6-Methylprednisolone down-regulates IRAK-M in human and murine osteoclasts and boosts bone-resorbing activity: a putative mechanism for corticoid-induced osteoporosis

J Leukoc Biol. 2007 Sep;82(3):700-9. doi: 10.1189/jlb.1106673. Epub 2007 Jun 18.

Abstract

Osteoclasts are large, multinucleated cells, which originate from the fusion of macrophages. They play a central role in bone development and remodeling via the resorption of bone and are thus important mediators of bone loss, which leads to osteoporosis. IL-1R-associated kinase (IRAK)-M is a pseudokinase, which acts as a negative modulator of innate immune responses mediated by TLRs and IL-1R. Recently, it has been reported that IRAK-M also participates in the control of macrophage differentiation into osteoclasts. In addition, it was shown that IRAK-M knockout mice develop a strong osteoporosis phenotype, suggesting that down-regulation of this molecule activates osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. We studied the effect of the osteoporosis-inducing glucocorticoid, 6-methylprednisolone (6-MP), on IRAK-M expression in osteoclasts. Our results showed that osteoclasts, derived from THP-1 and RAW cells as well as human blood monocytes, differentiated into osteoclasts, express high levels of IRAK-M at mRNA and protein levels. In addition, 6-MP down-regulates IRAK-M expression, which correlates with an increased activation of bone resorption. These findings suggest a mechanism of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis and open new avenues for treating this endemic disease of Western societies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bone Resorption*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases / metabolism*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Methylprednisolone / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Osteoclasts / cytology
  • Osteoclasts / drug effects*
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism
  • Osteoporosis / chemically induced
  • Osteoporosis / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Tartrates / pharmacology

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tartrates
  • IRAK3 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases
  • Irak3 protein, mouse
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • tartaric acid
  • Methylprednisolone