Osteoblasts secrete Cxcl9 to regulate angiogenesis in bone

Nat Commun. 2016 Dec 14:7:13885. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13885.

Abstract

Communication between osteoblasts and endothelial cells (ECs) is essential for bone turnover, but the molecular mechanisms of such communication are not well defined. Here we identify Cxcl9 as an angiostatic factor secreted by osteoblasts in the bone marrow microenvironment. We show that Cxcl9 produced by osteoblasts interacts with vascular endothelial growth factor and prevents its binding to ECs and osteoblasts, thus abrogating angiogenesis and osteogenesis both in mouse bone and in vitro. The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 activates Cxcl9 expression by transcriptional upregulation of STAT1 and increases binding of STAT1 to the Cxcl9 promoter in osteoblasts. These findings reveal the essential role of osteoblast-produced Cxcl9 in angiogenesis and osteogenesis in bone, and Cxcl9 can be targeted to elevate bone angiogenesis and prevent bone loss-related diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Development / genetics
  • Chemokine CXCL9 / metabolism
  • Chemokine CXCL9 / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic*
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism*
  • Osteogenesis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / physiology
  • Up-Regulation
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Chemokine CXCL9
  • Cxcl9 protein, mouse
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Stat1 protein, mouse
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A