Decreased Bone Formation Explains Osteoporosis in a Genetic Mouse Model of Hemochromatosiss

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 1;11(2):e0148292. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148292. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Osteoporosis may complicate iron overload diseases such as genetic hemochromatosis. However, molecular mechanisms involved in the iron-related osteoporosis remains poorly understood. Recent in vitro studies support a role of osteoblast impairment in iron-related osteoporosis. Our aim was to analyse the impact of excess iron in Hfe-/- mice on osteoblast activity and on bone microarchitecture. We studied the bone formation rate, a dynamic parameter reflecting osteoblast activity, and the bone phenotype of Hfe-/- male mice, a mouse model of human hemochromatosis, by using histomorphometry. Hfe-/- animals were sacrificed at 6 months and compared to controls. We found that bone contains excess iron associated with increased hepatic iron concentration in Hfe-/- mice. We have shown that animals with iron overload have decreased bone formation rate, suggesting a direct impact of iron excess on active osteoblasts number. For bone mass parameters, we showed that iron deposition was associated with bone loss by producing microarchitectural impairment with a decreased tendency in bone trabecular volume and trabecular number. A disorganization of trabecular network was found with marrow spaces increased, which was confirmed by enhanced trabecular separation and star volume of marrow spaces. These microarchitectural changes led to a loss of connectivity and complexity in the trabecular network, which was confirmed by decreased interconnectivity index and increased Minkowski's fractal dimension. Our results suggest for the first time in a genetic hemochromatosis mouse model, that iron overload decreases bone formation and leads to alterations in bone mass and microarchitecture. These observations support a negative effect of iron on osteoblast recruitment and/or function, which may contribute to iron-related osteoporosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism*
  • Bone and Bones / pathology*
  • Calcification, Physiologic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hemochromatosis / complications*
  • Hemochromatosis / genetics*
  • Hemochromatosis / metabolism
  • Hemochromatosis Protein
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / deficiency
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Osteogenesis*
  • Osteoporosis / etiology*
  • Osteoporosis / pathology*

Substances

  • Hemochromatosis Protein
  • Hfe protein, mouse
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Iron

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from Région Bretagne (MD) and the "Société Française de Rhumatologie" Paris, France.