Regulation of bone metabolism by megakaryocytes in a paracrine manner

Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 10;10(1):2277. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59250-6.

Abstract

Megakaryocytes (MKs) play key roles in regulating bone metabolism. To test the roles of MK-secreted factors, we investigated whether MK and promegakaryocyte (pro-MK) conditioned media (CM) may affect bone formation and resorption. K562 cell lines were differentiated into mature MKs. Mouse bone marrow macrophages were differentiated into mature osteoclasts, and MC3T3-E1 cells were used for osteoblastic experiments. Bone formation was determined by a calvaria bone formation assay in vivo. Micro-CT analyses were performed in the femurs of ovariectomized female C57B/L6 and Balb/c nude mice after intravenous injections of MK or pro-MK CM. MK CM significantly reduced in vitro bone resorption, largely due to suppressed osteoclastic resorption activity. Compared with pro-MK CM, MK CM suppressed osteoblastic differentiation, but stimulated its proliferation, resulting in stimulation of calvaria bone formation. In ovariectomized mice, treatment with MK CM for 4 weeks significantly increased trabecular bone mass parameters, such as bone volume fraction and trabecular thickness, in nude mice, but not in C57B/L6 mice. In conclusion, MKs may secrete anti-resorptive and anabolic factors that affect bone tissue, providing a novel insight linking MKs and bone cells in a paracrine manner. New therapeutic agents against metabolic bone diseases may be developed from MK-secreted factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Resorption / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Resorption / drug therapy
  • Bone Resorption / etiology
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / metabolism
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Femur / diagnostic imaging
  • Femur / physiology
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • K562 Cells
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / physiology
  • Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells / metabolism
  • Megakaryocytes / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Osteoclasts / physiology
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects*
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / drug therapy
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / etiology
  • Ovariectomy
  • Paracrine Communication*
  • Skull / drug effects
  • Skull / physiology
  • X-Ray Microtomography

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned