| 1. |
- Nilsson, Karin H., et al.
(författare)
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RSPO3 is important for trabecular bone and fracture risk in mice and humans
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 12:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Genetic association signals for fractures have been reported at the RSPO3 locus, but the causal gene and the underlying mechanism are unknown. Here, the authors show that RSPO3 exerts an important role for vertebral trabecular bone mass and bone strength in mice and fracture risk in humans. With increasing age of the population, countries across the globe are facing a substantial increase in osteoporotic fractures. Genetic association signals for fractures have been reported at the RSPO3 locus, but the causal gene and the underlying mechanism are unknown. Here we show that the fracture reducing allele at the RSPO3 locus associate with increased RSPO3 expression both at the mRNA and protein levels, increased trabecular bone mineral density and reduced risk mainly of distal forearm fractures in humans. We also demonstrate that RSPO3 is expressed in osteoprogenitor cells and osteoblasts and that osteoblast-derived RSPO3 is the principal source of RSPO3 in bone and an important regulator of vertebral trabecular bone mass and bone strength in adult mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that RSPO3 in a cell-autonomous manner increases osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. In conclusion, RSPO3 regulates vertebral trabecular bone mass and bone strength in mice and fracture risk in humans.
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| 2. |
- Gustafsson, Karin L., 1987, et al.
(författare)
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A tissue-specific role of membrane-initiated ERα signaling for the effects of SERMs
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Endocrinology. - 0022-0795. ; 253:2, s. 75-84
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) act as estrogen receptor (ER) agonists or antagonists in a tissue-specific manner. ERs exert effects via nuclear actions but can also utilize membrane-initiated signaling pathways. To dete rmine if membrane-initiated ERα (mERα) signaling affects SERM action in a tissue-specific manner, C451 A mice, lacking mERα signaling due to a mutation at palmitoylation site C451, were treated with Lasofoxifene (Las), Bazedoxifene (Bza), or estradi ol (E2), and various tissues were evaluated. Las and Bza treatment increased uterine weight to a similar extent in C451A and control mice, demonstrating mERα-independent uterine SERM effects, while the E2 effect on the uterus was predominantly mER α-dependent. Las and Bza treatment increased both trabecular and cortical bone mass in controls to a similar degree as E2, while both SERM and E2 treatment effects were abse nt in C451A mice. This demonstrates that SERM effects, similar to E2 effects, in th e skeleton are mERα- dependent. Both Las and E2 treatment decreased thymus weight in controls, while neither treatment affected the thymus in C451A mice, demonstrati ng mERα-dependent SERM and E2 effects in this tissue. Interestingly, both SERM and E2 treatments decreased the total body fat percent in C451A mice, demonstrating the ability of these treatments to affect fat tissue in the absence of functional mER α signaling. In conclusion, mERα signaling can modulate SERM responses in a tissue-specific manne r. This novel knowledge increases the understanding of the mechanisms behind SERM effects and may thereby facilitate the development of new improved SERMs.
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| 3. |
- Gustafsson, Karin L., 1987, et al.
(författare)
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Arginine site 264 in murine estrogen receptor alpha is dispensable for the regulation of the skeleton.
- 2021
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Ingår i: American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism. - 1522-1555. ; 320:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogen protects against bone loss, but is not a suitable treatment due to adverse effects in other tissues. Increased knowledge regarding estrogen signaling in estrogen-responsive tissues is therefore warranted to aid the development of bone-specific estrogen treatments. Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), the main mediator of estrogenic effects in bone, is widely subjected to posttranslational modifications (PTMs). In vitro studies have shown that methylation at site R260 in the human ERα affects receptor localization and intracellular signaling. The corresponding amino acid R264 in murine ERα has been shown to have a functional role in endothelium in vivo; albeit the methylation of R264 in the murine gene is yet to be empirically demonstrated. The aim of this study was to investigate if R264 in ERα is involved in the regulation of the skeleton in vivo. DXA analysis at three, six, nine, and twelve months of age showed no differences in total body areal BMD between R264A and WT in either female or male mice. Furthermore, analyses using CT demonstrated that trabecular bone mass in tibia and vertebra, and cortical thickness in tibia, were similar between R264A and WT mice. In addition, R264A females displayed a normal estrogen treatment response in trabecular bone mass, as well as in cortical thickness. Furthermore, uterus, thymus, and adipose tissue responded similarly in R264A and WT female mice after estrogen treatment. In conclusion, our novel finding that mutation of R264 in ERα does not affect the regulation of the skeleton, together with the known role of R264 for ERα-mediated endothelial effects, supports the concept that R264 determines tissue specificity of ERα.
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| 4. |
- Gustafsson, Karin L., 1987, et al.
(författare)
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ER alpha expression in T lymphocytes is dispensable for estrogenic effects in bone
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Endocrinology. - : Bioscientifica. - 0022-0795 .- 1479-6805. ; 238:2, s. 129-136
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogen treatment has positive effects on the skeleton, and we have shown that estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) expression in cells of hematopoietic origin contributes to a normal estrogen treatment response in bone tissue. T lymphocytes are implicated in the estrogenic regulation of bone mass, but it is not known whether T lymphocytes are direct estrogen target cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the importance of ERa expression in T lymphocytes for the estrogenic regulation of the skeleton using female mice lacking ERa expression specifically in T lymphocytes (Lck-ERa-/-) and ERaflox/flox littermate (control) mice. Deletion of ERa expression in T lymphocytes did not affect bone mineral density (BMD) in sham-operated Lck-ERa-/compared to control mice, and ovariectomy (ovx) resulted in a similar decrease in BMD in control and Lck-ERa-/- mice compared to sham-operated mice. Furthermore, estrogen treatment of ovx Lck-ERa-/- led to an increased BMD that was indistinguishable from the increase seen after estrogen treatment of ovx control mice. Detailed analysis of both the appendicular (femur) and axial (vertebrae) skeleton showed that both trabecular and cortical bone parameters responded to a similar extent regardless of the presence of ERa in T lymphocytes. In conclusion, ERa expression in T lymphocytes is dispensable for normal estrogenic regulation of bone mass in female mice.
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| 5. |
- Gustafsson, Karin L., 1987, et al.
(författare)
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The role of membrane ER alpha signaling in bone and other major estrogen responsive tissues
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogen receptor a (ER alpha) signaling leads to cellular responses in several tissues and in addition to nuclear ER alpha-mediated effects, membrane ER alpha (mER alpha) signaling may be of importance. To elucidate the significance, in vivo, of mER alpha signaling in multiple estrogen-responsive tissues, we have used female mice lacking the ability to localize ER alpha to the membrane due to a point mutation in the palmitoylation site (C451A), so called Nuclear-Only-ER (NOER) mice. Interestingly, the role of mER alpha signaling for the estrogen response was highly tissue-dependent, with trabecular bone in the axial skeleton being strongly dependent (>80% reduction in estrogen response in NOER mice), cortical and trabecular bone in long bones, as well as uterus and thymus being partly dependent (40-70% reduction in estrogen response in NOER mice) and effects on liver weight and total body fat mass being essentially independent of mER alpha (<35% reduction in estrogen response in NOER mice). In conclusion, mER alpha signaling is important for the estrogenic response in female mice in a tissue-dependent manner. Increased knowledge regarding membrane initiated ER alpha actions may provide means to develop new selective estrogen receptor modulators with improved profiles.
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| 6. |
- Lawenius, Lina, et al.
(författare)
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Development of a synbiotic that protects against ovariectomy-induced trabecular bone loss
- 2022
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Ingår i: American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 322:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The gut microbiome has the capacity to regulate bone mass. The aim of this study was to develop a nutritional synbiotic dietary assemblage at an optimal dose to maintain bone mass in ovariectomized (Ovx) mice. We performed genomic analyses and in vitro experiments in a large collection of bacterial and fungal strains (>4,000) derived from fresh fruit and vegetables to identify candidates with the synergistic capacity to produce bone-protective short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and vitamin K2. The candidate SBD111-A, composed of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Levilactobacillus brevis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pichia kudriavzevii together with prebiotic dietary fibers, produced high levels of SCFA in vitro and protected against Ovx-induced trabecular bone loss in a dose-dependent manner in mice. Metagenomic sequencing revealed that SBD111-A changed the taxonomic composition and enriched specific pathways for synthesis of bone-protective SCFA, vitamin K2, and branched-chain amino acids in the gut microbiome. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We performed genomic analyses and in vitro experiments in a collection of bacterial and fungal strains. We identified a combination (SBD111-A) that produced high levels of SCFA in vitro and protected against ovariectomy-induced bone loss in a dose-dependent manner in mice. Metagenomic sequencing revealed that SBD111-A changed the taxonomic composition and function of the gut microbiome and enriched pathways for synthesis of bone-protective SCFA, vitamin K2, and branched-chain amino acids.
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| 7. |
- Lawenius, Lina, et al.
(författare)
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Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila protects from fat mass gain but not from bone loss
- 2020
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Ingår i: American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 0193-1849 .- 1522-1555. ; 318:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Probiotic bacteria can protect from ovariectomy (ovx)-induced bone loss in mice. Akkermansia muciniphila is considered to have probiotic potential due to its beneficial effect on obesity and insulin resistance. The purpose of the present study was to determine if treatment with pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila (pAkk) could prevent ovx-induced bone loss. Mice were treated with vehicle or pAkk for 4 wk, starting 3 days before ovx or sham surgery. Treatment with pAkk reduced fat mass accumulation confirming earlier findings. However, treatment with pAkk decreased trabecular and cortical bone mass in femur and vertebra of gonadal intact mice and did not protect from ovx-induced bone loss. Treatment with pAkk increased serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and increased expression of the calcium transporter Trpv5 in kidney suggesting increased reabsorption of calcium in the kidneys. Serum amyloid A 3 (SAA3) can suppress bone formation and mediate the effects of PTH on bone resorption and bone loss in mice and treatment with pAkk increased serum levels of SAA3 and gene expression of Saa3 in colon. Moreover, regulatory T cells can be protective of bone and pAkk-treated mice had decreased number of regulatory T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and bone marrow. In conclusion, treatment with pAkk protected from ovx-induced fat mass gain but not from bone loss and reduced bone mass in gonadal intact mice. Our findings with pAkk differ from some probiotics that have been shown to protect bone mass, demonstrating that not all prebiotic and probiotic factors have the same effect on bone.
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| 8. |
- Movérare-Skrtic, Sofia, et al.
(författare)
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The bone-sparing effects of estrogen and WNT16 are independent of each other
- 2015
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 112:48, s. 14972-14977
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Wingless-type MMTV integration site family (WNT)16 is a key regulator of bone mass with high expression in cortical bone, and Wnt16-/- mice have reduced cortical bone mass. As Wnt16 expression is enhanced by estradiol treatment, we hypothesized that the bone-sparing effect of estrogen in females isWNT16-dependent. This hypothesis was tested in mechanistic studies using two genetically modified mouse models with either constantly high osteoblastic Wnt16 expression or no Wnt16 expression. We developed a mouse model with osteoblast-specific Wnt16 overexpression (Obl-Wnt16). These mice had several-fold elevated Wnt16 expression in both trabecular and cortical bone compared with wild type (WT) mice. Obl- Wnt16 mice displayed increased total body bone mineral density (BMD), surprisingly caused mainly by a substantial increase in trabecular bone mass, resulting in improved bone strength of vertebrae L3. Ovariectomy (ovx) reduced the total body BMD and the trabecular bone mass to the same degree in Obl-Wnt16 mice and WT mice, suggesting that the bone-sparing effect of estrogen is WNT16-independent. However, these bone parameters were similar in ovx Obl- Wnt16 mice and sham operated WT mice. The role of WNT16 for the bone-sparing effect of estrogen was also evaluated in Wnt16-/- mice. Treatment with estradiol increased the trabecular and cortical bone mass to a similar extent in both Wnt16-/- and WT mice. In conclusion, the bone-sparing effects of estrogen and WNT16 are independent of each other. Furthermore, loss of endogenous WNT16 results specifically in cortical bone loss, whereas overexpression of WNT16 surprisingly increases mainly trabecular bone mass. WNT16- targeted therapies might be useful for treatment of postmenopausal trabecular bone loss.
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| 9. |
- Nilsson, Karin H., et al.
(författare)
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Estradiol and RSPO3 regulate vertebral trabecular bone mass independent of each other
- 2022
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Ingår i: American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism. - : American Physiological Society. - 1522-1555 .- 0193-1849. ; 322:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Osteoporosis is an age-dependent serious skeletal disease that leads to great suffering for the patient and high social costs, especially as the global population reaches higher age. Decreasing estrogen levels after menopause result in a substantial bone loss and increased fracture risk, whereas estrogen treatment improves bone mass in women. RSPO3, a secreted protein that modulates WNT signaling, increases trabecular bone mass and strength in the vertebrae of mice, and is associated with trabecular density and risk of distal forearm fractures in humans. The aim of the present study was to determine if RSPO3 is involved in the bone-sparing effect of estrogens. We first observed that estradiol (E2) treatment increases RSPO3 expression in bone of ovariectomized (OVX) mice, supporting a possible role of RSPO3 in the bone-sparing effect of estrogens. As RSPO3 is mainly expressed by osteoblasts in the bone, we used a mouse model devoid of osteoblast-derived RSPO3 (Runx2-creRspo3flox/flox mice) to determine if RSPO3 is required for the bone-sparing effect of E2 in OVX mice. We confirmed that osteoblast-specific RSPO3 inactivation results in a substantial reduction in trabecular bone mass and strength in the vertebrae. However, E2 increased vertebral trabecular bone mass and strength similarly in mice devoid of osteoblast-derived RSPO3 and control mice. Unexpectedly, osteoblast-derived RSPO3 was needed for the full estrogenic response on cortical bone thickness. In conclusion, although osteoblast-derived RSPO3 is a crucial regulator of vertebral trabecular bone, it is required for a full estrogenic effect on cortical, but not trabecular, bone in OVX mice. Thus, estradiol and RSPO3 regulate vertebral trabecular bone mass independent of each other.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Osteoblast-derived RSPO3 is known to be a crucial regulator of vertebral trabecular bone. Our new findings show that RSPO3 and estrogen regulate trabecular bone independent of each other, but that RSPO3 is necessary for a complete estrogenic effect on cortical bone.
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| 10. |
- Ohlsson, Claes, 1965, et al.
(författare)
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Inducible Wnt16 inactivation: WNT16 regulates cortical bone thickness in adult mice.
- 2018
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Ingår i: The Journal of endocrinology. - 1479-6805. ; 237:2, s. 113-122
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Substantial progress has been made in the therapeutic reduction of vertebral fracture risk in patients with osteoporosis, but non-vertebral fracture risk has been improved only marginally. Human genetic studies demonstrate that the WNT16 locus is a major determinant of cortical bone thickness and non-vertebral fracture risk and mouse models with life-long Wnt16 inactivation revealed that WNT16 is a key regulator of cortical thickness. These studies, however, could not exclude that the effect of Wnt16 inactivation on cortical thickness might be caused by early developmental and/or growth effects. To determine the effect of WNT16 specifically on adult cortical bone homeostasis, Wnt16 was conditionally ablated in young adult and old mice through tamoxifen-inducible Cre-mediated recombination using CAG-Cre-ER; Wnt16flox/flox (Cre-Wnt16flox/flox) mice. First, 10-week-old Cre-Wnt16flox/flox and Wnt16flox/flox littermate control mice were treated with tamoxifen. Four weeks later, Wnt16 mRNA levels in cortical bone were reduced and cortical thickness in femur was decreased in Cre-Wnt16flox/flox mice compared to Wnt16flox/flox mice. Then, inactivation of Wnt16 in 47-week-old mice (evaluated four weeks later) resulted in a reduction of Wnt16 mRNA levels, cortical thickness and cortical bone strength with no effect on trabecular bone volume fraction. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the reduced cortical bone thickness was caused by a combination of increased bone resorption and reduced periosteal bone formation. In conclusion, WNT16 is a crucial regulator of cortical bone thickness in young adult and old mice. We propose that new treatment strategies targeting the adult regulation of WNT16 might be useful to reduce fracture risk at cortical bone sites.
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