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Aims

This study examined the relationship between obesity (OB) and osteoporosis (OP), aiming to identify shared genetic markers and molecular mechanisms to facilitate the development of therapies that target both conditions simultaneously.

Methods

Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we analyzed datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify co-expressed gene modules in OB and OP. These modules underwent Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment and protein-protein interaction analysis to discover Hub genes. Machine learning refined the gene selection, with further validation using additional datasets. Single-cell analysis emphasized specific cell subpopulations, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), protein blotting, and cellular staining were used to investigate key genes.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 13, Issue 2 | Pages 52 - 65
1 Feb 2024
Yao C Sun J Luo W Chen H Chen T Chen C Zhang B Zhang Y

Aims

To investigate the effects of senescent osteocytes on bone homeostasis in the progress of age-related osteoporosis and explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods

In a series of in vitro experiments, we used tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) to induce senescence of MLO-Y4 cells successfully, and collected conditioned medium (CM) and senescent MLO-Y4 cell-derived exosomes, which were then applied to MC3T3-E1 cells, separately, to evaluate their effects on osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, we identified differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) between exosomes from senescent and normal MLO-Y4 cells by high-throughput RNA sequencing. Based on the key miRNAs that were discovered, the underlying mechanism by which senescent osteocytes regulate osteogenic differentiation was explored. Lastly, in the in vivo experiments, the effects of senescent MLO-Y4 cell-derived exosomes on age-related bone loss were evaluated in male SAMP6 mice, which excluded the effects of oestrogen, and the underlying mechanism was confirmed.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 12, Issue 9 | Pages 580 - 589
20 Sep 2023
Dai X Liu B Hou Q Dai Q Wang D Xie B Sun Y Wang B

Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the global and local impact of fat on bone in obesity by using the diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model. Methods. In this study, we generated a diet-induced mouse model of obesity to conduct lipidomic and 3D imaging assessments of bone marrow fat, and evaluated the correlated bone adaptation indices and bone mechanical properties. Results. Our results indicated that bone mass was reduced and bone mechanical properties were impaired in DIO mice. Lipidomic sequencing and bioinformatic analysis identified 373 differential lipids, 176 of which were upregulated and 197 downregulated. Functional enrichment analysis revealed a significant downregulation of the pathways: fat digestion and absorption (ko04975) and lipolysis regulation in adipocytes (ko04923) in DIO mice, leading to local fat accumulation. The use of 3D imaging confirmed the increase in fat accumulation within the bone marrow cavity of obese mice. Conclusion. Our study sheds light on the intricate interplay between fat and bone, and provides a non-toxic and non-invasive method for measuring marrow adipose tissue. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(9):580–589


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 10, Issue 11 | Pages 704 - 713
1 Nov 2021
Zhang H Li J Xiang X Zhou B Zhao C Wei Q Sun Y Chen J Lai B Luo Z Li A

Aims

Tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) has been identified as an inhibitor of oxidative stress-induced injury and apoptosis in human neural stem cells. However, the role of tBHQ in osteoarthritis (OA) is unclear. This study was carried out to investigate the role of tBHQ in OA.

Methods

OA animal model was induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). Different concentrations of tBHQ (25 and 50 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally injected in ten-week-old female mice. Chondrocytes were isolated from articular cartilage of mice and treated with 5 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or 10 ng/ml interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) for 24 hours, and then treated with different concentrations of tBHQ (10, 20, and 40 μM) for 12 hours. The expression levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in blood were measured. The expression levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) leptin in plasma were measured using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway proteins, and macrophage repolarization-related markers, were detected by western blot.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 10, Issue 9 | Pages 611 - 618
27 Sep 2021
Ali E Birch M Hopper N Rushton N McCaskie AW Brooks RA

Aims

Accumulated evidence indicates that local cell origins may ingrain differences in the phenotypic activity of human osteoblasts. We hypothesized that these differences may also exist in osteoblasts harvested from the same bone type at periarticular sites, including those adjacent to the fixation sites for total joint implant components.

Methods

Human osteoblasts were obtained from the acetabulum and femoral neck of seven patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and from the femoral and tibial cuts of six patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Osteoblasts were extracted from the usually discarded bone via enzyme digestion, characterized by flow cytometry, and cultured to passage three before measurement of metabolic activity, collagen production, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression, and mineralization.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 10, Issue 8 | Pages 526 - 535
1 Aug 2021
Xin W Yuan S Wang B Qian Q Chen Y

Aims

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel type of non-coding RNA that plays major roles in the development of diverse diseases including osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Here, we explored the impact of hsa_circ_0066523 derived from forkhead box P1 (FOXP1) (also called circFOXP1) on bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), which is important for ONFH development.

Methods

RNA or protein expression in BMSCs was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or western blot, respectively. Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) and 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) were used to analyze cell proliferation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, ALP staining, and Alizarin Red S staining were employed to evaluate the osteoblastic differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), luciferase reporter, RNA pull down, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were combined for exploring molecular associations.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 9, Issue 8 | Pages 524 - 530
1 Aug 2020
Li S Mao Y Zhou F Yang H Shi Q Meng B

Osteoporosis (OP) is a chronic metabolic bone disease characterized by the decrease of bone tissue per unit volume under the combined action of genetic and environmental factors, which leads to the decrease of bone strength, makes the bone brittle, and raises the possibility of bone fracture. However, the exact mechanism that determines the progression of OP remains to be underlined. There are hundreds of trillions of symbiotic bacteria living in the human gut, which have a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with the human body that helps to maintain human health. With the development of modern high-throughput sequencing (HTS) platforms, there has been growing evidence that the gut microbiome may play an important role in the programming of bone metabolism. In the present review, we discuss the potential mechanisms of the gut microbiome in the development of OP, such as alterations of bone metabolism, bone mineral absorption, and immune regulation. The potential of gut microbiome-targeted strategies in the prevention and treatment of OP was also evaluated.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(8):524–530.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 8, Issue 8 | Pages 405 - 413
1 Aug 2019
Huang J Bao X Xia W Zhu L Zhang J Ma J Jiang N Yang J Chen Q Jing T Liu J Ma D Xu G

Objectives

X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets (XLHR) is a disease of impaired bone mineralization characterized by hypophosphataemia caused by renal phosphate wasting. The main clinical manifestations of the disorder are O-shaped legs, X-shaped legs, delayed growth, and bone pain. XLHR is the most common inheritable form of rickets, with an incidence of 1/20 000 in humans. It accounts for approximately 80% of familial cases of hypophosphataemia and serves as the prototype of defective tubular phosphate (PO43+) transport, due to extra renal defects resulting in unregulated FGF23 activity. XLHR is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the PHEX gene. The aim of this research was to identify the genetic defect responsible for familial hypophosphataemic rickets in a four-generation Chinese Han pedigree and to analyze the function of this mutation.

Methods

The genome DNA samples of all members in the pedigree were extracted from whole blood. We sequenced all exons of the PHEX and FGF23 genes, as well as the adjacent splice site sequence with Sanger sequencing. Next, we analyzed the de novo mutation c.1692 del A of the PHEX gene with an online digital service and investigated the mutant PHEX with SWISS-MODEL, immunofluorescence, and protein stability detection.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 8, Issue 8 | Pages 397 - 404
1 Aug 2019
Osagie-Clouard L Sanghani-Kerai A Coathup M Meeson R Briggs T Blunn G

Objectives

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of growing interest in terms of bone regeneration. Most preclinical trials utilize bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs), although this is not without isolation and expansion difficulties. The aim of this study was: to compare the characteristics of bMSCs and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs) from juvenile, adult, and ovarectomized (OVX) rats; and to assess the effect of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) 1-34 on their osteogenic potential and migration to stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1).

Methods

Cells were isolated from the adipose and bone marrow of juvenile, adult, and previously OVX Wistar rats, and were characterized with flow cytometry, proliferation assays, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation, and migration to SDF-1. Experiments were repeated with and without intermittent hPTH 1-34.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 7, Issue 4 | Pages 289 - 297
1 Apr 2018
Sanghani-Kerai A Osagie-Clouard L Blunn G Coathup M

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the effect of age and osteoporosis on the proliferative and differentiating capacity of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in female rats. We also discuss the role of these factors on expression and migration of cells along the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR-4) / stromal derived factor 1 (SDF-1) axis.

Methods

Mesenchymal stem cells were harvested from the femora of young, adult, and osteopenic Wistar rats. Cluster of differentiation (CD) marker and CXCR-4 expression was measured using flow cytometry. Cellular proliferation was measured using Alamar Blue, osteogenic differentiation was measured using alkaline phosphatase expression and alizarin red production, and adipogenic differentiation was measured using Oil red O. Cells were incubated in Boyden chambers to quantify their migration towards SDF-1. Data was analyzed using a Student’s t-test, where p-values < 0.05 were considered significant.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 7, Issue 4 | Pages 263 - 273
1 Apr 2018
Ferreira E Porter RM

Large bone defects remain a tremendous clinical challenge. There is growing evidence in support of treatment strategies that direct defect repair through an endochondral route, involving a cartilage intermediate. While culture-expanded stem/progenitor cells are being evaluated for this purpose, these cells would compete with endogenous repair cells for limited oxygen and nutrients within ischaemic defects. Alternatively, it may be possible to employ extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by culture-expanded cells for overcoming key bottlenecks to endochondral repair, such as defect vascularization, chondrogenesis, and osseous remodelling. While mesenchymal stromal/stem cells are a promising source of therapeutic EVs, other donor cells should also be considered. The efficacy of an EV-based therapeutic will likely depend on the design of companion scaffolds for controlled delivery to specific target cells. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from studies of EVs could one day inform the long-term development of synthetic, engineered nanovesicles. In the meantime, EVs harnessed from in vitro cell culture have near-term promise for use in bone regenerative medicine. This narrative review presents a rationale for using EVs to improve the repair of large bone defects, highlights promising cell sources and likely therapeutic targets for directing repair through an endochondral pathway, and discusses current barriers to clinical translation.

Cite this article: E. Ferreira, R. M. Porter. Harnessing extracellular vesicles to direct endochondral repair of large bone defects. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:263–273. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.74.BJR-2018-0006.


Bone & Joint Research
Vol. 7, Issue 1 | Pages 58 - 68
1 Jan 2018
Portal-Núñez S Ardura JA Lozano D Martínez de Toda I De la Fuente M Herrero-Beaumont G Largo R Esbrit P

Objectives. Oxidative stress plays a major role in the onset and progression of involutional osteoporosis. However, classical antioxidants fail to restore osteoblast function. Interestingly, the bone anabolism of parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been shown to be associated with its ability to counteract oxidative stress in osteoblasts. The PTH counterpart in bone, which is the PTH-related protein (PTHrP), displays osteogenic actions through both its N-terminal PTH-like region and the C-terminal domain. Methods. We examined and compared the antioxidant capacity of PTHrP (1-37) with the C-terminal PTHrP domain comprising the 107-111 epitope (osteostatin) in both murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and primary human osteoblastic cells. Results. We showed that both N- and C-terminal PTHrP peptides at 100 nM decreased reactive oxygen species production and forkhead box protein O activation following hydrogen peroxide (H. 2. O. 2. )-induced oxidation, which was related to decreased lipid oxidative damage and caspase-3 activation in these cells. This was associated with their ability to restore the deleterious effects of H. 2. O. 2. on cell growth and alkaline phosphatase activity, as well as on the expression of various osteoblast differentiation genes. The addition of Rp-cyclic 3′,5′-hydrogen phosphorothioate adenosine triethylammonium salt (a cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate antagonist) and calphostin C (a protein kinase C inhibitor), or a PTH type 1 receptor antagonist, abrogated the effects of N-terminal PTHrP, whereas protein phosphatase 1 (an Src kinase activity inhibitor), SU1498 (a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitor), or an anti osteostatin antiserum, inhibited the effects of C-terminal PTHrP. Conclusion. These findings indicate that the antioxidant properties of PTHrP act through its N- and C-terminal domains and provide novel insights into the osteogenic action of PTHrP. Cite this article: S. Portal-Núñez, J. A. Ardura, D. Lozano, I. Martínez de Toda, M. De la Fuente, G. Herrero-Beaumont, R. Largo, P. Esbrit. Parathyroid hormone-related protein exhibits antioxidant features in osteoblastic cells through its N-terminal and osteostatin domains. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:58–68. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.71.BJR-2016-0242.R2