Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Bone anabolism'

In vertebrates, PTH receptor 1 (PTH1R) plays a pivotal role in control of bone development and homeostasis; however, how it is regulated is poorly defined. Here we report that Kindlin-2 binds to and modulates PTH1R to regulate bone mass and PTH actions. Deleting Kindlin-2 expression using the 10-kb mouse Dmp1-Cre severely impairs the anabolic effects of intermittent PTH on bone in adult mice with or without ovariectomy. Of particular interest, Kindlin-2 and Pth1r double heterozygous mice (Dmp1- Cre; Kindlin-2 f/+ ; Pth1r f/+ ), but not either singly heterozygous mice (Dmp1- Cre; Kindlin-2 f/+ or Dmp1-Cre; Pth1r f/+ ), display severe osteopenia and fail to increase bone mass in response to administration of intermittent PTH. Mechanistically, Kindlin-2 interacts with the C-terminal cytoplasmic region of PTH1R. When overexpressed, this region efficiently inhibits the endogenous PTH/PTH1R signaling in osteoblasts, which is reversed by introduction of a point mutation that abolishes the Kindlin-2 interaction. Furthermore, Kindlin-2 loss inhibits PTH-induced CREB phosphorylation and cAMP production in vitro and in bone. PTH upregulates, while estrogen deficiency downregulates, expression of Kindlin-2 in vitro and in bone. Collectively, we demonstrate that interplay between Kindlin-2 and PTH1R regulates bone mass by modulating PTH1R and provide a potential therapeutic target for metabolic bone diseases

Osteoporosis remain major clinical challenges. RNA interference (RNAi) provides a promising approach for promoting osteoblastic bone formation to settle the challenges. However, the major bottleneck for translating RNAi with efficacy and safety to clinical bone anabolic strategy is lack of osteoblast-specific delivery systems for osteogenic siRNAs. Previously, we developed a targeting system involving DOTAP-based cationic liposomes attached to oligopeptides (AspSerSer)6, (also known as (DSS)6), which had good affinity for bone formation surface. Using this system, osteogenic Pleckstrin Homology Domain Containing, Family O Member 1 (Plekho1) siRNA could be specifically delivered to bone formation surface at tissue level and promoted bone formation in osteopenic rodents. However, concerns still exist regarding indirect osteoblast-specific delivery, detrimental retention in hepatocytes, mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS)-induced dose reduction and inefficient nanoparticle extravasation. Aptamers, selected by cell-based Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (cell-SELEX), are single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or RNA which binds to target cells specifically by distinct tertiary structures. By performing positive selection with osteoblasts and negative selection with hepatocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we aimed to screen an aptamer that could achieve direct osteoblast-specific delivery and minimal hepatocyte and PBMCs accumulation of Plekho1 siRNAs. In addition, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been widely used as nanomaterials encapsulating siRNA due to their small particle size below 90 nm. Polyethylene glycol¡(PEG) as the mostly used hydrophilic polymer, could efficiently prevent LNPs from MPS uptake. So, LNPs with PEG shielding could serve as siRNA carriers to realize efficient extravasation from fenestrated capillaries to osteoblasts and help reduce MPS uptake of the siRNAs. Recently, we screened an aptamer (CH6) by cell-SELEX specifically targeting both rat and human osteoblasts and developed the aptamer-functionalized LNPs encapsulating osteogenic Plekho1 siRNA, i.e., CH6-LNPs-siRNA. Our results demonstrated that CH6-LNPs-siRNA had an average particle size below 90 nm and no significant cytotoxicity in vitro. CH6 aptamer facilitated osteoblast-selective uptake of Plekho1 siRNA and gene silencing in vitro. In this study, we further found that CH6 aptamer facilitated the bone-specific distribution of siRNA by biophotonic imaging and quantitative analysis. Immunohistochemistry results showed that CH6 achieved in vivo osteoblast-specific delivery of Plekho1 siRNA. Dose-response experiment indicated that CH6-LNPs-siRNA achieved almost 80% gene knockdown at the siRNA dose of 1.0 mg/kg and maintained 12 days for over 50% gene silencing. microCT, bone histomorphometry and mechanical testing confirmed that CH6 facilitated bone formation, leading to improved bone micro-architecture, increased bone mass and enhanced mechanical properties in osteoporotic rodents. Furthermore, CH6-LNPs-siRNA achieved better bone anabolic action when compared to the previously developed (AspSerSer)6-liposome-siRNA. There was no obvious toxicity in rats injected with CH6-LNPs-siRNA. All these results indicated that osteoblast-specific aptamer-functionalized LNPs could act as a novel RNAi-based bone anabolic strategy and advance selectivity of targeted delivery for osteogenic siRNAs from tissue level toward cellular level. In addition, the generation of ssDNA from double-stranded PCR products is an essential step in selection of aptamers in SELEX. We found that the size separation derived from unequal primers with chemical modification could be a satisfactory alternative to the classic magnetic separation.

Cell Biology
Ph.D.
Activation of the CB1 receptor is modulated by aspartate residue D2.63176 in transmembrane helix (TMH) II. Interestingly, D2.63 does not affect the affinity for ligand binding at the CB1 receptor. Studies in class A GPCRs have suggested an ionic interaction between residues of TMHII and VII. In this report, modeling studies identified residue K373, in the extracellular (EC)-3 loop, in charged interactions with D2.63. We investigated this possibility by performing reciprocal mutations and biochemical studies. D2.63176A, K373A, D2.63176A-K373A, and the reciprocal mutant with the interacting residues juxtaposed, D2.63176K-K373D were characterized using radioligand binding and guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate functional assays. None of the mutations resulted in a significant change in the binding affinity of CP55,940 or SR141716A. Computational results indicate that the D2.63176-K373 ionic interaction strongly influences the conformation(s) of the EC-3 loop, providing a structure-based rationale for the importance of the EC-3 loop to signal transduction in CB1. Specifically, the putative ionic interaction results in the EC-3 loop pulling over the top (extracellular side) of the receptor; this EC-3 loop conformation may serve protective and mechanistic roles. These results suggest that the ionic interaction between D2.63176 and K373 is crucial for CB1 signal transduction. This work may help to aide drug design efforts for the effective treatment of different diseases. The cannabinoid receptors of osteoblasts may represent a target for the treatment of bone disorders such as osteoporosis. Our research demonstrates that cannabinoids can affect important signaling molecules in osteoblasts. In MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells, the CB1 antagonist, AM251, has been reported to induce increases in Runx2 mRNA, mineralized bone nodule formation, and activation of signaling molecules such as ERK and AKT (Wu et al., 2011). Studies from our lab characterizing mice in which both CB1 and CB2 receptors were inactivated by homologous recombination have demonstrated increased bone mass coupled with enhanced osteoblast differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells in culture (manuscript in preparation). We explored the effect of antagonizing CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in osteoblastic cells to gain insights into molecular pathways that may help to explain the effects of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in bone development. Our data was generated by running time course experiments with MC3T3-E1 cells under the influence of SR141716A, SR144528 or both in combination. The cells were harvested with a lysis buffer at specific time points and analyzed by western blot analysis. Quantification of protein activation was calculated using LiCor imaging equipment and software. Within 15 minutes, treatment with the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A resulted in several fold increases in pERK, pSMAD158, and pAKT. SR144528, a CB2 receptor antagonist, caused increases in pERK and pSMAD158, but not pAKT. When both antagonists were applied together, pERK and pSMAD158 levels increased, while pAKT signaling was diminished compared to SR141716A alone. The finding that cannabinoid receptor antagonists alter the activity of the SMAD158 complex is a novel finding, which suggests that cannabinoids can influence bone morphogenic signaling pathways, and therefore play a significant role in osteoblast differentiation and function.
Temple University--Theses

Tem havido grande interesse na investigação de substâncias de ação sistêmica que atuam sobre o sistema musculoesquelético, no sentido de melhorar a qualidade óssea e muscular, e assim, evitar fraturas patológicas decorrentes de osteoporose. Os esteroides anabólicos androgênicos têm importante atuação no metabolismo sistêmico geral, sendo que no osso aumenta sua resistência, massa e, no músculo, combate a sarcopenia. Entretanto, não há investigações consistentes sobre a possível atuação dessas substâncias na consolidação óssea. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito do decanoato de nandrolona na consolidação óssea e na qualidade óssea de fêmures de ratos machos adultos jovens da linhagem Wistar. Foram utilizados 112 animais, divididos em 04 grupos com 02 subgrupos (14 e 28 dias). Um grupo controle (n=17) foi formado por animais sem intervenção, mas apenas com a injeção de veículo inerte. Em outro grupo foi provocada fratura da diáfise do fêmur (n=26). No terceiro grupo os animais receberam apenas decanoato de nandronola (n=23). No quarto grupo foi provocada fratura na diáfise do fêmur associada à administração da mesma dosagem de decanoato de nandrolona (n=26). A fratura provocada no fêmur foi pelo método fechado e obtida com auxílio de uma guilhotina com lâmina romba. Em seguida, a fratura foi fixada por um fio de Kirschner de 1,0 mm de espessura, inserido no canal medular, e o membro pélvico foi radiografado em perfil. O decanoato de nandrolona foi aplicado na dose de 10 mg/kg de massa corporal, por via intramuscular, 02 vezes por semana, durante 14 ou 28 dias, conforme o subgrupo. Após a eutanásia os fêmures direitos foram dissecados e tiveram o comprimento medido. A densidade mineral óssea e o conteúdo mineral ósseo foram determinados pelo método da absorciometria de raios X de dupla energia (DXA). A resistência óssea foi determinada pelo ensaio mecânico de flexão em dois pontos, com o cálculo com a da força máxima e rigidez. O calo ósseo foi avaliado microscopicamente em cortes histológicos corados pela hematoxilina e eosina e examinados em luz comum para a obtenção do seu volume por técnica morfométrica. As outras secções foram coradas em picrosirius red e examinadas em luz polarizada para a quantificação do colágeno tipo I. A significância estatística foi estabelecida em 5%. Não houve diferença significante entre os animais tratados e não tratados pelo decanoato de nandrolona quanto à densidade mineral óssea, conteúdo mineral ósseo, resistência mecânica, tanto para o osso sem fratura, quanto para o calo ósseo. A quantidade de colágeno tipo I também não foi diferente, entretanto, o volume de osso neoformado nos grupos que receberam o esteroide anabolizante foi significantemente maior. A massa corporal foi maior nos grupos que receberam decanoato de nandrolona, embora sem significância estatística. O comprimento ósseo foi maior aos 28 dias no grupo tratado com decanoato de nandrolona. A massa do calo também teve valor significativamente maior aos 28 dias nos animais que receberam o decanoato de nandrolona. Com base nos resultados encontrados, sob as condições experimentais e métodos de avaliação empregados, o decanoato de nandrolona não causou efeitos significativos benéficos ou maléficos, tanto na qualidade do calo ósseo, como na qualidade do osso normal íntegro do rato adulto jovem.
There has been a great interest in investigating systemic substances that can positively act on the musculoskeletal system to improve the bone quality thus avoiding osteoporotic fractures. The anabolic androgenic steroids have an important influence on general metabolism and can increase the bone resistance and bone mass. On muscle, it improves sarcopenic conditions. However, there is no consistent investigation of a possible action of these substances on bone callus. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of decanoate of nandrolone on fracture healing and bone quality of young adult male Wistar rats. One hundred animals were divided into 04 groups and 02 subgroups (14 and 28 days). A control group consisted of animals without any intervention (n=17). In the second group, a femoral shaft fracture was performed (n=26). In the third group, the animals received only decanoate of nandronole (n=23). In the fourth group, a fracture in the femoral shaft was performed and associated with administration of the same dose of decanoate of nandrolone (n=26). The fracture created in the femur was obtained by closed method and achieved with the aid of a blunt blade guillotine. After that, the fracture was fixed with a 1.0 mm thick Kirschner wire that was inserted into the medullary canal, and the limb was X-rayed in profile. Ten mg/kg of body mass of decanoate of nandrolone was administered intramuscularly, 02 times a week for 14 or 28 days, depending on the subgroup. After euthanasia, the right femurs were dissected and had the length measured. Bone mineral density and bone mineral content were determined by the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry method (DXA). The mechanical properties maximum force and stiffness were determined by the twopoint bending test. The bone callus was evaluated microscopically in sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin and examined under ordinary light microscope to calculate the volume of bone callus by the morphometric technique. Other sections were stained in picrosirius red and examined under polarized light for quantification of type I collagen. The statistical significance was set at 5%. There was no significant difference between the animals treated and not treated with nandrolone decanoate for bone mass density, bone mineral content, mechanical resistance and type I collagen, both for the intact bone and for the bone callus. However, the body mass was higher in the groups that received nandrolone decanoate, although without statistical significance. The femur length was greater in the 28th day in the group treated with nandrolone decanoate. Callus mass also had significant increase at 28 days for animals that received nandrolone decanoate. Based on the results and under the experimental conditions and methods of evaluation, the decanoate of nandrolone did not cause significant benefit or harmfull effects both on callus and on bone qualities.

Despite numerous studies have demonstrated an association of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and osteoporosis, the underlying mechanism connecting these two conditions remains elusive. Clinically, combined calcium and vitamin D supplement is the commonest osteoporosis therapy; however, recent studies have suggested an increase in cardiovascular risks associated with calcium plus vitamin D supplementation. Therefore, an alternative strategy in treating osteoporosis patients with T2DM is urgently needed. In this study, we hypothesized that combined administration of menaquinone-4 (vitamin K₂, biologically active form of vitamin K) and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (vitamin D₃, biologically active form of vitamin D) as a novel therapy in treating osteoporosis of T2DM patients. Anabolic effect of vitamin K₂ and vitamin D₃, alone or in combination, was assessed on primary osteoblasts harvested from the iliac crests of C57BL/KsJ lean (db⁺/m⁺) and obese/diabetic (db⁺/db⁺, leptin receptor-deficient) mice. Furthermore, the underlying cellular mechanism was also investigated. Serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin (an indication of vitamin K₂ level) level was higher whereas vitamin D₃ level was lower in db⁺/db⁺ mice, and sections of the iliac crests of db⁺/db⁺ mice illustrated extensive porous structures filled with enlarged adipocytes compared with db⁺/m⁺ mice. Lower levels of bone anabolic markers and bone formation transcription factors (osteocalcin, Runx2, Dlx5, ATF4, type I collagen, OSX, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, p-Smad1/5/8 and p-ERK1/2) were observed in the osteoblasts of db⁺/db⁺ mice. Acute vitamin D₃ (10 nM) application elicited a more sustained and greater magnitude of increase of [Ca²⁺]ᵢ in osteoblasts of db⁺/m⁺ mice when compared with db⁺/db⁺ mice. A significantly higher level of calcium deposits in osteoblasts was observed in db⁺/m⁺ mice when compared to db⁺/db⁺ mice. Co-administration of vitamin K₂ (10 nM) and vitamin D₃ (10 nM) caused an enhancement of calcium deposits in osteoblasts in both strains of mice. Vitamins K₂ and D₃ co-administration time-dependently (7, 14 and 21 days) increased the levels of bone anabolic markers and transcription factors for bone formation, with a greater magnitude of increase observed in osteoblasts of db⁺/db⁺ mice. Suppressed expression of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), F-actin, V-ATPase, vitamin D receptor (VDR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) observed in osteoblasts of db⁺/db⁺ mice were partially reversed by combined vitamins treatment. Moreover, combined vitamins K₂ plus D₃ treatment significantly enhanced migration and the appearance of surface microvilli and ruffles of osteoblasts of db⁺/db⁺ mice. Effects of combined vitamins K₂ plus D₃ treatment observed in osteoblasts of db⁺/db⁺ and db⁺/m⁺ mice were eradicated by warfarin (20 µM, a vitamin K epoxide reductase inhibitor). Thus, our results illustrate that vitamins K₂ plus D₃ supplementation is a novel therapeutic strategy in treating osteoporosis of T2DM patients.
儘管大量研究已證明第二類型糖尿病和骨質疏鬆症的關聯，連接這兩個病症的基本機制仍然是難以捉摸的。在臨床上，鈣和維生素D的綜合補充劑是最常見的骨質疏鬆症治療，然而最近的研究卻表明服用鈣和維生素D的綜合補充劑會增加患者的心血管風險，因此急切需要尋找可以給予同時患有骨質疏鬆症和第二類型糖尿病患者的替代治療。在本研究中，我們假設甲萘醌-4（維生素K₂，維生素K生物活性形式）和1α，25 - 二羥基維生素D₃（維生素D₃，維生素D的生物活性形式）可以嘗試在同時患有骨質疏鬆症和第二類型糖尿病患者身上作為一種革新的療法。本研究從C57BL/KsJ瘦削/非糖尿病 (db⁺/m⁺) 的小鼠和肥胖/帶有第二類型糖尿病基因 (db⁺/db⁺) 兼有瘦素受體缺陷的小鼠的髂嵴原始成骨細胞上對維生素K₂和維生素D₃單獨或組合使用的合成代謝作用進行了評估。此外，我們也對該成骨細胞的底層機制進行了一系列的研究。
在肥胖/帶有第二類型糖尿病基因的小鼠血清內低羧骨鈣素水平（維生素K₂水平的指標）較高而維生素D水平較低，另外，它們的髂嵴的部分與瘦削/非糖尿病的小鼠相比，呈現出比較廣泛的多孔結構並填滿了擴大的脂肪細胞。從肥胖/帶有第二類型糖尿病基因的小鼠的成骨細胞中，可以觀察到它們的骨合成代謝的標誌物和骨骼形成的轉錄因子 (骨鈣蛋白，Runx2，Dlx5，ATF4，第一類型骨膠原，OSX，鹼性磷酸酶 (ALP) 活性，p-Smad1/5/8和p-ERK1/2) 的水平比較低。急性維生素D₃ (10 nM) 的應用在瘦削/非糖尿病小鼠的成骨細胞比起在肥胖/帶有第二類型糖尿病基因的小鼠的成骨細胞引起更持續和更大幅度的細胞內鈣變化增加。在瘦削/非糖尿病小鼠的成骨細胞中比起在肥胖/帶有第二類型糖尿病基因的小鼠的成骨細胞有顯著較高的鈣沉積形成。維生素K₂ (10 nM) 和維生素D₃ (10 nM) 的綜合藥在兩種小鼠的成骨細胞中可以有效地增強鈣沉積的形成。維生素K₂和維生素D₃的綜合藥對增加骨合成代謝的標誌物和骨形成轉錄因子的水平有時間依賴性 (7，14和21日)，療程越長至21日，在肥胖/帶有第二類型糖尿病基因小鼠的成骨細胞中有更大的幅度的增加。合併維生素治療能部分有效地逆轉在肥胖/帶有第二類型糖尿病基因小鼠的成骨細胞中被抑制表達的鈣敏感受體 (CASR)，F-肌動蛋白，V-ATP酶，維生素D受體 (VDR) 和孕烷X受體 (PXR)。此外，結合維生素K₂加維生素D₃治療顯著增強了肥胖/帶有第二類型糖尿病基因小鼠的成骨細胞的細胞遷移和增加了成骨細胞表面外觀的微絨毛和褶皺。在瘦削/非糖尿病小鼠的成骨細胞及肥胖/帶有第二類型糖尿病基因的小鼠的成骨細胞上結合維生素K₂加維生素D₃的治療效果被華法林 (20 μM，維生素K環氧化物還原酶抑製劑) 根除。因此，我們的結果証明了維生素K₂加維生素D₃補充劑的結合使用可有效地作為治療第二類型糖尿病患者並患有骨質疏鬆症的一種新的治療策略。
Poon, Chui Wa Christina.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014.n5203
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-151).
Abstracts also in Chinese.
Title from PDF title page (viewed on 26, October, 2016).
Detailed summary in vernacular field only.
Detailed summary in vernacular field only.

Osteoporosis, a condition defined by a low bone mineral density (BMD) and associated with increased fracture risk, is associated with a decrease in both osteocyte (OY) density and viability. A great deal of evidence implicates OY as central to bone physiology and pathology (1). However, human OY biology in particular is poorly characterised. We previously showed that a variety of bone-acting factors induce a pro-anabolic or pro-catabolic response in human primary osteoblasts (Normal Human Bone-derived Cells, NHBC), concomitant with the acquisition of an OY-like phenotype (2-6). Bone mineralisation, the deposition of calcium and phosphate as calcium phosphate in the form of hydroxyapatite, occurs in lamellar bone concurrent with osteoblast to OY transition (7). The first aim of the current study was to characterise the role of calcium, a common dietary supplement for the treatment of osteoporosis, in the transition of osteoblasts to OY, using human primary cell models. Secondly, low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), an emerging therapy for osteoporosis and fracture repair, was also assessed for its effects on NHBC differentiation into OY. We hypothesised that each of these stimuli would exert a proanabolic effect on NHBC differentiation, promoting their transition to OY-like cells. NHBC were cultured under conditions permissive for in vitro mineralisation, in the presence of a wide concentration range of Ca²⁺ (1.8 - 11.8 mM). Experiments were performed in the presence or absence of an inhibitor of the extracellular calcium sensing receptor (CaSR), NPS2390, as we hypothesised that these cells would ‘sense’ extracellular calcium through this receptor. NHBC tolerated even the highest concentration of Ca²⁺ used. Treatment with Ca²⁺ resulted in a striking dose- and time-dependent increase in in vitro mineralisation, associated with an increasing ratio of Ca:P, as determined by electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Levels of mRNAs encoding the OY markers, SOST, E11 and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1), were elevated in the mineralised cultures indicating promotion of osteoblast to OY transition. Gene expression was differentially regulated by Ca²⁺. The expression of the osteoclast inhibitor, OPG, was dramatically enhanced by calcium. It was found that CaSR mRNA expression was rapidly lost from human trabecular bone ex vivo and is not expressed by NHBC. However, NHBC did express the related receptor, GPRC6A. Surprisingly, mineralisation was either unchanged or enhanced in the presence of the calcium sensing receptor inhibitor, NPS2390. Calcium-dependent mineralisation was reversed in the presence of phosphorylated MEPE-ASARM peptides. This study suggests that osteoblast to OY transition, and the concurrent mineralisation of the extracellular matrix, is sensitive to extracellular calcium independent of the canonical CaSR. LIPUS is transmitted to target tissues as a low pressure acoustic wave (8), and has been shown to improve fracture healing (9-12). NHBC isolated from five donors were grown under conditions permissive for mineralisation and treated with a regimen of LIPUS at 1.5 mHz for 20 min daily for up to 7 days, either pre- or post-onset of mineralisation. The results showed a mild increase in the proliferation of cells in some cases in response to LIPUS treatment. Also, the expression of E11, a gene associated with osteoblast-OY transition, was increased. Cells from some donors responded to LIPUS by releasing measurable prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a response also associated with mechanical loading of bone and the effect of LIPUS in other models though there was no significant trend towards increased mineralisation. The results from this study suggest that LIPUS treatment may promote the differentiation of NHBC to a pre- or osteoid-OY-like phenotype. In summary, bone anabolic stimuli either in the form of calcium or LIPUS differentially affect the transition of osteoblasts to OY.
Thesis (M.Phil.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Medicine, 2012

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Bone is a dynamic organ that responds to its external environment. Cell signaling cascades are initiated within bone cells when changes in mechanical loading occur. To describe these molecular signaling networks that sense a mechanical signal and convert it into a transcriptional response, we proposed the mechanosome model. “GO” and “STOP” mechansomes contain an adhesion-associated protein and a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling transcription factor. “GO” mechanosomes functions to promote the anabolic response of bone to mechanical loading, while “STOP” mechanosomes function to suppress the anabolic response of bone to mechanical loading. While much work has been done to describe the molecular mechanisms that enhance the anabolic response of bone to loading, less is known about the signaling mechanisms that suppress bone’s response to loading. We studied two adhesion-associated proteins, Src and Pyk2, which may function as “STOP” mechanosomes. Src kinase is involved in a number of signaling pathways that respond to changes in external loads on bone. An inhibition of Src causes an increase in the expression of the anabolic bone gene osteocalcin. Additionally, mechanical stimulation of osteoblasts and osteocytes by fluid shear stress further enhanced expression of osteocalcin when Src activity was inhibited. Importantly, fluid shear stress stimulated an increase in nuclear Src activation and activity. The mechanism by which Src participates in attenuating anabolic gene transcription remains unknown. The studies described here suggest Src and Pyk2 increase their association in response to fluid shear stress. Pyk2, a protein-tyrosine kinase, exhibits nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, increased association with methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MBD2), and suppression of osteopontin expression in response to fluid shear stress. MBD2, known to be involved in DNA methylation and interpretation of DNA methylation patterns, may aid in fluid shear stress-induced suppression of anabolic bone genes. We conclude that both Src and Pyk2 play a role in regulating bone mass, possibly through a complex with MBD2, and function to limit the anabolic response of bone cells to fluid shear stress through the suppression of anabolic bone gene expression. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that “STOP” mechanosomes exist and their activity is simulated in response to fluid shear stress.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a disease characterized by bone loss and increased risk of fracture, and represents a significant burden on the Canadian health care system. Current treatments lack the ability to simultaneously address the therapeutic needs for promoting bone formation and inhibiting resorption. Our approach employs a novel conjugate drug in which an anabolic agent (EP4 receptor agonist) is reversibly joined with an anti-resorptive agent (alendronate) through a linker. This allows the bone-targeting ability of alendronate to deliver the EP4 agonist to bone sites, thereby mitigating the side effects associated with systemic administration of the EP4 agonist. This study investigated the in vivo efficacy of this drug in a curative experiment to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis using an ovariectomized rat model. Results showed that conjugate treatment dose-dependently stimulated bone formation and restored ovariectomy-induced bone loss, and conjugation between alendronate and the EP4 agonist was crucial to the drug’s anabolic effect.