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Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences logoLink to Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences
. 2004 Sep 1;80(9):407–421.

Vitamin D and bone

— How does vitamin D regulate bone formation and resorption? —

Tatsuo Suda 1,*)
PMCID: PMC8147670

Abstract

Vitamin D was discovered as an anti-rachitic agent, but even at present, there is no direct evidence to support the concept that vitamin D directly stimulates osteoblastic bone formation and mineralization. It appears to be paradoxical, but vitamin D functions in the process of osteoclastic bone resorption. Osteoclasts, the only cells responsible for bone resorption, develop from hematopoietic cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. In 1992, we hypothesized that a membrane-bound factor, designated as “osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF)”, is expressed on the plasma membrane of osteoblasts/stromal cells in response to osteotropic factors including the active form of vitamin D3, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3]. Recently, four research groups including ours independently identified three key molecules (RANKL, RANK, and OPG) responsible for osteoclastogenesis. A long-sought-after ligand, ODF, was identical to RANKL. RANKL was a member of the membrane-associated TNF ligand family, which induced differentiation of spleen cells (osteoclast progenitors) into osteoclasts in the presence of M-CSF. RANK, a member of the TNF receptor family, was a signaling receptor essential for the RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis. OPG, a secreted member of the TNF receptor family, was a decoy receptor for RANKL. The discovery of RANKL, RANK and OPG opens a new era in the study of bone biology and the therapy of several metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontal diseases.

Keywords: Vitamin D; 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; bone formation and resorption; osteoblasts; osteoclasts; receptor activator of NFκ B ligand (RANKL)

Introduction

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is formed and remodeled by continuously occurring bone formation and resorption. An imbalance between bone formation and resorption causes several metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis and osteopetrosis. Bone-forming osteoblasts derive from undifferentiated mesenchymal cells, whereas bone-resorbing osteoclasts develop from hemopoietic cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. The hemopoietic osteoclast precursor cells differentiate into osteoclasts only at bone-resorbing sites under the control of several osteotropic hormones and cytokines.1)

It is well recognized that, in healthy animals and humans, serum calcium levels are tightly regulated and maintained at 9 to 10 mg/dl.2) Intestine, bone, and kidney are the three major organs involved in this calcium homeostasis. Vitamin D plays a major role in regulating serum calcium homeostasis in concert with parathyroid hormone (PTH). Of great importance is the fact that PTH is required for calcium mobilization from bone and for renal reabsorption of calcium, but is not directly required for intestinal calcium absorption 2) (Fig. 1). The total amount of calcium present in the body is estimated to be approximately 1,000 gram, and 99% of them are stored as an available form in bone. Bone calcium is mobilized by osteoclasts into blood from calcified bone. Thus, it is considered that bone is a storehouse of calcium in the body.2) Vitamin D was discovered as an antirachitic agent. A deficiency of vitamin D results in rickets in the young or osteomalacia in the adult. Although it had been believed that vitamin D plays an important role in the process of mineralization per se, there is no direct evidence to support this concept even at present.2)

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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Diagrammatic representation of the classical actions of vitamin D. While vitamin D, through its active metabolite 1α,25(OH)2D3, is the only substance to stimulate intestinal absorption of calcium, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) working in concert are necessary to mobilize calcium from bone and conserve calcium from urine.

I have been involved in the study on vitamin D biochemistry and bone biology for over 40 years. While I was studying abroad at the University of Wisconsin, I had a chance to isolate and identify the active form of vitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3] under the guidance of Professor Hector F. DeLuca. In this article, I review the outline of vitamin D metabolism and the role of 1α,25(OH)2D3 in bone formation and resorption.

Metabolism of Vitamin D—Discovery of the active form of vitamin D, 1α,25(OH)2D3

Vitamin D was originally identified as a fat-soluble vitamin, the physiological role of which is to regulate calcium metabolism.2) Vitamin D consists of two forms; vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol, a plant vitamin D) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, an animal vitamin D). The biopotency of vitamin D2 is equal to that of vitamin D3 in humans (40 IU/μg).2) A deficiency of vitamin D results in rickets in the young and osteomalacia in the adult. Administration of vitamin D into rachitic animals and humans cures impaired bone formation and mineralization. From these results, it was postulated that vitamin D stimulates osteoblastic bone formation and mineralization per se, but there is no direct evidence to support this concept even at present.2) DeLuca has reported that vitamin D does not function directly in either bone growth or mineralization, when plasma calcium and phosphorus levels are maintained in a normal range.2)

It is well known that 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) is converted in the skin to vitamin D3 by irradiation with ultraviolet light. Vitamin D3 is then metabolized in the liver 3) by 25-hydroxylase (CYP27A1)4),5) into 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] 6),7)). This compound must be subsequently metabolized in the kidney8) into either 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3]9),10) by 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1)11)–14) or 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24,25(OH)2D3]15) by 24-hydroxylase (CYP24).16) Of these two dihydroxymetabolites, 1α,25(OH)2D3 has been recognized to be the final active form of vitamin D3 17) (Fig. 2). Renal production of 1α,25(OH)2D3 is strongly stimulated by PTH and inhibited by 1α,25(OH)2D3, whereas that of 24,25(OH)2D3 is strongly inhibited by PTH and induced by 1α,25(OH)2D3.17)–19) It is well known that this type of metabolic regulation of vitamin D by PTH and 1α,25(OH)2D3 is particularly important physiologically to maintain plasma calcium homeostasis.17)–19) 1α,25(OH)2D3 is now recognized to be a steroid hormone generated in the kidney to control calcium metabolism. 17)

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

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Metabolism of vitamin D3 and mode of action of its active metabolite 1α,25(OH)2D3 in the target cells. Vitamin D3 is converted to its active metabolite 1α,25(OH)2D3 by two successive hydroxylations first in the liver, then in the kidney. 1α,25(OH)2D3 secreted from the kidney is transported to the target cells and induces its actions by a genomic mechanism.

1α,25(OH)2D3 secreted into blood is transported to the target organs of vitamin D including intestine, bone and kidney, then easily penetrates plasma membranes of the target cells to bind nuclear 1α,25(OH)2D3 receptor (VDR).20),21) To date, only single receptor has been identified.21) The interaction of 1α,25(OH)2D3 with VDR requires a retinoid receptor (RXR).21) The vitamin D responsive element (VDRE) has been identified in the 5′ upstream region of the target genes of 1α,25(OH)2D3 including osteocalcin, calbindin D28K, 24-hydroxylase (CYP24), and PTH genes.20)–23) The DNA sequence of VDRE is a direct repeat structure with a 3 nucleotide base spacer20)–23) (Fig. 2).

Yoshizawa et al.24) first succeeded in generating mice deficient in VDR by gene targeting. They showed that in VDR null mutant (KO) mice, no appreciable defects were observed in development and growth before weaning, irrespective of the reduced expression of vitamin D target genes. After weaning, however, mutant mice failed to thrive, and alopecia, hypocalcemia and infertility resulted.24) Both bone formation and mineralization were severely impaired as a typical feature of type II vitamin D-dependent rickets. Most of the VDR KO mice died within 15 to 25 weeks after birth due to severe hypocalcemia. Unexpectedly, when these VDR KO mice were fed a rescue diet containing high calcium, they developed normally even at weeks 50, but severe alopecia remained.24) Bone formation and mineralization in the VDR KO mice maintained on the high calcium diet were completely reestablished by the high calcium diet feeding. From these results, it was concluded that the stimulating effect of 1α,25(OH)2D3 on bone formation and mineralization is indirect, occurring through the stimulation of intestinal absorption of calcium by vitamin D. Although a non-genomic mechanism of the action of 1α,25(OH)2D3 has also been postulated,25) firm evidence to support this concept is lacking. Thus, it is concluded that vitamin D functions preferentially via its single receptor VDR by a genomic mechanism2),21) (Fig. 2).

Very recently, Tanaka and Seino26) examined direct action of vitamin D on bone formation and mineralization by transplanting bone isolated from VDR KO mice to wild type (WT) mice. The VDR KO bone transplanted to the WT mice showed excessive bone formation and mineralization in normocalcemic conditions. This suggests that vitamin D negatively regulates bone formation and mineralization. Thus, the stimulating effect of lα,25(OH)2D3 on bone formation and mineralization appears to be due to preferentially the stimulation of intestinal absorption of calcium by vitamin D. The vitamin rather directly regulates osteoblastic bone formation by inhibiting excessive bone formation and mineralization.

Vitamin D mobilizes calcium from calcified bone

It appears to be paradoxical, but vitamin D functions in the process of calcium mobilization from calcified bone, making calcium available to the extracellular fluid upon demand by the calcium homeostatic system. Carlsson27) reported for the first time this important observation. He showed that, when hypocalcemic rats maintained on a vitamin D-deficient, low calcium diet were orally given 100 IU (2.5 μg) of vitamin D3, their serum calcium was increased from 5 to 8 mg/dl 3 days after vitamin D3 administration. Parathyroidectomy 2 hours prior to vitamin D3 administration abolished the increase in serum calcium levels. Since the diet did not contain any appreciable amounts of calcium, he concluded that vitamin D stimulates mineral mobilization from calcified bone to blood in concert with PTH.27)

The metabolite of vitamin D3 responsible for bone mineral mobilization was 1α,25(OH)2D3. Using an in vitro organ culture system, Raisz et al.28) reported that both 1α,25(OH)2D3 and 25(OH)D3 increase the release of 45Ca from prelabeled bone into the culture medium, but 1α,25(OH)2D3 is 80 times more potent than 25(OH)D3. From these results, they concluded that the metabolite of vitamin D3 which stimulates bone mineral mobilization is indeed 1α,25(OH)2D3. Abe et al.29) discovered the cell differentiation-inducing activity of 1α,25(OH)2D3 using mouse and human myeloid leukemia cells. HL-60 is a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line established from a leukemic patient, and this cell line can be induced to differentiate into granulocytes by retinoic acid and monocytes-macrophages by 1α,25(OH)2D3. 1α,25(OH)2D3 was a potent and selective inducer of differentiation of HL-60 cells into macrophages.30) Furthermore, 1α,25(OH)2D3 directly induced fusion of alveolar macrophages at a very high rate.31) Approximately 80% of the macrophages fused to form multinucleated giant cells by stimulating the differentiation and fusion of macrophages. However, the multinucleated giant cells formed from alveolar macrophages in response to 1α,25(OH)2D3 did not satisfy the criteria of osteoclasts.

Establishment of a co-culture system for generating osteoclasts in vitro

In 1981, Rodan and Martin32) proposed that osteoblasts or bone marrow stromal cells may intervene in the process of osteoclastic bone resorption. Their argument for such a mechanism was based on the observations that first, bone-resorbing hormones and cytokines have their receptors in osteoblastic cells but not in osteoclasts, and second, the relative binding potencies of these bone-resorbing hormones and cytokines to their respective receptors in osteoblasts resemble those in inducing bone resorption. 32) The same conclusion was reached independently by Chambers,33) who proposed that a factor called osteoclast activating factor (OAF) is produced by osteoblastic cells in response to bone-resorbing hormones and cytokines, then stimulates osteoclast activation.33)

To examine the possible involvement of osteoblastic cells in osteoclast formation, we established an efficient mouse co-culture system to recruit osteoclasts34) based on the concept proposed by Rodan and Martin.32) In this co-culture system, primary osteoblastic cells were isolated from mouse calvaria, and spleen cells isolated from the splenic tissue were used as osteoclast progenitors34) (Fig. 3). When osteoblastic cells alone or spleen cells alone were cultured, no osteoclasts were formed even in the presence of 1α,25(OH)2D3. Multinucleated osteoclasts were formed only when spleen cells and osteoblastic cells were co-cultured in the presence of 1α,25(OH)2D3 34) (Fig. 3). Cell-to-cell contact between spleen cells and osteoblastic cells appeared important for osteoclast formation, since no osteoclasts were formed when they were co-cultured but separated by a membrane filter. No osteoclasts were formed in the absence of 1α,25(OH)2D3 even in the co-culture. Taken together, we hypothesized that the direct contact of spleen cells and osteoblastic cells was essential for osteoclast differentiation. Spleen cells represent osteoclast progenitors, in other words “seeds”, and osteoblastic cells represent the supporting cells to provide a suitable microenvironment for osteoclast formation in bone, in other words “farm”.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

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A mouse co-culture system to recruit osteoclasts. Primary osteoblasts from the calvaria and/or hemopoietic cells from the spleen were cultured for 6–8 days in the presence or absence of 10−8 M 1α,25(OH)2D3. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells (MNC), which were identified as osteoclasts, were formed only when osteoblasts and spleen cells were co-cultured in the presence of 1α,25(OH)2D3.

A hypothetical factor: osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF)

In 1992, we proposed a working hypothesis for the mechanism of osteoclastogenesis based on the extensive studies using the co-culture system. Various bone-resorbing hormones and cytokines including 1α,25(OH)2D3, PTH and interleukin (IL)-11 appeared to act commonly on osteoblastic cells, but not on hemopoietic osteoclast precursors in co-cultures of osteoblastic cells and spleen cells1) (Fig. 4). These bone-resorbing factors were classified into three categories in terms of their signal transduction pathways: VDR-mediated signals [1α,25(OH)2D3], protein kinase A-mediated signals [PTH, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and IL-1], and gp130-mediated signals [IL-6, IL-11, oncostatin M (OSM), and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)].1) These three diverse signals appeared to stimulate osteoclast formation independently, since VDR-KO mice and gp130-KO mice possessed osteoclasts in bone tissues in vivo. We proposed that a membrane-bound factor(s), which is commonly induced on osteoblastic cells in response to these bone-resorbing factors, mediates an essential signal to osteoclast progenitors for their differentiation into mature osteoclasts (Fig. 4). We named the factor “osteoclast differentiation factor” (ODF).35) ODF appeared to be identical to “stromal cell-derived osteoclast formation activity (SOFA)” proposed by Chambers et al.36) Osteoclast progenitors having ODF receptor recognize ODF by cell-to-cell contact and differentiate into osteoclasts. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) produced by osteoblastic cells is also indispensable for both proliferation and differentiation of osteoclast progenitors.37) Yoshida et al.38) demonstrated that osteopetrotic (op/op) mutant mice with a defect in the development of osteoclasts have a loss of function mutation in the coding region of M-CSF gene. Thus, osteoblastic cells are important for osteoclast recruitment in two different ways: one is the production of M-CSF, and the other is the production of a membrane-bound factor such as ODF commonly induced by several bone-resorbing factors1),35) (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

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A hypothesis for the possible mechanisms of osteoclast development. Osteotropic factors including 1α,25(OH)2D3, PTH and IL-11 stimulate osteoclast formation in co-cultures of osteoblasts/stromal cells and hemopoietic cells. Osteoblasts/stromal cells express a membrane-associated factor called ODF in response to several osteotropic factors. Osteoclast progenitors of the monocyte-macrophage lineage recognize ODF in osteoblasts/stromal cells through cell-to-cell interaction, then differentiate into osteoclasts in the presence of M-CSF.

Discovery and Identification of OPG/OCIF

In 1997, Simonet et al.39) cloned a new member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family, termed osteoprotegerin (OPG). Interestingly, OPG lacked a transmembrane domain and represented a secreted TNF receptor (Fig. 5). Hepatic expression of OPG in transgenic mice resulted in osteopetrosis.39) Tsuda et al.40) independently isolated a novel protein termed osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) from conditioned medium of human fibroblasts (IMR90) by using bone marrow cell cultures treated with 1α,25(OH)2D3 as an assay system for in vitro osteoclast formation. The cDNA sequence of OCIF was identical to that of OPG.39),40)

Fig. 5.

Fig. 5

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Structure and functional domains of human OPG/OCIF. (A) Diagrammatic representation of the structure of OPG/OCIF. (B) Comparison of the structure of OPG/OCIF and other TNF receptor family members.

OPG/OCIF consisting of 401 amino acid residues contained four cysteine-rich domains and two death domain homologous regions (Fig. 5).39),41) The death domain homologous regions share structural features with “death domains” of TNF receptor p55, Fas and TRAIL receptors, which mediate apoptotic signals. OPG/OCIF strongly inhibited osteoclast formation induced by either 1α,25(OH)2D3, PTH, PGE2 or IL-11 in mouse co-culture system.41) Analyses of transgenic mice expressing OPG/OCIF and of animals injected with OPG/OCIF have demonstrated that this factor strongly inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption, resulting in increased bone mass.39),41) In contrast, OPG/OCIF null mutant mice exhibited severe osteopetrosis due to enhanced osteoclastogenesis.42) These results suggested that OPG/OCIF is a physiologically important inhibitor of bone resorption by osteoclasts.41)

Identification of a long-sought-after ligand, “ODF”

A mouse bone marrow stromal cell line, ST2, is known to support osteoclast formation from mouse spleen cells in the presence of 1α,25(OH)2D3 and dexamethasone (Dex).43) OPG bound to a single class of high-affinity binding sites induced by 1α,25(OH)2D3 and Dex on ST2 cells.41) When the binding sites on the treated ST2 cells were occupied by OPG, the cells failed to support osteoclast formation from spleen cells. These results strongly suggested that the sites are involved in cell-to-cell signalings between stromal cells and osteoclast progenitors, and that OPG inhibits osteoclastogenesis by interrupting the signaling through its binding sites.

Using OPG/OCIF as a probe, a cDNA clone with an open reading frame encoding 316 amino acid residues (Mr 36K) was cloned from an expression library of ST2 cells 44) (Fig. 6A and B). Hydropathy analysis showed the absence of a signal sequence and the presence of an internal 24-residue hydrophobic domain, which presumably represents a transmembrane (TM) domain.44) This structure was typical of a type II transmembrane protein with an extracellular C-terminal region. A homology search of the GenBank sequence database revealed that the C-terminal 165 residues of the protein had a significant homology to the extracellular domains of the TNF ligand family members.44)

Fig. 6.

Fig. 6

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Structure and biological activity of mouse RANKL/ODF. (A) Amino acid sequence of RANKL/ODF. RANKL/ODF consists of 316 amino acid residues. Dotted line indicates the transmembrane domain (TM). Underlines indicate the potential N-glycosylation sites. (B) Schematic structure of RANKL/ODF. RANKL/ODF is a type II transmembrane protein with a short N-terminal cytoplasmic domain (Met1-Arg47), a single TM (Ser48- Phe71; closed box), and a longer C-terminal extracellular domain (Arg72-Asp316). The striped area represents the homologous C-terminal region (Asp152-Asp316) in the TNF ligand family. sRANKL is prepared by fusing the C-terminal region (Asp76-Asp316) of RANKL/ODF to the C-terminal end of thioredoxin. (C) Induction of osteoclasts from spleen cells by the fixed RANKL-expressing COS cells. COS-7 cells transfected with the RANKL expression vector (COSRANKL) or the empty vector (COSVec) were cultured for 2 days on cover slips in 24-well plates, fixed with paraformaldehyde, and washed with phosphate-buffered saline. Mouse spleen cells (7 × 105 cells) were cultured on the fixed cells in the presence or absence of 10 ng/ml M-CSF and the indicated concentrations of OPG. After culturing for 6 days, the cells were subjected to TRAP staining (open box), and calcitonin binding (closed box). Data are expressed as the means ± SD of six cultures. ND, not determined. (D) sRANKL induces osteoclasts from spleen cells in the presence of M-CSF. Spleen cell were cultured in the presence or absence of M-CSF and/or sRANKL for a week, and then the cells were fixed and stained with TRAP.

Lacey et al.45) also cloned the same molecule independently, naming it OPG ligand (OPGL). ODF/OPGL was found to be identical to TNF-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE) and receptor activator of NF-κ B ligand (RANKL), both of which were cloned as factors regulating T-cell and dendritic cell functions, respectively.46),47) Thus, ODF, OPGL, TRANCE and RANKL are different names for the same molecule. As a standard nomenclature of the same molecule, the ASBMR President’s Committee on Nomenclature proposed RANKL.48)

RANKL induces differentiation of spleen cells into osteoclasts in the absence of osteoblasts

To examine whether RANKL mediates cell-to-cell signals responsible for osteoclastogenesis, we carried out an in vitro osteoclast formation assay by evaluating tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and calcitonin binding, a combination of which is unique to osteoclasts44) (Fig. 6C). When COS-7 cells expressing RANKL (COSRANKL) or control COS-7 cells transfected with the empty vector (COSVec) were fixed with paraformaldehyde, and then mouse spleen cells were cultured on those fixed cells for 6 days in the presence of M-CSF, TRAP- and calcitonin receptor-positive cells appeared on the COSRANKL cells, but not on the COSVec cells. Concurrent addition of OPG to the cultures inhibited the formation of TRAP- and calcitonin receptorpositive cells in a dose-dependent manner.44) These results indicate that RANKL together with M-CSF mediates the cell-to-cell signaling essential for osteoclastogenesis (Fig. 6C).

To further examine the biological effect of RANKL, we produced a genetically engineered soluble RANKL (sRANKL).44) sRANKL together with M-CSF induced osteoclasts from spleen cells alone, and OPG negated the effect of sRANKL (Fig. 6D). Neither osteoblasts/stromal cells nor bone-resorbing factors were required for the osteoclast formation. Furthermore, when these osteoclasts were cultured on dentine slices for 3 days in the presence of sRANKL and M-CSF, numerous resorption pits were formed on the slices. Taken together, these results established that RANKL together with M-CSF mediates an essential signal to osteoclast progenitors for their differentiation into active osteoclasts in the absence of osteoblasts.44),49)

Molecular mechanisms of osteoclastogenesis

The nomenclature of the ligand, receptor, and decoy receptor of the newly discovered TNF ligand/receptor family members has been shown in Fig. 7 according to the recommendation of the ASBMR President’s Committee on Nomenclature.48) RANKL,47) also called ODF,44) OPGL,45) and TRANCE,46) is a new member of the membrane-bound TNF ligand family (TNFSF11), and it is important for osteoclast development as well as lymphocyte development. RANK,47) a new member of the membrane-bound TNF receptor family (TNFRSF11A), has been cloned as a receptor for RANKL in immune systems, and it is the signaling receptor for RANKL in osteoclastogenesis as well.50)–52) OPG/OCIF is a new member of the soluble type belonging to the TNF receptor family (TNFRSF11B), and it functions as a decoy receptor for RANKL.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 7

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Nomenclature of the ligand, receptor, and decoy receptor of the newly discovered TNF ligand/receptor family members.

Figure 8 summarizes the molecular mechanisms of osteoclast formation and activation.44),49) Osteoblasts/stromal cells play an essential role in osteoclastogenesis through the expression of RANKL on the membrane by various bone-resorbing factors such as 1α,25(OH)2D3, PGE2, PTH, and IL-11. RANKL recognizes osteoclast progenitors having RANK by a mechanism involving cell-to-cell contact. M-CSF produced by osteoblasts/stromal cells is also indispensable for the differentiation of osteoclast progenitors. Osteoclast progenitors differentiate into osteoclasts by binding to RANKL on the osteoblasts/stromal cells. When OPG, a decoy receptor for RANKL, blocks the binding of RANKL to RANK, osteoclast progenitors having RANK are unable to bind to RANKL, thus osteoclast formation is inhibited.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 8

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A model illustrating a mechanism by which osteoblasts/stromal cells regulate osteoclast differentiation and activation. Three distinct signals stimulated by 1α,25(OH)2D3, PGE2/PTH/IL-1, and the IL-6 family induce RANKL/ODF expression on osteoblasts/stromal cells. RANKL/ODF mediates a signal for osteoclastogenesis through ODF receptor (RANK) expressed on osteoclast progenitors. OPG/OCIF inhibits osteoclastogenesis by interrupting the binding of RANKL/ODF and ODF receptor (RANK). M-CSF produced by osteoblasts/stromal cells is also indispensable for proliferation and differentiation of osteoclast progenitors. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) inhibits osteoclastogenesis through induction of OPG expression by bone marrow stromal cells.53)

The molecular mechanism of osteoclast formation and activation proposed by in vitro studies (Fig. 8) was confirmed by a number of in vivo studies including administration of recombinant proteins such as OPG and sRANKL and generation of transgenic (TG) and KO mice of the genes related to the RANKL-RANK signaling (Table I). In addition, loss of function mutations of the OPG gene and gain of function mutations of the RANK gene were reported in patients with skeletal abnormalities, suggesting that the mechanism is applicable to humans as well.

Table I.

Skeletal phenotypes associated with alterations of the RANKL-RANK signaling

RANKL-RANK signaling Bone resorption Phenotype
OPG KO42), 54)/mutation (loss of function)55) graphic file with name pjab-80-407f11.jpg Up graphic file with name pjab-80-407f11.jpg (Paget’s disease)
Osteoporosis
(FEO, Paget’s disease)
sRANKL administration46), 56)
sRANKL TG57)
RANK mutation (gain of function)58), 59)
OPG TG39) graphic file with name pjab-80-407f12.jpg Down graphic file with name pjab-80-407f12.jpg Osteopetrosis
OPG administration39), 41)
RANKL KO60), 61)
RANK KO51), 52)
sRANK TG62)
TRAF6 KO63), 64)
c-src KO65)
c-fos KO66), 67)
p50/p52 KO68), 69)
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Clinical trials

The phase I studies of OPG, an Fc-OPG construct (constant fragment of IgG fused to human OPG), suggested that a single subcutaneous dose of OPG was effective in decreasing the levels of bone turnover markers for several days in healthy post-menopausal women70) and patients with breast carcinoma-related bone metastases or multiple myeloma.71) Recently, Bekker et al.72) reported that single administration of a fully human monoclonal antibody against RANKL (AMG 162) to osteoporotic patients rapidly and profoundly suppressed bone resorption in post-menopausal women. These results strongly suggest that inhibitors of RANKL-RANK signaling such as OPG and anti-RANKL antibody are useful and applicable to the treatment of metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and other metastatic bone diseases.

At present, anti-TNF therapy using recombinant soluble receptors (Etanercept) and monoclonal antibody (Infliximab) to TNF is available for clinical use, and it works for about two out of three adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).73) This therapy reduces the inflammation associated with RA, and may inhibit osteoclastogenesis as well, since TNF is capable of inducing osteoclastogenesis by a mechanism independent of the RANKL-RANK interaction74),75) and also in concert with RANKL.76)

The biological significance of osteoclastic bone resorption by vitamin D

It is likely that 1α,25(OH)2D3 is a bone-resorbing hormone, but not a bone-forming hormone at least in vitro. However, we should emphasize that the in vivo bone-mobilizing effects of 1α,25(OH)2D3 depend on its dose levels. Figure 9 shows the differences in the dose levels of 1α,25(OH)2D3 required for inducing intestinal absorption of calcium and bone mineral mobilization activity.77) In this experiment, graded doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3 were administered to rats fed a low calcium, vitamin D-deficient diet. Intestinal absorption of calcium was determined by the routine everted gut sac method, and bone mobilization activity was monitored by measuring serum calcium levels. Intestinal absorption of calcium was stimulated by as little as 0.1 μg/kg body weight of 1α,25(OH)2D3, but bone mobilization activity was induced only by 10–50 times higher doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3. These results indicate that physiological doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3 hardly stimulate bone mobilization. Only pharmacological or toxic doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3 induce bone resorption.77)

Fig. 9.

Fig. 9

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Dose-response effects of 1α,25(OH)2D3 on intestinal calcium transport and bone calcium mobilization activities in vivo. Rats were fed a vitamin D-deficient, low calcium diet for 3 weeks, then received graded doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3. Twenty-four hours later, intestinal calcium transport activity (A) and plasma calcium levels (B) were measured.

The question is the relation between vitamin D and PTH in inducing bone resorption in vivo. Of several systemic hormones and local factors affecting bone remodeling, vitamin D and PTH may be the most important factors for regulating bone formation and resorption. In fact, PTH stimulates both bone formation and resorption in vivo. Also, pharmacological or toxic doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3 induce bone resorption in vivo, but physiological doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3 do not (Fig. 9).

Conclusions

PTH is essential for generating 1α,25(OH)2D3 in the kidney, which in turn inhibits PTH secretion in the parathyroids (Fig. 10). Thus, it is concluded that vitamin D and PTH working in concert regulate bone formation and resorption to maintain the serum calcium homeostasis.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 10

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A hypothetical concept of the dose-dependent effects of 1α,25(OH)2D3 on intestinal calcium transport and bone resorption activities in vivo.

Physiological doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3 do not stimulate bone resorption in vivo. In order for 1α,25(OH)2D3 to induce bone resorption, pharmacological or toxic doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3 are required (Fig. 10). Physiological doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3 preferentially stimulate intestinal absorption of calcium without inducing bone resorption, which then stimulate bone mineralization (Fig. 10). These results support the concept that physiological doses of vitamin D compounds are useful for the treatment of various metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Like other bone-resorbing hormones and cytokines, pharmacological or toxic doses of 1α,25(OH)2D3 stimulate bone resorption. RANKL is required for all the steps of osteoclast development; differentiation, fusion, survival and activation. RANKL mediates signals for osteoclastogenesis through RANK. OPG inhibits the whole processes of osteoclastogenesis as a decoy receptor by interrupting the binding of RANKL to RANK. The discovery of RANKL, OPG and RANK opens a new area of research on bone biology. Further studies on the RANKL-RANK signal transduction pathways will establish new ways for treating several metabolic bone diseases caused by abnormal osteoclast differentiation and function.

Acknowledgements

The author is greatly indebted to a number of colleagues at the University of Wisconsin (Madison, USA), Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Showa University, St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research (Melbourne, Australia), Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., and Snow Brand Milk Products Co. (Tochigi, Japan) for their kind collaboration, encouragement, and fruitful discussions. In particular, the author is grateful to my Mentor Professor H. F. DeLuca (University of Wisconsin), who taught me not only vitamin D biochemistry, but also how science is fun. The author is also thankful to Dr. Y. Nishii (Chugai), Professors N. Takahashi and N. Udagawa (Matsumoto Dental University), Drs. K. Higashio, H. Yasuda, and N. Shima (Snow Brand), Dr. T. Katagiri (Saitama Medical School), Professor T. Shinki (Nippon Pharmaceutical University), Dr. E. Abe (Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York), and Professor T. J. Martin (St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne) for their continuous collaboration and fruitful discussions. Without them, the author could not have done any scientific achievements.

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