Pten knockout in mouse preosteoblasts leads to changes in bone turnover and strength

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Judith Lorenz - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Sandy Richter - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Anna S. Kirstein - , Leipzig University, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research (Author)
  • Florentien Kolbig - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Michèle Nebe - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Marco Schulze - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Wieland Kiess - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Ingo Spitzbarth - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Nora Klöting - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Diana Le Duc - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Ulrike Baschant - , Department of Internal Medicine III, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Antje Garten - , Leipzig University (Author)

Abstract

Bone development and remodeling are controlled by the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (Pi3k) signaling pathway. We investigated the effects of downregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten), a negative regulator of Pi3k signaling, in a mouse model of Pten deficiency in preosteoblasts. We aimed to identify mechanisms that are involved in the regulation of bone turnover and are linked to bone disorders. Femora, tibiae, and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) isolated from mice with a conditional deletion of Pten (Pten cKO) in Osterix/Sp7expressing osteoprogenitor cells were compared to Cre-negative controls. Bone phenotyping was performed by μCT measurements, bone histomorphometry, quantification of bone turnover markers CTX and procollagen type 1 N propeptide (P1NP), and three-point bending test. Proliferation of BMSCs was measured by counting nuclei and Ki-67–stained cells. In vitro, osteogenic differentiation capacity was determined by ALP staining, as well as by detecting gene expression of osteogenic markers. BMSCs from Pten cKO mice were functionally different from control BMSCs. Osteogenic markers were increased in BMSCs derived from Pten cKO mice, while Pten protein expression was lower and Akt phosphorylation was increased. We detected a higher trabecular bone volume and an altered cortical bone morphology in Pten cKO bones with a progressive decrease in bone and tissue mineral density. Pten cKO bones displayed fewer osteoclasts and more osteoblasts (P = .00095) per trabecular bone surface and a higher trabecular bone formation rate. Biomechanical analysis revealed a significantly higher bone strength (P = .00012 for males) and elasticity of Pten cKO femora. On the cellular level, both proliferation and osteogenic differentiation capacity of Pten cKO BMSCs were significantly increased compared to controls. Our findings suggest that Pten knockout in osteoprogenitor cells increases bone stability and elasticity by increasing trabecular bone mass and leads to increased proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number016
JournalJBMR Plus
Volume8
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC10945711
Scopus 85193427235
ORCID /0000-0002-6862-1650/work/173517155

Keywords

Keywords

  • bone marrow, osteoprogenitor, osterix, Pten, stem cells