Meenakshi A. Chellaiah - US grants

The long term objective of this application is to elucidate the role of gelsolin and the associated signalling complex in podosome assembly/disassembly and osteoclast function. Significant progress has been made in the understanding of the cell biology of osteoclast organization associated with bone resorption. Osteoclasts are highly motile cells, and they utilize unique types of cell/matrix interaction, the podosome, to yield high rates of cell motility. Podosomes ligate to the matrix by the alphavbeta3 integrin and have specialized cytoskeletal association. Integrin alphavbeta3 ligand-mediated signaling for stimulation of bone resorption involves activation of a gelsolin based signalling complex in the podosome which includes c-src, PI3-kinase, and its product, phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate (PtdIns P3). Gelsolin is an actin-binding protein with multiple functions, including filament severing and gelsolin barbed-end capping. Gelsolin uncapping of actin oligomers results in filament polymerization. We have demonstrated that PtdIns P3 produced by PI3-kinase activation participates in osteopontin/alphavbeta3 stimulated actin filament formation and podosome assembly/disassembly. Transgenic mice null for gelsolin failed to express podosomes in their osteoclasts and are hypomotile. The result is a significant decrease in the rates of bone resorption. The specific aims of the proposal are to: 1) analyze the mechanisms of podosome assembly/disassembly; and 2) determine the mechanism of gelsolin associated signalling complex formation. Studies in specific aim 1 will focus on the role of protein tyrosine kinases in the assembly of the gelsolin-based signalling complex. Additionally, various gelsolin constructs will be used in an attempt to rescue the gelsolin null phenotype and stimulate podosome formation. Studies in specific aim 2 will analyze the role of phosphoinositides in the recognition of SH2 domains of the signalling molecules associated with gelsolin. The binding sites of phosphoinositides to short peptides of SH2 domains will be analyzed. These studies should delineate the structures necessary for the development of short peptide reagents capable of regulating osteoclasts function. Peptide based manipulations of SH2 domain/PtdIns P3/gelsolin organized signalling has the potential for pharmacological manipulation. There remains a tremendous need for therapeutic agents designed for the control of bone cell function in numerous diseases, especially osteoporosis, and thus these studies are extremely significant. This project should provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of bone resorption and yield a potential for their pharmacologic control.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of this proposal is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in actin ring formation and bone resorption. Bone resorption is the first step in bone remodeling. Actin ring formation has been shown to be a prerequisite for efficient bone resorption in osteoclasts. Recent preliminary studies from our laboratory suggest that N-WASP-Arp2/3 complex may have a role in the osteoclast actin ring formation. Tyrosine kinases such as PYK2 and Src are involved in the phosphorylation of N-WASP and N-WASP associated phosphoproteins. Moreover, tyrosine phosphatase (PTP-PEST) has a unique role in the modulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of N-WASP and the associated signaling molecules. We therefore hypothesize: 1. N-WASP coordinately activated by Cdc42, PtdIns P2 (PIP2), and kinase(s) can stimulate Arp2/3 mediated actin polymerization and actin ring formation in osteoclasts. 2. Src/PTP-PEST regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of N-WASP and the associated signaling proteins is required for actin remodeling in the actin ring and bone resorption. Thus, our Specific Aims are to: 1. Determine the signal transduction mechanisms involved in N-WASP activation and actin ring formation. 2. Determine the regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation, actin ring formation, and bone resorption by PTP-PEST. The goal of this revised renewal application is to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms in actin ring formation. To advance the understanding of the mechanisms of bone resorption at the cellular and molecular level, different approaches will be used. HIV-TAT or adenoviral-mediated delivery of N-WASP, PTP-PEST, and kinases (Src and PYK2) into osteoclasts will be performed to identify the signal transduction mechanisms involved in the formation of N-WASP-Arp2/3 complex and actin ring. The binding sites of PTP-PEST with N-WASP will be characterized by the delivery of TAT-fused oligopeptides derived from proline-rich regions of PTP-PEST and N-WASP. We will analyze the effects of the above-mentioned treatments on actin ring formation and bone resorption. Identification of peptides that impede osteoclast function will be useful in the development of pharmacological agents, targeting osteoclast actin ring formation and bone resorption in disorders such as osteoporosis, periodontal disease, and osteoarthritis.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the United States alone, about 44 million people are estimated to have osteoporosis or at risk of developing osteoporosis due to decreased bone mass and density. Annually, osteoporosis is responsible for millions of bone fractures that severely affect the quality of life. This is particularly significant in women soon after menopause due to estrogen deficiency, a condition referred to as postmenopausal osteoporosis. Estrogen deficiency is associated with increased osteoclast (OC) activation, decreased osteoblast (OB) function and increased inflammatory bone-resorbing cytokines such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF?). Several targeted therapies are currently available to treat and/or prevent osteoporosis by blocking OC activity. However, evidence has shown that long-term treatments have caused a reduction in bone formation by OBs, resulting in atypical skeletal fractures. In this proposal, we put forward the notion that an ideal therapeutic scenario would be one that impairs OC function without interfering with OB-driven bone formation. Sealing ring formation is a requirement for normal OC function. We recently identified the actin bundling protein L-Plastin (LPL) as a critical factor in the assembly of precursor or nascent sealing zones (NSZs) at the early phase of sealing ring formation. Our preliminary findings show that the TNF? signaling pathway regulates this assembly by mediating LPL phosphorylation. In addition, our data strongly suggest that LPL plays a major role in bone remodeling since LPL-/- mice are osteopetrotic. OC bone-resorbing capacity in these mice is significantly impaired, while OB function remains unaltered. Despite progress in the field, many gaps in knowledge are still unsolved relative to the biology of sealing ring formation in OCs. In particular, little is known about NSZs and the role of LPL in OCs. The proposed studies will explore the essential function of LPL phosphorylation in OC function and bone loss. Our overall goal is to identify LPL as a potential therapeutic target for OC-mediated bone loss. This proposal will test the central hypotheses that LPL is a key regulator of OC bone resorptive function. Inhibiting LPL phosphorylation will attenuate osteoporosis-associated bone loss. We propose the following three specific aims: 1) To determine the role of L-plastin in NSZ formation, independently of integrin ?v?3 signaling in osteoclasts; 2) To elucidate the essential function of L-plastin phosphorylation by TNF? in actin bundling, a process required for NSZ formation in osteoclasts, and 3) To determine the impact of inhibiting endogenous L-plastin phosphorylation in aging- and ovariectomy- induced bone loss in vivo. The outcome of the proposed studies will elucidate the ability of LPL inhibitory peptides to impair OC function and reduce bone loss in mouse models in vivo without affecting OB function. Osteoporosis is related to estrogen deficiency and aging. It remains a significant public health problem and current treatment options have important limitations. Therefore, novel and improved therapies are critically needed to more efficiently target osteoporosis. We anticipate that the outcomes of these studies will provide a translationally relevant foundation on which novel prevention and treatment options for osteoporosis can be achieved. Our results may ultimately impact treatment of other bone loss-associated diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis, which share several pathologic features with osteoporosis.