Beraprost ameliorates postmenopausal osteoporosis by regulating Nedd4-induced Runx2 ubiquitination

Cell Death Dis. 2021 May 15;12(5):497. doi: 10.1038/s41419-021-03784-8.

Abstract

Bone health requires adequate bone mass, which is maintained by a critical balance between bone resorption and formation. In our study, we identified beraprost as a pivotal regulator of bone formation and resorption. The administration of beraprost promoted differentiation of mouse bone mesenchymal stem cells (M-BMSCs) through the PI3K-AKT pathway. In co-culture, osteoblasts stimulated with beraprost inhibited osteoclastogenesis in a rankl-dependent manner. Bone mass of p53 knockout mice remained stable, regardless of the administration of beraprost, indicating that p53 plays a vital role in the bone mass regulation by beraprost. Mechanistic in vitro studies showed that p53 binds to the promoter region of neuronal precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated 4 (Nedd4) to promote its transcription. As a ubiquitinating enzyme, Nedd4 binds to runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), which results in its ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. These data indicate that the p53-Nedd4-Runx2 axis is an effective regulator of bone formation and highlight the potential of beraprost as a therapeutic drug for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / metabolism*
  • Epoprostenol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Epoprostenol / pharmacology
  • Epoprostenol / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / genetics*
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit
  • N4BP1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • RUNX2 protein, human
  • beraprost
  • Epoprostenol