Characterization and comparison of the intronic promoter of murine osteoclastic protein-tyrosine phosphatase, PTP-oc, with the human PTP-oc promoter

Overexpression of miR17 ~ 92 in Myeloid Cells in Mice Increased Bone Mass Through Reduced Bone Resorption and Increased Bone Formation in Sex-Dependent Manner

This study assessed the feasibility of miR17 ~ 92-based antiresorptive strategy by determining the effects of conditional transgenic (cTG) overexpression of miR17 ~ 92 in myeloid cells on bone and osteoclasts. Osteoclasts of male and female cTG mutant mice each showed 3- to fivefold overexpression of miR17 ~ 92 cluster genes compared to those of age- and sex-matched wildtype (WT) littermates. Male but not female cTG mutant mice had more trabecular and cortical bones as well as lower bone resorption reflected by reduction in osteoclast number and resorbing surface. Osteoclasts of male but not female cTG mutants showed decreased bone resorption activity. Consistent with suppression of osteoclast maturation, osteoclasts of male cTG mutants were smaller, contained less nuclei, showed reduced levels of mRNA of genes associated with osteoclast differentiation and fusion, and formed more diffused actin ring. Osteoclastic overexpression of miR17 ~ 92 also increased bone formation, but the increase was much larger in males than in females. The increase in male mutants was due to higher mineral apposition rate, and conversely, it was caused by increasing bone-forming surface in female mutants. In summary, osteoclastic overexpression of miR17 ~ 92 increased bone mass through reduction in bone resorption along with coupled increase in bone formation in male-specific manner. Although the osteoclastic overexpression of miR17 ~ 92-induced suppression of bone resorption and increases in bone formation support the feasibility of miR17 ~ 92-based antiresorptive strategies, the male-specific sexual disparity in skeletal responses to osteoclastic overexpression of miR17 ~ 92 could limit its clinical utility as it may not be used in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

A novel miR17/protein tyrosine phosphatase-oc/EphA4 regulatory axis of osteoclast activity

Information about the molecular mechanisms leading to the activation of the osteoclast is relatively limited. While there is compelling evidence that the signaling mechanisms of Src and integrin β₃ are essential for osteoclast activation, the regulation of these two signaling mechanisms is not fully understood. In this review, evidence supporting a novel regulatory axis of osteoclast activation that plays an upstream regulatory role in both the Src and integrin β₃ signaling during osteoclast activation is discussed. This regulatory axis contains three unique components: a structurally unique transmembrane protein-tyrosine phosphatase, PTP-oc, EphA4, and miR17. In the first component, PTP-oc activates the Src signaling through dephosphorylation of the inhibitory tyr-527 of Src. This in turn activates the integrin β₃ signaling, enhances the JNK2/NFκB signaling, promotes the ITAM/Syk signaling, and suppresses the ITIM/Shp1 signaling; the consequence of which is activation of the osteoclast. In the second component, EphA4 inhibits osteoclast activity by suppressing the integrin β₃ signaling. PTP-oc relieves the suppressive actions of EphA4 by directly dephosphorylating EphA4. In the third component, PTP-oc expression is negatively regulated by miR17. Accordingly, suppression of miR17 during osteoclast activation upregulates the PTP-oc signaling and suppresses the EphA4 signaling, resulting in the activation of the osteoclast. This regulatory axis is unique, in that each of the three components acts to exert suppressive action on their respective immediate downstream inhibitory step. Because the final downstream event is the EphA4-mediated inhibition of osteoclast activation, the overall effect of this mechanism is the stimulation of osteoclast activity.

Conditional Disruption of miR17~92 in Osteoclasts Led to Activation of Osteoclasts and Loss of Trabecular Bone In Part Through Suppression of the miR17-Mediated Downregulation of Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase-oc in Mice

This study sought to understand the regulation of an osteoclastic protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP-oc), a positive regulator of osteoclast activaty. Our past studies suggested that PTP-oc is regulated post-transcriptionally. The 3'-UTR of PTP-oc mRNA contains a target site for miR17. During osteoclastic differentiation, there was an inverse relationship between the cellular levels of miR17 (expressed as one of the six cluster genes of miR17~92) and PTP-oc mRNA. Overexpression of pre-miR17~92 in mouse osteoclast precursors reduced PTP-oc mRNA level and the size of the derived osteoclasts; whereas deletion of miR17~92 or inhibition of miR17 resulted in the formation of larger osteoclasts containing more nuclei that expressed higher PTP-oc mRNA levels and created larger resorption pits. Thus, PTP-oc-mediated osteoclast activation is modulated in part by miR17~92, particularly miR17. The miR17~92 osteoclast conditional knockout (cKO) mutants, generated by breeding miR17~92^loxp/loxp mice with Ctsk-Cre mice, had lower Tb.BV/TV, Tb.BMD, Tb.Conn-Dens, Tb.N, and Tb.Th, but larger Tb.Sp, and greater bone resorption without a change in bone formation compared to littermate controls. The cKO marrow-derived osteoclasts were twice as large, contained twice as many nuclei, and produced twice as large resorption pits as osteoclasts of littermate controls. The expression of genes associated with osteoclast activation was increased in cKO osteoclasts, suggesting that deletion of miR17~92 in osteoclasts promotes osteoclast activation. The cKO osteoblasts did not show differences in cellular miR17 level, alkaline phosphatase activity, and bone nodule formation ability. In conclusion, miR17-92 negatively regulates the osteoclast activity, in part via the miR17-mediated suppression of PTP-oc in osteoclasts.

An Osteoclastic Transmembrane Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase Enhances Osteoclast Activity in Part by Dephosphorylating EphA4 in Osteoclasts

We have previously shown that PTP-oc is an enhancer of the functional activity of osteoclasts and that EphA4 is a suppressor. Here, we provide evidence that PTP-oc enhances osteoclast activity in part through inactivation of EphA4 by dephosphorylating key phosphotyrosine (pY) residues of EphA4. We show that EphA4 was pulled down by the PTP-oc trapping mutant but not by the wild-type (WT) PTP-oc and that transgenic overexpression of PTP-oc in osteoclasts drastically decreased pY602 and pY779 residues of EphA4. Consistent with the previous findings that EphA4 deficiency increased pY173-Vav3 level (Rac-GTP exchange factor [GEF]) and enhanced bone resorption activity of osteoclasts, reintroduction of WT-Epha4 in Epha4 null osteoclasts led to ∼50% reduction in the pY173-Vav3 level and ∼2-fold increase in bone resorption activity. Overexpression of Y779F-Epha4 mutant in WT osteoclasts markedly increased in pY173-Vav3 and reduced bone resorption activity, but overexpression of Y602F-Epha4 mutant had no effect, suggesting that pY779 residue plays an important role in the EphA4-mediated suppression of osteoclast activity. Deficient EphA4 in osteoclasts has been shown to up-regulate Rac-GTPase and down-regulate Rho-GTPase. PTP-oc overexpression in osteoclasts also increased the GTP-Rac level to 300% of controls, but decreased the GTP-Rho level to ∼50% of controls. PTP-oc overexpression or deficient Epha4 each also reduced pY87-Ephexin level, which is a Rho GEF. Thus, PTP-oc may differentially regulate Rac signaling versus Rho signaling through dephosphorylation of EphA4, which has shown to have opposing effects on Rac-GTPase versus Rho-GTPase through differential regulation of Vav3 versus Ephexin.

An osteoclastic protein-tyrosine phosphatase regulates the β3-integrin, syk, and shp1 signaling through respective src-dependent phosphorylation in osteoclasts

This study utilized the glutathione transferase (GST) pull-down assay to identify novel substrates of an osteoclastic protein-tyrosine phosphatase, PTP-oc. Consistent with the previous findings that the phosphorylated tyr-527 (pY527) of Src is a substrate of PTP-oc, the major protein pulled down with the phosphatase-deficient (PD)-PTP-oc-GST trapping mutant in RAW264.7 cells was Src. The GST-PD-PTP-oc also pulled down pY-Syk and pY-β(3)-integrin, but not after PP2 pretreatment. However, PTP-oc transgenic osteoclasts or PTP-oc-overexpressing RAW264.7 cells had elevated, and not reduced, levels of pY525/526-Syk and pY759-β(3) integrin, and the PTP-oc siRNA treatment drastically reduced levels of pY525/526 Syk and pY759-β(3)-integrin in RAW264.7 cells. These findings are incompatible with the premise that they are substrates of PTP-oc. The PTP-oc-dependent increases in pY525/526-Syk and pY759-β(3)-integrin levels were completely blocked by PP2, indicating that these effects are secondary to PTP-oc-mediated activation of the Src protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK). Overexpression of PTP-oc increased, and siRNA-mediated suppression of PTP-oc reduced, pY160-Vav1, pY173-Vav3, and pY783-PLCγ levels, and Rac1 activation, which are downstream mediators of the ITAM/Syk signaling. Overexpression of PTP-oc also increased, and PTP-oc siRNA treatment decreased, the pY-Shp1 levels, which were blocked by PP2. Since Shp1 is a negative regulator of osteoclast activity and is a key mediator of the ITIM signaling, these findings suggest that PTP-oc is an upstream suppressor of the ITIM/Shp1 signaling through PTP-oc-induced Src-dependent Shp1 phosphorylation. In summary, PTP-oc plays a central regulatory role in the concerted regulation of the β(3)-integrin, the ITAM/Syk, and the ITIM/Shp1 signaling indirectly through activation of Src PTK.

AP-1 elements and TCL1 protein regulate expression of the gene encoding protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPROt in leukemia

We previously demonstrated that the gene encoding PTPROt, the truncated form of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type O expressed predominantly in hematopoietic cells, is a candidate tumor suppressor and is down-regulated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Here, we show that PTPROt expression is significantly reduced in CD19(+) spleen B cells from Eμ-T cell leukemia 1 (TCL1) transgenic mice relative to the wild-type mice. Strikingly, as much as a 60% decrease in PTPROt expression occurs at 7 weeks independently of promoter methylation. To elucidate the potential mechanism for this early suppression of PTPROt in these mice, we explored the role of activating protein-1 (AP-1) in its expression. We first demonstrate that AP-1 activation by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate induces PTPROt expression with concurrent recruitment of c-fos and c-jun to its promoter. The PTPROt promoter is also responsive to over- and underexpression of AP-1, confirming the role of AP-1 in PTPROt expression. Next, we demonstrate that TCL1 can repress the PTPROt promoter by altering c-fos expression and c-jun activation state. Finally, using primary CLL cells we have shown an inverse relationship between TCL1 and PTPROt expression. These findings further substantiate the role of TCL1 in PTPROt suppression and its importance in the pathogenesis of CLL.

Role of protein-tyrosine phosphatases in regulation of osteoclastic activity

Osteoclasts, the primary cell type mediating bone resorption, are multinucleated, giant cells derived from hematopoietic cells of monocyte-macrophage lineage. Osteoclast activity is, in a large part, regulated by protein-tyrosine phosphorylation. While information about functional roles of several protein-tyrosine kinases (PTK), including c-Src, in osteoclastic resorption has been accumulated, little is known about the roles of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in regulation of osteoclast activity. Recent evidence implicates important regulatory roles for four PTPs (SHP-1, cyt-PTP-epsilon, PTP-PEST, and PTPoc) in osteoclasts. Cyt-PTP-epsilon, PTP-PEST, and PTP-oc are positive regulators of osteoclast activity, while SHP-1 is a negative regulator. Of these PTPs in osteoclasts, only PTP-oc is a positive regulator of c-Src PTK through dephosphorylation of the inhibitory phosphotyrosine-527 residue. Although some information about mechanisms of action of these PTPs to regulate osteoclast activity is reviewed in this article, much additional work is required to provide more comprehensive details about their functions in osteoclasts.

Targeted transgenic expression of an osteoclastic transmembrane protein-tyrosine phosphatase in cells of osteoclastic lineage increases bone resorption and bone loss in male young adult mice

This study evaluated whether transgenic expression of PTP-oc (osteoclastic transmembrane protein-tyrosine phosphatase) in cells of the osteoclast lineage would affect bone resorption and bone density in young adult mice. Transgenic mice were generated with a transgenic construct using a tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase exon 1C promoter to drive expression of rabbit PTP-oc in osteoclastic cells. pQCT evaluation of femurs of young adult male progeny of three lines showed that transgenic mice had reduced bone volume and area, cortical and trabecular bone mineral content, and density. Histomorphometric analyses at secondary spongiosa of the femur and at metaphysis of the L4 vertebra confirmed that male transgenic mice had decreased trabecular surface, reduced percentage of trabecular area, decreased trabecular number, increased trabecular separation, and increased osteoclast number per bone surface length. Consistent with an increase in bone resorption, the serum C-telopeptide level was 25% higher in transgenic mice than in wild-type littermates. However, the bone phenotype was not readily observed in female young adult transgenic mice. This could in part be due to potential interactions between estrogen and PTP-oc signaling, since the bone loss phenotype was seen in young adult ovariectomized transgenic mice by microcomputed tomography analysis. In vitro, the average pit area per resorption pit created by marrow-derived transgenic osteoclasts was approximately 50% greater than that created by wild-type osteoclasts. Transgenic osteoclasts showed a lower c-Src phosphotyrosine 527 level, greater c-Src kinase activity, and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin. In summary, this study provides compelling in vivo evidence that PTP-oc is a positive regulator of osteoclasts.

GLEPP1/protein-tyrosine phosphatase phi inhibitors block chemotaxis in vitro and in vivo and improve murine ulcerative colitis

We describe novel, cell-permeable, and bioavailable salicylic acid derivatives that are potent and selective inhibitors of GLEPP1/protein-tyrosine phosphatase . Two previously described GLEPP1 substrates, paxillin and Syk, are both required for cytoskeletal rearrangement and cellular motility of leukocytes in chemotaxis. We show here that GLEPP1 inhibitors prevent dephosphorylation of Syk1 and paxillin in resting cells and block primary human monocyte and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophage chemotaxis in a gradient of monocyte chemotactic protein-1. In mice, the GLEPP1 inhibitors also reduce thioglycolate-induced peritoneal chemotaxis of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages. In murine disease models, the GLEPP1 inhibitors significantly reduce severity of contact hypersensitivity, a model for allergic dermatitis, and dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis, a model for inflammatory bowel disease. Taken together, our data provide confirmation that GLEPP1 plays an important role in controlling chemotaxis of multiple types of leukocytes and that pharmacological inhibition of this phosphatase may have therapeutic use.

Transcriptomic profiling identifies a PU.1 regulatory network in macrophages

PU.1 is a key transcription factor for hematopoiesis and macrophage differentiation. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation we have previously identified several PU.1 target genes in macrophages and microglia. With the aim to complement these studies, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of PU.1(-/-) progenitors after restoration of PU.1 activity. PUER cells committed to macrophage differentiation were analyzed with novel Affymetrix exon 1.0 ST arrays and Affymetrix 430 2.0 genome arrays for crosswise validation. We combined these genome-wide expression data with a publicly-available microarray dataset of PU.1-knockdown hematopoietic stem cells for an integrated analysis. Bibliographic gene connections, binding site prediction and ChIP-Chip data were used to define a multi-level PU.1 regulatory network in macrophages. Moreover, an alternative transcript of the novel PU.1 target gene Ptpro was identified by exon arrays and PU.1 binding to an intronic promoter was demonstrated. In conclusion, we present a PU.1 transcriptional network with novel validated PU.1 target genes.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases in osteoclast differentiation, adhesion, and bone resorption

Osteoclasts are large cells derived from the monocyte-macrophage hematopoietic cell lineage. Their primary function is to degrade bone in various physiological contexts. Osteoclasts adhere to bone via podosomes, specialized adhesion structures whose structure and subcellular organization are affected by mechanical contact of the cell with bone matrix. Ample evidence indicates that reversible tyrosine phosphorylation of podosomal proteins plays a major role in determining the organization and dynamics of podosomes. Although roles of several tyrosine kinases are known in detail in this respect, little is known concerning the roles of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in regulating osteoclast adhesion. Here we summarize available information concerning the known and hypothesized roles of the best-researched PTPs in osteoclasts - PTPRO, PTP epsilon, SHP-1, and PTP-PEST. Of these, PTPRO, PTP epsilon, and PTP-PEST appear to support osteoclast activity while SHP-1 inhibits it. Additional studies are required to provide full molecular details of the roles of these PTPs in regulating osteoclast adhesion, and to uncover additional PTPs that participate in this process.