation of numerous multinucleated or mononuclear TRAP+ and VNR+ cells which were capable of lacunar resorption. In contrast to PBMC cultures incubated with OA synovial fluid, there was marked stimulation of osteoclast formation and resorption in cultures containing inflammatory RA and PPA synovial fluid which contained high levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha, a factor which is known to stimulate RANKL-induced osteoclast formation.

Menatetrenone (Vitamin K2) Acts Directly on Circulating Human Osteoclast Precursors

It is still not certain what the direct effect of menatetrenone is on osteoclast precursors. In the present study, we investigated whether menatetrenone has a direct effect on circulating osteoclast precursors to influence osteoclast differentiation. Monocytes isolated from human peripheral blood were cultured with receptor-activated NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Menatetrenone or vitamin K1 was then added to the cultures. Geranylgeraniol or phytol (the respective side chain) was also added to the cultures instead of menatetrenone or vitamin K1, respectively. After 7 and 14 days incubation, cultures were evaluated for cytochemical and functional evidence of osteoclast formation. The number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells (MNCs) and the percentage area of lacunar resorption induced by RANKL and M-CSF were decreased when menatetrenone or geranylgeraniol was added to the cultures. Dose-dependent inhibition of osteoclast formation and lacunar resorption was seen when the cultures were treated with menatetrenone or geranylgeraniol. In contrast, vitamin K1 or phytol did not affect the number of TRAP-positive MNCs nor the percentage area of lacunar resorption. These results indicate that menatetrenone not only influences osteoclast formation via bone stromal cells but also acts directly on circulating osteoclast precursors to influence osteoclast differentiation. These findings also suggest that geranylgeraniol, the side chain of menatetrenone, plays an important role in this inhibitory effect.