Osteoblastic heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans control bone remodeling by regulating Wnt signaling and the crosstalk between bone surface and marrow cells

Cell Death Dis. 2017 Jun 29;8(6):e2902. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2017.287.

Abstract

Stimulating bone formation is an important challenge for bone anabolism in osteoporotic patients or to repair bone defects. The osteogenic properties of matrix glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have been explored; however, the functions of GAGs at the surface of bone-forming cells are less documented. Syndecan-2 is a membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is associated with osteoblastic differentiation. We used a transgenic mouse model with high syndecan-2 expression in osteoblasts to enrich the bone surface with cellular GAGs. Bone mass was increased in these transgenic mice. Syndecan-2 overexpression reduced the expression of receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) in bone marrow cells and strongly inhibited bone resorption. Osteoblast activity was not modified in the transgenic mice, but bone formation was decreased in 4-month-old transgenic mice because of reduced osteoblast number. Increased proteoglycan expression at the bone surface resulted in decreased osteoblastic and osteoclastic precursors in bone marrow. Indeed, syndecan-2 overexpression increased apoptosis of mesenchymal precursors within the bone marrow. However, syndecan-2 specifically promoted the vasculature characterized by high expression of CD31 and Endomucin in 6-week-old transgenic mice, but this was reduced in 12-week-old transgenic mice. Finally, syndecan-2 functions as an inhibitor of Wnt-β-catenin-T-cell factor signaling pathway, activating glycogen synthase kinase 3 and then decreasing the Wnt-dependent production of Wnt ligands and R-spondin. In conclusion, our results show that GAG supply may improve osteogenesis, but also interfere with the crosstalk between the bone surface and marrow cells, altering the supporting function of osteoblasts.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Remodeling / drug effects*
  • Bone Remodeling / genetics
  • Bone Resorption / drug therapy
  • Bone Resorption / genetics
  • Bone Resorption / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
  • Glycosaminoglycans / administration & dosage*
  • Heparitin Sulfate / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Osteoblasts / drug effects
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects
  • Osteogenesis / genetics
  • RANK Ligand
  • Syndecan-2 / genetics*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects

Substances

  • Glycosaminoglycans
  • RANK Ligand
  • Tnfsf11 protein, mouse
  • Syndecan-2
  • Heparitin Sulfate