Margaret A. McKenna

AZT Enhances Osteoclastogenesis and Bone Loss

A variety of metabolic complications have been reported to be associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), including osteopenia and osteoporosis. In this study, we determine the effects of zidovudine (AZT), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, on osteoclastogenesis in a cultured mouse macrophage preosteoclast cell line (RAW264.7), in mouse primary bone marrow macrophage-monocyte precursors, and on bone mineral density in mice. The results indicate that AZT induces an increase in osteoclastogenesis in the mouse preosteoclast cell line and in mouse bone marrow osteoclast precursors in the presence of RANKL. This increased osteoclastogenesis is dependent upon the concentration of AZT. AZT increases the promoter activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and the binding and function of the nuclear transcription protein, NF-kappaB, in RAW264.7 cells. Therefore, the effect of AZT is mediated, at least in part, by enhancing RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis. Bone mineral density (BMD) in AZT-treated mice is decreased and histopathology shows marked osteopenia. These results support an important role of AZT-stimulated osteoclastogenesis in HAART-induced osteopenia.

RANKL Regulates Fas Expression and Fas-Mediated Apoptosis in Osteoclasts†

Osteoclast apoptosis is an influential determinant of osteoclast bone‐resorbing activity. RANKL, a critical factor for osteoclastogenesis, is also important in osteoclast survival. However, the mechanisms by which RANKL prevents osteoclast apoptosis remain largely unknown.

Fas Binding to Calmodulin Regulates Apoptosis in Osteoclasts

Promotion of osteoclast apoptosis is one therapeutic approach to osteoporosis. Calmodulin, the major intracellular Ca2+ receptor, modulates both osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. The calmodulin antagonist, trifluoperazine, rescues bone loss in ovariectomized mice (Zhang, L., Feng, X., and McDonald, J. M. (2003) Endocrinology 144, 4536-4543). We show here that a 3-h treatment of mouse osteoclasts with either of the calmodulin antagonists, tamoxifen or trifluoperazine, induces osteoclast apoptosis dose-dependently. Tamoxifen, 10 μm, and trifluoperazine, 10 μm, induce 7.3 ± 1.8-fold and 5.3 ± 0.9-fold increases in osteoclast apoptosis, respectively. In Jurkat cells, calmodulin binds to Fas, the death receptor, and this binding is regulated during Fas-mediated apoptosis (Ahn, E. Y., Lim, S. T., Cook, W. J., and McDonald, J. M. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 5661-5666). In osteoclasts, calmodulin also binds Fas. When osteoclasts are treated with 10 μm trifluoperazine, the binding between Fas and calmodulin is dramatically decreased at 15 min and gradually recovers by 60 min. A point mutation of the Fas death domain in the Lpr-cg mouse renders Fas inactive. Using glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins, the human Fas cytoplasmic domain is shown to bind calmodulin, whereas a point mutation (V254N) comparable with the Lpr-cg mutation in mice has markedly reduced calmodulin binding. Osteoclasts derived from Lpr-cg mice have diminished calmodulin/Fas binding and are more sensitive to calmodulin antagonist-induced apoptosis than those from wild-type mice. Both tamoxifen- and trifluoperazine-induced apoptosis are increased 1.6 ± 0.2-fold in Lpr-cg-derived osteoclasts compared with osteoclasts derived from wild-type mice. In summary, calmodulin antagonists induce apoptosis in osteoclasts by a mechanism involving interference with calmodulin binding to Fas. The effects of calmodulin/Fas binding on calmodulin antagonist-induced apoptosis may open a new avenue for therapy for osteoporosis.

Regulation of Avian Osteoclastic H+-ATPase and Bone Resorption by Tamoxifen and Calmodulin Antagonists EFFECTS INDEPENDENT OF STEROID RECEPTORS

We used highly purified avian osteoclasts and isolated membranes from osteoclasts to study effects of tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, calmodulin antagonists, estrogen, diethylstilbestrol, and the anti-estrogen ICI 182780 on cellular degradation of 3H-labeled bone in vitro and on membrane HCl transport. Bone resorption was reversibly inhibited by tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and trifluoperazine with IC50 values of ∼1 μM. Diethylstilbestrol and 17-β-estradiol had no effects on bone resorption at receptor-saturating concentrations, while ICI 182780 inhibited bone resorption at concentrations greater than 1 μM. At these concentrations ICI 182780, like tamoxifen, inhibits calmodulin-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity. Membrane HCl transport, assessed by ATP-dependent acridine orange uptake, was unaffected by 17-β-estradiol and diethylstilbestrol at concentrations up to 10 μM, while ICI 182780 inhibited HCl transport at concentrations greater than 1 μM. In contrast HCl transport was inhibited by tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and the calmodulin antagonists, trifluoperazine and calmidazolium, with IC50 values of 0.25-1.5 μM. These results suggested the presence of a membrane-associated non-steroid receptor for tamoxifen in osteoclasts. Tamoxifen binding studies demonstrated saturable binding in the osteoclast particulate fraction, but not in the nuclear or cytosolic fractions. Membranes enriched in ruffled border by differential centrifugation following nitrogen cavitation showed binding consistent with one site, Kd ∼1 μM. Our findings indicate that tamoxifen inhibits osteoclastic HCl transport by binding membrane-associated target(s), probably similar or related to calmodulin antagonist targets. Further, effects of estrogens or highly specific anti-estrogens on bone turnover do not support the hypothesis of a direct effect on osteoclasts by these compounds in this species.

Calmodulin and HIV Type 1: Interactions with Gag and Gag Products

The level of calmodulin increases in cells expressing HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein. Although a calmodulin increase is bound to alter many cellular metabolic and signaling pathways, the benefits to the virus of these alterations must be indirect. However, the possibility exists that increased cellular calmodulin benefits the virus by directly associating with nonenvelope viral proteins. We have, therefore, investigated whether calmodulin can interact with HIV structural proteins Gag, p17, and p24. Calmodulin binds Gag and p17 but not p24 in (125)I-labeled calmodulin overlays of SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Removal of calcium by addition of EGTA eliminates this binding. A computer algorithm for predicting helical regions that should bind calmodulin predicts that there are two calmodulin-binding regions near the N terminus of p17. Intrinsic tryptophan fluorimetry shows that two peptides, each of which includes one of the predicted regions, bind calmodulin: p17(11-25) binds calmodulin with a 2-to-1 stoichiometry and dissociation constant of approximately 10(-9) M(2), and p17(31-46) also binds calmodulin with a dissociation constant of about 10(-9) M. These binding sites are nearly contiguous, forming an extended calmodulin-binding domain p17(11-46). In H-9 cells, Gag and calmodulin colocalize within the resolution of confocal light microscopy.

Differential effects of tamoxifen-like compounds on osteoclastic bone degradation, H+-ATPase activity, calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity, and calmodulin binding

We studied effects of calmodulin antagonists on osteoclastic activity and calmodulin‐dependent HCl transport. The results were compared to effects on the calmodulin‐dependent phosphodiesterase and antagonist‐calmodulin binding affinity. Avian osteoclast degradation of labeled bone was inhibited ∼40% by trifluoperazine or tamoxifen with half‐maximal effects at 1–3 μM. Four benzopyrans structurally resembling tamoxifen were compared: d‐centchroman inhibited resorption 30%, with half‐maximal effect at ∼100 nM, cischroman and CDRI 85/287 gave 15–20% inhibition, and l‐centchroman was ineffective. No benzopyran inhibited cell attachment or protein synthesis below 10 μM. However, ATP‐dependent membrane vesicle acridine transport showed that H+‐ATPase activity was abolished by all compounds with 50% effects at 0.25–1 μM. All compounds also inhibited calmodulin‐dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase at micromolar calcium. Relative potency varied with assay type, but d‐ and l‐centchroman, surprisingly, inhibited both H+‐ATPase and phosphodiesterase activity at similar concentrations. However, d‐ and l‐centchroman effects in either assay diverged at nanomolar calcium. Of benzopyrans tested, only the d‐centchroman effects were calcium‐dependent. Interaction of compounds with calmodulin at similar concentrations were confirmed by displacement of labeled calmodulin from immobilized trifluoperazine. Thus, the compounds tested all interact with calmodulin directly to varying degrees, and the observed osteoclast inhibition is consistent with calmodulin‐mediated effects. However, calmodulin antagonist activity varies between specific reactions, and free calcium regulates specificity of some interactions. Effects on whole cells probably also reflect other properties, including transport into cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 66:358–369, 1997.

Effects of Cyclosporine on Osteoclast Activity: Inhibition of Calcineurin Activity With Minimal Effects on Bone Resorption and Acid Transport Activity

Cyclosporine results in rapid and profound bone loss in transplant patients, an effect ascribed to osteoclasts. Cyclosporine, complexed with the appropriate immunophilin, inhibits calcineurin (the calcium/calmodulin dependent serine/threonine phosphatase) activity. We tested the hypothesis that cyclosporine inhibits calcineurin activity in osteoclasts, resulting in stimulation of osteoclast activity. We compared the effects of cyclosporine A and the calmodulin antagonist, tamoxifen, on bone resorption by avian osteoclasts. Tamoxifen inhibits bone resorption ∼60%, whereas cyclosporine A only inhibited bone resorption 12%. One‐hour treatment with 100 nM cyclosporine inhibited osteoclast calcineurin activity 70% in whole cell lysates, whereas 10 μM tamoxifen only inhibited calcineurin activity 25%. We compared the effects of cyclosporine A and tamoxifen on acid transport activity in isolated membrane vesicles and in isolated membrane vesicles obtained from osteoclasts treated with cyclosporine A or tamoxifen under conditions that inhibit calcineurin activity. Direct addition of cyclosporine A in the acid transport assay, or pretreatment of cells with cyclosporine A followed by membrane isolation, had no effect on acid transport activity in membrane vesicles. In contrast, direct addition of tamoxifen to membranes inhibits acid transport activity, an effect that can be prevented by addition of exogenous calmodulin. Furthermore, acid transport activity was also inhibited in membrane vesicles isolated from cells treated with tamoxifen. In conclusion, cyclosporine A inhibits osteoclast calcineurin activity; however, calcineurin inhibition does not correspond to a significant effect on acid transport activity in isolated membrane vesicles or bone resorption by osteoclasts.

Differential Effects of Calmodulin and Protein Kinase C Antagonists on Bone Resorption and Acid Transport Activity

Tamoxifen inhibits bone resorption by disrupting calmodulin-dependent processes. Since tamoxifen inhibits protein kinase C in other cells, we compared the effects of tamoxifen and the PKC inhibitor, bis indolylmaleimide II (bIM), on bone resorption and acid transport activity in isolated membrane vesicles. Bis indolylmaleimide inhibited bone resorption 50% with an IC50 ~3 µM, as well as acid transport activity in a concentration -dependent manner with an IC50 of ~0.4 µM. The IC50 of bIM for inhibiting acid transport activity was similar to that of calmodulin antagonists. The potassium ionophore, valinomycin, failed to restore bIM or tamoxifen-dependent inhibition of acid transport, suggesting that bIM and tamoxifen both inhibit H+-ATPase activity. Half maximal inhibitory concentrations of tamoxifen and bIM were not additive in acid transport assays, suggesting different sites of action. Furthermore, exogenous calmodulin blocked tamoxifen, but not bIM, -dependent inhibition of acid transport. We also compared the effects of tamoxifen and bIM on phosphorylation of proteins in isolated membrane fractions as determined by 32P incorporation and autoradiography. Tamoxifen had no effect on protein phosphorylation in contrast to bIM, which inhibited phosphorylation of eight proteins with different apparent kinetics. The data suggest that, while tamoxifen and bIM both affect H+-ATPase activity, the mechanisms of action are different.