Lack of Schnurri-2 expression associates with reduced bone remodeling and osteopenia

J Biol Chem. 2007 Apr 27;282(17):12907-15. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M611203200. Epub 2007 Feb 20.

Abstract

Regulation of bone remodeling determines the levels of bone mass and its imbalance causes major skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis. A zinc finger protein, Schnurri-2 (SHN-2), was recently demonstrated to regulate bone morphogenetic protein-dependent adipogenesis and lymphogenesis. However, the role of SHN-2 in bone is not known. Here, we investigated the effects of Shn-2 deficiency on bone metabolism and cell function in Shn-2-null mice. Lack of SHN-2 expression reduced bone remodeling by suppressing both osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption activities in vivo. Shn-2 deficiency suppressed osterix and osteocalcin expression as well as in vitro mineralization. Conversely, Shn-2 overexpression enhanced osteocalcin promoter activity and bone morphogenetic protein-dependent osteoblastic differentiation. Shn-2 deficiency suppressed Nfatc1 and c-fos expression leading to reduction of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cell development in vivo as well as in the cultures of bone marrow cells. These studies demonstrate that SHN-2 regulates the activities of critical transcription factors required for normal bone remodeling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipogenesis / genetics
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Cells / pathology
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Bone Resorption / genetics
  • Bone Resorption / metabolism*
  • Bone Resorption / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / deficiency*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NFATC Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism
  • Osteoblasts / pathology
  • Osteocalcin / biosynthesis
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism
  • Osteoclasts / pathology
  • Osteoporosis / genetics
  • Osteoporosis / metabolism*
  • Osteoporosis / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Hivep2 protein, mouse
  • NFATC Transcription Factors
  • Nfatc1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Osteocalcin