Osteoclasts are dispensable for hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and mobilization

J Exp Med. 2011 Oct 24;208(11):2175-81. doi: 10.1084/jem.20101890. Epub 2011 Oct 17.

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are maintained in a specific bone marrow (BM) niche in cavities formed by osteoclasts. Osteoclast-deficient mice are osteopetrotic and exhibit closed BM cavities. Osteoclast activity is inversely correlated with hematopoietic activity; however, how osteoclasts and the BM cavity potentially regulate hematopoiesis is not well understood. To investigate this question, we evaluated hematopoietic activity in three osteopetrotic mouse models: op/op, c-Fos-deficient, and RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand)-deficient mice. We show that, although osteoclasts and, by consequence, BM cavities are absent in these animals, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) mobilization after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor injection was comparable or even higher in all three lines compared with wild-type mice. In contrast, osteoprotegerin-deficient mice, which have increased numbers of osteoclasts, showed reduced HSPC mobilization. BM-deficient patients and mice reportedly maintain hematopoiesis in extramedullary spaces, such as spleen; however, splenectomized op/op mice did not show reduced HSPC mobilization. Interestingly, we detected an HSC population in osteopetrotic bone of op/op mice, and pharmacological ablation of osteoclasts in wild-type mice did not inhibit, and even increased, HSPC mobilization. These results suggest that osteoclasts are dispensable for HSC mobilization and may function as negative regulators in the hematopoietic system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alendronate / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Bone Density Conservation Agents / pharmacology
  • Bone Marrow / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Osteoclasts / cytology
  • Osteoclasts / drug effects
  • Osteoclasts / physiology*
  • Osteopetrosis / pathology
  • Osteopetrosis / physiopathology
  • Osteoprotegerin / genetics
  • Osteoprotegerin / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • RANK Ligand / genetics
  • RANK Ligand / metabolism
  • Stem Cell Niche

Substances

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Osteoprotegerin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • RANK Ligand
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Alendronate