Woon-Ki Kim

Curcumin protects against ovariectomy‐induced bone loss and decreases osteoclastogenesis

Curcumin has anti‐oxidative activity. In view of the increasing evidence for a biochemical link between increased oxidative stress and reduced bone density we hypothesized that curcumin might increase bone density by elevating antioxidant activity in some target cell type. We measured bone density by Micro‐CT, enzyme expression levels by quantitative PCR or enzyme activity, and osteoclast (OC) formation by tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase staining. The bone mineral density of the femurs of curcumin‐administered mice was significantly higher than that of vehicle‐treated mice after ovariectomy (OVX) and this was accompanied by reduced amounts of serum collagen‐type I fragments, which are markers of bone resorption. Curcumin suppressed OC formation by increasing receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL)‐induced glutathione peroxidase‐1, and reversed the stimulatory effect of homocysteine, a known H2O2 generator, on OC formation by restoring Gpx activity. Curcumin generated an aberrant RANKL signal characterized by reduced expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 (NFAT2) and attenuated activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (ERK, JNK, and p38). Curcumin thus inhibited OVX‐induced bone loss, at least in part by reducing osteoclastogenesis as a result of increased antioxidant activity and impaired RANKL signaling. These findings suggest that bone loss associated with estrogen deficiency could be attenuated by curcumin administration. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 3159–3166, 2011.

Absence of MCP-1 leads to elevated bone mass via impaired actin ring formation.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) is associated with various inflammatory diseases involving bone loss, and is expressed along with its receptor by bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMM), which are osteoclast (OC) precursors. To investigate the role of MCP‐1 in bone remodeling, we compared MCP‐1‐knockout (KO) mice with wild‐type (WT) mice. The absence of MCP‐1 increased bone mass and lowered serum collagen type I fragments (CTX‐1) and TRACP 5b, but had no significant effect on the N‐terminal propeptide of type I procollagen, suggesting that OCs are primarily responsible for the bone phenotype observed in the absence of MCP‐1. MCP‐1 deficiency resulted in reduced numbers and activity of OCs in vitro. It also led to a reduced level of c‐Fms and receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB receptor and impaired actin ring formation. Activation of ERK, Akt, Rac1, and Rho upon M‐CSF stimulation was also reduced and our evidence suggests that the aberrant actin ring formation was partly due to reduced activation of these molecules. Our findings point to a role of osteoclast MCP‐1 in regulating bone remodeling. The higher bone mass in the femurs of MCP‐1‐KO mice could be, at least in part, due to decreased osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption resulting from aberrant M‐CSF signaling in OCs. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 1619–1627, 2012.

Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Deficiency Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Protects against Ovariectomy-Induced Chronic Inflammation in Mice

Background Loss of ovarian function is highly associated with an elevated risk of metabolic disease. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, C-C chemokine ligand 2) plays critical roles in the development of inflammation, but its role in ovariectomy (OVX)-induced metabolic disturbance has not been known. Methodology and Principal Findings We investigated the role of MCP-1 in OVX-induced metabolic perturbation using MCP-1-knockout mice. OVX increased fat mass, serum levels of MCP-1, macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas MCP-1 deficiency attenuated these. OVX-induced increases of visceral fat resulted in elevated levels of highly inflammatory CD11c-expressing cells as well as other immune cells in adipose tissue, whereas a lack of MCP-1 significantly reduced all of these levels. MCP-1 deficiency attenuated activation of phospholipase Cγ2, transforming oncogene from Ak strain, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase as well as generation of ROS, which is required for up-regulating CD11c expression upon M-CSF stimulation in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Conclusions/Significance Our data suggested that MCP-1 plays a key role in developing metabolic perturbation caused by a loss of ovarian functions through elevating CD11c expression via ROS generation.

Hemeoxygenase-1 maintains bone mass via attenuating a redox imbalance in osteoclast.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has long been considered to be an endogenous antioxidant. However, the role of HO-1 is highly controversial in developing metabolic diseases. We hypothesized that HO-1 plays a role in maintaining bone mass by alleviating a redox imbalance. We investigated its role in bone remodeling. The absence of HO-1 in mice led to decreased bone mass with elevated activity and number of OCs, as well as higher serum levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). HO-1, which is constitutively expressed at a high level in osteoclast (OC) precursors, was down-regulated during OC differentiation. HO-1 deficiency in bone marrow macrophages (BMM) in vitro resulted in increased numbers and activity of OCs due to enhanced receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) signaling. This was associated with increased activation of nuclear factor-κB and of nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 along with elevated levels of intracellular calcium and ROS. Decreased bone mass in the absence of HO-1 appears to be mainly due to increased osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption resulting from elevated RANKL signaling in OCs. Our data highlight the potential role of HO-1 in maintaining bone mass by negatively regulating OCs.

Platinum nanoparticles reduce ovariectomy-induced bone loss by decreasing osteoclastogenesis

Platinum nanoparticles (PtNP) exhibit remarkable antioxidant activity. There is growing evidence concerning a positive relationship between oxidative stress and bone loss, suggesting that PtNP could protect against bone loss by modulating oxidative stress. Intragastric administration of PtNP reduced ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss with a decreased level of activity and number of osteoclast (OC) in vivo. PtNP inhibited OC formation by impairing the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) signaling. This impairment was due to a decreased activation of nuclear factor-κB and a reduced level of nuclear factor in activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFAT2). PtNP lowered RANKL-induced long lasting reactive oxygen species as well as intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ oscillation. Our data clearly highlight the potential of PtNP for the amelioration of bone loss after estrogen deficiency by attenuated OC formation.

TNFRSF14 deficiency protects against ovariectomy-induced adipose tissue inflammation

To elucidate the role of tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 14 (TNFRSF14) in metabolic disturbance due to loss of ovarian function, ovariectomy (OVX) was performed in TNFRSF 14-knockout mice. OVX increased fat mass and infiltration of highly inflammatory CD11c cells in the adipose tissue (AT), which was analyzed by flow cytometry, and resulted in disturbance of glucose metabolism, whereas TNFRSF14 deficiency attenuated these effects. TNFRSF14 deficiency decreased recruitment of CD11c-expressing cells in AT and reduced the polarization of bone marrow-derived macrophages to M1. Upon engagement of LIGHT, a TNFRSF14 ligand, TNFRSF14 enhanced the expression of CD11c via generation of reactive oxygen species, suggesting a role of TNFRSF14 as a redox modulator. TNFRSF14 participated in OVX-induced AT inflammation via upregulation of CD11c, resulting in metabolic perturbation. TNFRSF14 could be used as a therapeutic target for the treatment of postmenopausal syndrome by reducing AT inflammation.

Carbon monoxide protects against ovariectomy-induced bone loss by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis

Carbon monoxide (CO) has been shown to have remarkable therapeutic value at low dosage by suppressing inflammation via inhibitory effects on macrophages, which are also precursors of osteoclasts (OC). The objective of the present study was to determine whether CO limits bone loss through its effects on osteoclastogenesis. Intraperitoneal injection of CO-releasing molecule 2 (CORM2) into mice with reduced bone mass due to ovariectomy (OVX) resulted in significantly elevated bone mass. Increased serum levels of collagen-type I fragments, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to OVX were also decreased when treated with CORM2. In vitro, CORM2 inhibited receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced OC formation without affecting bone resorption. CORM2 reduced long-lasting ROS levels and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation in response to RANKL. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase partially reduced the inhibitory effect of CO. CO induced increase of peroxiredoxin 1 (PRX1) in BMM. Down-regulation of PRX1 reduced the inhibitory effect of CO on OC formation and sustained the ROS levels induced by RANKL, suggesting that CO reduces generation of ROS and scavenges ROS to inhibit osteoclastogenesis. These data suggest that the inhibitory effect of CO on osteoclastogenesis is caused by impaired RANKL signaling through defective NF-κB activation and reduced levels of long-lasting ROS. These changes result in decreased bone loss. Our data highlight the potential utility of CO for ameliorating bone loss induced by loss of ovarian function.

Role of TNFR-related 2 mediated immune responses in dextran sulfate sodium-induced inflammatory bowel disease.

Previous work has suggested that the LIGHT-TR2 costimulatory pathway plays a role in the acute and chronic stages of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis [Steinberg et al. (2008); Wang et al. (2005)]. To clarify the role of TNFR-related 2 (TR2) signaling in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis, we generated a TR2 knock-out (KO) mouse. Using DSS to induce colitis, we compared the colitic symptoms and pathological changes in wild type (WT) and TR2 KO mice, and the production of cytokines by the diseased colons. We also studied the role of TR2 in suppressing innate and adaptive immunity in the DSS model. TR2 deficient mice were characterized by reduced symptoms of intestinal inflammation compared with wild-type mice, and reduced production of cytokines. We therefore generated a monoclonal antibody against mouse TR2 which was specific to TR2 and capable of blocking TR2 signals. With this antibody, we demonstrated that antagonizing TR2 during the development of DSS-induced colitis reduced the symptoms of inflammation. Our findings suggest that TR2 is an important mediator in colitis, and may serve as a therapeutic target in inflammatory bowel disease.

Elevation of fibrinogen due to loss of ovarian function enhances actin ring formation and leads to increased bone resorption.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of fibrinogen on number and function of osteoclasts (OC) consequently resulting in bone loss. It was hypothesized that the enhanced level of released fibrinogen due to loss of ovarian function caused bone loss by acting on OCs. Bone loss was induced by ovariectomy (OVX) in mice and analyzed by micro-CT. The effect of fibrinogen on OCs was evaluated by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, annexin V, actin staining, pit formation observed on dentine slices, and Western blotting. Exogenous fibrinogen increased OC survival, actin ring formation, and bone resorption in vitro. The effect of fibrinogen was dependent on β(3)-integrin, which is a marker for mature OCs. Fibrinogen induced the activation of transforming oncogene from Ak strain (Akt), Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), and Rho family of GTPase (Rho) and the degradation of the Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim) in a manner similar to macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). OVX increased plasma fibrinogen and serum M-CSF together with elevated actin ring formation and bone loss. The increased fibrinogen level due to loss of ovarian function may contribute, at least partly, to bone loss through the enhanced number and activity of OCs.

Overexpression of developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein-2 increases bone loss

The developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein-2 (DRG2) is a novel subclass of GTP-binding proteins. Many functional characteristics of osteoclasts (OC) are associated with small GTPases. We hypothesized that DRG2 affects bone mass via modulating OC activity. Using DRG2 transgenic mice, we investigated the role of DRG2 in bone remodeling. DRG2 overexpression caused a decrease in bone mass and an increase in the number and activity of OC in vivo. DRG2 overexpression increased fusion, spreading, survival, and resorption activity of OC in vitro. Downregulation of DRG2 by siRNA decreased fusion, spreading, and survival of OC, supporting the observations found in DRG2 transgenic OC. Transgenic mature OCs were larger, with actin rings and higher ERK, Akt, Rac1 and Rho activities than wild-type OCs. Inhibition of these proteins abolished the effects of DRG2 on formation of large OCs with actin rings, implying that DRG2 affects cytoskeleton reorganization in a Rac1/Rho/ERK/Akt-dependent manner. In summary, DRG2 is associated with survival and cytoskeleton organization of OC under influence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and its overexpression leads to elevated bone resorptive activity of OC, resulting in bone loss.