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Biomedical subjects

Ernesto Canalis

Publications and source records attributed to Ernesto Canalis.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Notch 1 impairs osteoblastic cell differentiation.

Notch receptors are single pass transmembrane receptors activated by membrane-bound ligands with a role in cell proliferation and differentiation. As Notch 1 and 2 mRNAs are expressed by osteoblasts and induced by cortisol, we postulated that Notch could regulate osteoblastogenesis. We investigated the effects of retroviral vectors directing the constitutive expression of the Notch 1 intracellular domain (NotchIC) in murine ST-2 stromal and in MC3T3 cells. NotchIC overexpression was documented by increased Notch 1 transcripts and activity of the Notch-dependent Hairy Enhancer of Split promoter. In the presence of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), ST-2 cells differentiated toward osteoblasts forming mineralized nodules, and Notch 1 opposed this effect and decreased the expression of osteocalcin, type I collagen, and alkaline phosphatase transcripts and Delta2Delta FosB protein. Further, NotchIC decreased Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. As cells differentiated in the presence of BMP-2, they underwent apoptosis, and Notch opposed this event. In the presence of cortisol, NotchIC induced the formation of mature adipocytes and enhanced the effect of cortisol on adipsin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 and CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha and delta mRNA levels. NotchIC also opposed MC3T3 cell differentiation and the expression of a mature osteoblastic phenotype. In conclusion, NotchIC impairs osteoblast differentiation and enhances adipogenesis in stromal cell cultures.

3T3 Cells↗

Management of glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis in premenopausal women with autoimmune disease.

Numerous inflammatory rheumatic diseases occurring in premenopausal women require the use of high doses of glucocorticoids (GC). It was believed for many years that premenopausal women were, at least to some extent, protected from bone loss associated with GC therapy. However, epidemiological studies performed in premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus, demonstrate that these patients have lower bone mineral density as compared to age-matched controls. This is explained in part by the underlying disease and in part by treatment with GC. The American College of Rheumatology recommends life style adaptation, supplementation with calcium and vitamin D in patients receiving, or initiating therapy with >/=5 mg equivalent prednisone/day. Bisphosphonates are recommended, but they should be used with caution in young women as they cross the placenta and can affect skeletal remodeling in the foetus. Bisphosphonates have a prolonged terminal half-life and data on their safety extends to 10 years. It is therefore critical to inform premenopausal women about the risks of bisphosphonates and to recommend bisphosphonates with shorter terminal half-life.

Arthritis↗

Mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Glucocorticoids modify osteoblastic cell differentiation, number, and function. Glucocorticoids stimulate osteoclastogenesis and increase the expression of receptor activator of Nuclear factor-kappaB ligand and colony-stimulating factor-1, and decrease the expression of osteoprotegerin. However, the most significant effect of glucocorticoids in bone is an inhibition of bone formation. This inhibition is caused by a decrease in the number of osteoblasts secondary to a shift in the differentiation of mesenchymal cells away from the osteoblastic lineage, and an increase in the death of mature osteoblasts. Glucocorticoids decrease the function of the remaining osteoblasts directly and indirectly through the inhibition of insulin-like growth factor I expression. The stimulation of bone resorption is likely responsible for the initial bone loss after glucocorticoid exposure. Eventually, the inhibition of bone formation will cause a decrease in bone remodeling and a continued increased risk of fractures.

Animals↗

Osteonectin-null mutation compromises osteoblast formation, maturation, and survival.

Osteonectin, also known as SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) or BM-40, is one of the most abundant noncollagenous proteins in bone. Analysis of osteonectin-null mice revealed that osteonectin is necessary for the maintenance of bone mass and normal remodeling, as osteonectin-null mice have decreased osteoblast number and bone formation rate. Cultures of bone marrow stromal cells and osteoblasts from control and osteonectin-null mice were used to determine the cellular basis for the mutant phenotype. We found that marrow stroma from osteonectin-null mice contains fewer osteoblastic precursors than that of control mice, and the osteonectin-null mutation did not affect the proliferation rate of stromal cells or osteoblasts. Whereas osteonectin-null cells could adopt an osteoblastic phenotype, a smaller proportion of these cells expressed markers of a fully differentiated osteoblast. Mutant cells exhibited decreased formation of mineralized nodules, as well as diminished expression of osteocalcin mRNA and response to PTH. Furthermore, osteonectin-null cells showed an increased tendency to form adipocytes, with enhanced expression of the adipocytic markers adipsin and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta. Osteonectin-null cells were also more susceptible to environmental stresses. These data indicate that osteonectin is important for osteoblast formation, maturation, and survival.

Animals↗

Bone morphogenetic proteins, their antagonists, and the skeleton.

Skeletal homeostasis is determined by systemic hormones and local factors. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) are unique because they induce the differentiation of mesenchymal cells toward cells of the osteoblastic lineage and also enhance the differentiated function of the osteoblast. However, the activity of BMPs needs to be tempered by intracellular and extracellular antagonists. BMPs bind to specific receptors and signal by phosphorylating the cytoplasmic proteins mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) 1 and 5, which form heterodimers with Smad 4, and after nuclear translocation regulate transcription. BMP antagonists can be categorized as pseudoreceptors that compete with signaling receptors, inhibitory Smads that block signaling, intracellular binding proteins that bind Smad 1 and 5, and factors that induce ubiquitination and proteolysis of signaling Smads. In addition, a large number of extracellular proteins that bind BMPs and prevent their binding to signaling receptors have emerged. They are the components of the Spemann organizer, noggin, chordin, and follistatin, members of the Dan/Cerberus family, and twisted gastrulation. The antagonists tend to be specific for BMPs and are regulated by BMPs, indicating the existence and need of local feedback mechanisms to temper BMP cellular activities.

Animals↗

Infrared analysis of the mineral and matrix in bones of osteonectin-null mice and their wildtype controls.

Osteonectin function in bone was investigated by infrared analysis of bones from osteonectin-null (KO) and wildtype mice (four each at 11, 17, and 36 weeks). An increase in mineral content and crystallinity in newly formed KO bone and collagen maturity at all sites was found using FTIR microspectroscopy and imaging; consistent with osteonectin's postulated role in regulating bone formation and remodeling. Mineral and matrix properties of tibias of osteonectin-null mice and their age- and background-matched wildtype controls were compared using Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM) and infrared imaging (FTIRI) at 10- and 7-mm spatial resolution, respectively. The bones came from animals that were 11, 17, and 36 weeks of age. Individual FTIRM spectra were acquired from 20 x 20 microm areas, whereas 4096 simultaneous FTIRI spectra were acquired from 400 x 400 microm areas. The FTIRM data for mineral-to-matrix, mineral crystallinity, and collagen maturity were highly correlated with the FTIRI data in similar regions. In general, the osteonectin-null mice bones had higher mineral contents and greater crystallinity (crystal size and perfection) than the age-matched wildtype controls. Specifically, the mineral content of the newly forming periosteal bone was increased in the osteonectin-null mice; the crystallinity of the cortical bone was decreased in all but the oldest animals, relative to the wildtype. The most significant finding, however, was increased collagen maturity in both the cortical and trabecular bone of the osteonectin-null mice. These spectroscopic data are consistent with a mechanism of decreased bone formation and remodeling.

Animals↗

Cortisol regulates the expression of Notch in osteoblasts.

Glucocorticoids have important effects on osteoblastic replication, differentiation, and function, and the Notch family of receptors is considered to play a role in osteoblastic cell differentiation. We postulated that cortisol could regulate Notch and Notch ligand expression in osteoblastic cells, providing an additional mechanism by which glucocorticoids could regulate osteoblastic differentiation. We examined the expression and regulation of Notch1, 2, 3, and 4 and their ligands Jagged 1 and 2 and Delta 1 and 3 by cortisol in cultures of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Cortisol caused a time-dependent increase in Notch1 and 2 mRNA levels in MC3T3 cells. Notch3 and 4 were not detected in the presence or absence of cortisol. MC3T3 cells expressed Delta 1 and Jagged 1 but not Jagged 2 or Delta 3 mRNAs, and cortisol did not have a substantial effect on the expression of any of these ligands. Cortisol increased the rate of Notch1 and 2 transcription and, in transcriptionally arrested cells, did not modify the decay of the transcripts, indicating a transcriptional level of control. In conclusion, cortisol stimulates Notch1 and 2 transcription in osteoblasts. Since Notch signaling appears to play a negative role in osteoblastic differentiation, its increased expression could be relevant to the actions of cortisol in bone.

Animals↗

Effects of cortisol and bone morphogenetic protein-2 on stromal cell differentiation: correlation with CCAAT-enhancer binding protein expression.

Bone marrow stroma contain pluripotential cells with the potential to differentiate into various mesenchymal cell lineages. We compared the effect of cortisol and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) on the differentiation of murine ST-2 stromal cells into mature osteoblasts or adipocytes. ST-2 cells were cultured for 3-27 days in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 microg/mL ascorbic acid, and 5 mmol/L beta-glycerolphosphate in the presence or absence of cortisol at 1 micromol/L or BMP-2 at 1 nmol/L. Untreated ST-2 cells expressed high levels of alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) 15 days after confluence, and this was followed by the appearance of mineralized nodules after 24 days. BMP-2 accelerated and intensified the appearance of cells expressing APA and the presence of mineralized nodules. In contrast, cortisol decreased APA, prevented the formation of mineralized nodules, and induced a cellular phenotype characteristic of adipocytes. Untreated stromal cells expressed osteocalcin, Cbfa1, type I collagen, and alkaline phosphatase mRNA. BMP-2 increased osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase mRNA, whereas cortisol suppressed their expression, as well as Cbfa1 and type I collagen transcripts. Cortisol enhanced, and BMP-2 downregulated, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 and adipsin transcripts. The C/EBP transcription factors regulate genes critical for adipocytic and osteoblastic differentiation. Cortisol increased the expression of C/EBP alpha, beta, delta, and gamma mRNA levels, whereas BMP-2 had minor effects on C/EBP expression. In conclusion, BMP-2 accelerates the differentiation of stromal cells toward an osteoblastic phenotype, whereas glucocorticoids induce their differentiation toward an adipocytic phenotype.

Adipocytes↗

Mechanisms of glucocorticoid action in bone.

Glucocorticoids cause profound effects on bone cell replication, differentiation, and function. Glucocorticoids increase bone resorption by stimulating osteoclastogenesis by increasing the expression of RANK ligand and decreasing the expression of its decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin. In accordance with the increase in bone resorption, glucocorticoids stimulate the expression of collagenase 3 by posttranscriptional mechanisms. The most significant effect of glucocorticoids in bone is an inhibition of bone formation. This is because of a decrease in the number of osteoblasts and their function. The decrease in cell number is secondary to a decrease in osteoblastic cell replication and differentiation, and an increase in the apoptosis of mature osteoblasts. Glucocorticoids decrease osteoblastic function directly and indirectly through the modulation of growth factor expression, receptor binding, or binding protein levels. Clinically, patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) develop bone loss in the first few months of glucocorticoid exposure, and modest doses of glucocorticoids increase the risk of fractures of the spine and hip. Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and prevent and revert the bone loss that follows glucocorticoid exposure. Anabolic agents, such as parathyroid hormone, stimulate bone formation and can increase bone mass in GIOP.

Animals↗

Effects of glucocorticoids on the skeleton.

Glucocorticoids have profound effects on mineral metabolism and skeletal cell function, and an excess can lead to the development of short stature and osteoporosis. The most significant actions of glucocorticoids are on chondrocytes and bone-forming cells, where they act, directly and indirectly, and regulate the local synthesis of insulin-like growth factor-I.

Animals↗

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: an update.

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis occurs in two phases: a rapid, early phase in which bone mineral density is reduced, possibly as a result of excessive bone resorption, and a slower, progressive phase in which bone mineral density declines because of impaired bone formation. Although the indirect effects of glucocorticoids on bone are evident, their direct effects on osteoblasts, osteoclasts and osteocytes are primarily operative in the pathogenesis of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. The management of patients exposed to glucocorticoids includes general health measures, sufficient calcium and vitamin D, and reducing the therapeutic regimen to the minimal effective dose. The gold standard in the pharmacological treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in postmenopausal women involves the use of bisphosphonates, which should be started soon after beginning chronic glucocorticoid therapy. Anabolic and alternative therapeutic strategies are currently under investigation in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Bone Density↗