J Bone Metab.  2017 Nov;24(4):207-215. 10.11005/jbm.2017.24.4.207.

Fexaramine Inhibits Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-κB Ligand-induced Osteoclast Formation via Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells Signaling Pathways

• Zheng T
• Kim NY
• Yim M

• KMID: 2397553
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11005/jbm.2017.24.4.207

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Osteoclasts are bone resorbing cells and are responsible for bone erosion in diseases as diverse as osteoporosis, periodontitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Fexaramine has been developed as an agonist for the farnesoid X receptor (FXR). This study investigated the effects of fexaramine on receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast formation and signaling pathways.
METHODS
Osteoclasts were formed by culturing mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and RANKL. Bone resorption assays were performed using dentine slices. The mRNA expression level was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blotting assays were conducted to detect the expression or activation level of proteins. Lipopolysaccharide-induced osteoclast formation was performed using a mouse calvarial model.
RESULTS
Fexaramine inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast formation, without cytotoxicity. Furthermore, fexaramine diminished the RANKL-stimulated bone resorption. Mechanistically, fexaramine blocked the RANKL-triggered p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and glycogen synthase kinase 3β phosphorylation, resulting in suppressed expression of c-Fos and NF of activated T cells (NFATc1). Consistent with the in vitro anti-osteoclastogenic effect, fexaramine suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced osteoclast formation in the calvarial model.
CONCLUSIONS
The present data suggest that fexaramine has an inhibitory effect on osteoclast differentiation and function, via downregulation of NFATc1 signaling pathways. Thus, fexaramine could be useful for the treatment of bone diseases associated with excessive bone resorption.

Keyword

Genes fos; NF-kappa B; Osteoclasts; RANK Ligand

MeSH Terms

Animals
Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Blotting, Western
Bone Diseases
Bone Resorption
Dentin
Down-Regulation
Glycogen Synthase Kinases
In Vitro Techniques
Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
Macrophages
Mice
NF-kappa B
Osteoclasts*
Osteoporosis
Periodontitis
Phosphorylation
Phosphotransferases
RANK Ligand
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger
T-Lymphocytes*
Glycogen Synthase Kinases
Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
NF-kappa B
Phosphotransferases
RANK Ligand
RNA, Messenger

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Fexaramine (Fexa) inhibits receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast formation. (A) Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were cultured with RANKL (100 ng/mL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) (30 ng/mL) in the presence of the indicated concentration of fexa for 4 days and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) multinucleated osteoclasts (MNCs) were counted. (B) BMMs were cultured with M-CSF (30 ng/mL) in the presence or absence of fexa (5 µM) for 2 days and an microtitration assay was performed. (C) BMMs were cultured with M-CSF (30 ng/mL) in the presence or absence of fexa (5 µM) for 4 days and messenger ribonucleic acids expression level was determined by real time-polymerase chain reaction. Data are expressed as mean±standard deviation from at least three independent experiments. *P<0.05. Veh, vehicle; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; DC-STAMP, dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein.

• 

  Fig. 2 Fexaramine (Fexa) inhibits bone resorption. (A) Fexa (5 µM) was added during the indicated culture days in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) (30 ng/mL) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) (100 ng/mL). (B) Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) from farnesoid X receptor (FXR)+/+ and FXR−/−mice were cultured with M-CSF (30 ng/mL) and RANKL (100 ng/mL) in the presence of indicated concentrations of fexa for 4 days, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) osteoclasts were counted. (C) BMMs were differentiated on dentine slices with M-CSF (30 ng/mL) and RANKL (100 ng/mL) for four days and fexa (5 µM) was treated for an additional two days. The number of resorption pits were counted. Scale bar=200 µm. Data are expressed as mean±standard deviation from at least three independent experiments. *P<0.05. MNCs, multinucleated osteoclasts; WT, wild-type; Veh, vehicle.

• 

  Fig. 3 Fexaramine (Fexa) inhibits receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced expression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATc1). (A, B) Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were preincubated in the absence or presence of fexa (5 µM) for 30 min, and then treated with or without 200 ng/mL of RANKL for 24 hr. Cell lysates were then subjected to Western blot analysis using (A) NFATc1 or (B) c-Fos antibodies. (C) BMMs were infected through the retrovirus packaging system. Infected BMMs were cultured with RANKL (100 ng/mL) and macrophage-colony stimulating factor (30 ng/mL) in the absence or presence of fexa (5 µM) for 4 days. The recovery rate was defined as the percentage of osteoclast formation in the presence of fexa. The osteoclast formation in the presence of vehicle was given as 100%. Data are expressed as mean±standard deviation from at least three independent experiments. *P<0.05. Veh, vehicle.

• 

  Fig. 4 Fexaramine (Fexa) inhibits receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced signaling pathways. (A-C) Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were preincubated in the absence or presence of fexa (5 µM) for 30 min, and then treated with or without 200 ng/mL RANKL for (A, B) 15 min or (C) 24 hr. Cell lysates were then subjected to Western blotting analysis with the indicated antibodies. Data are expressed as the mean±standard deviation from at least three independent experiments. *P<0.05. Veh, vehicle; p-p38, phospho-p38; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; p-ERK, phosphor-extracellular signal-regulated kinase; p-GSK, phosphor-glycogen synthase kinase.

• 

  Fig. 5 Fexaramine (Fexa) suppresses lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced osteoclast formation in vivo. (A) Calvaria of mice that received vehicle, LPS, or LPS plus fexa (5 mg/kg) were subjected to tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. (B) TRAP+stained area in calvaria were quantified using the image J program. Representative images are shown. Data are expressed as the mean±standard deviation from at least three independent experiments. *P<0.05. Veh, vehicle.

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