Visfatin alters the cytokine and matrix-degrading enzyme profile during osteogenic and adipogenic MSC differentiation

Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2018 Sep;26(9):1225-1235. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.06.001. Epub 2018 Jun 14.

Abstract

Objectives: Age-related bone loss is associated with bone marrow adiposity. Adipokines (e.g., visfatin, resistin, leptin) are adipocyte-derived factors with immunomodulatory properties and might influence differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP). Thus, the presence of adipokines and MMPs in bone marrow and their effects on MSC differentiation were analyzed.

Methods: MSC and ribonucleic acid (RNA) were isolated from femoral heads after hip replacement surgery of OA or osteoporotic femoral neck fracture (FF) patients. Bone structural parameters were evaluated by microcomputed tomography (μCT). MSC were differentiated towards adipocytes or osteoblasts with/without adipokines. Gene expression (adipokines, bone marker genes, MMPs, TIMPs) and cytokine production was evaluated by realtime-polymerase chain reaction (realtime-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Matrix mineralization was quantified using Alizarin red S staining.

Results: μCT showed an osteoporotic phenotype of FF compared to OA bone (reduced trabecular thickness and increased ratio of bone surface vs volume of solid bone). Visfatin and leptin were increased in FF vs OA. Visfatin induced the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 during osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. In contrast to resistin and leptin, visfatin increased MMP2 and MMP13 during adipogenesis. In osteogenically differentiated cells, MMPs and TIMPs were reduced by visfatin. Visfatin significantly increased matrix mineralization during osteogenesis, whereas collagen type I expression was reduced.

Conclusion: Visfatin-mediated increase of matrix mineralization and reduced collagen type I expression could contribute to bone fragility. Visfatin is involved in impaired bone remodeling at the adipose tissue/bone interface through induction of proinflammatory factors and dysregulated MMP/TIMP balance during MSC differentiation.

Keywords: Adipogenesis; Adipokines; Fragility fracture; Mesenchymal stem cell; Osteoarthritis; Osteogenesis; Osteoporosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipogenesis / drug effects
  • Adipogenesis / genetics*
  • Bone Density
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / drug effects*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • Femoral Fractures / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Osteoblasts / cytology
  • Osteoblasts / drug effects
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects
  • Osteogenesis / genetics*
  • Osteoporosis / genetics*
  • Osteoporosis / physiopathology
  • Osteoporotic Fractures / pathology
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase