title: T cell activation induces human osteoclast formation via receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
abstract: In unstimulated conditions, osteoclast (OC) formation is regulated by stromal cell production of the key osteoclastogenic factors receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). However, the mechanisms of accelerated osteoclastogenesis and bone loss characteristic of inflammatory conditions are poorly understood but appear to involve T cells. In addition, the mechanism by which OCs arise spontaneously in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the absence of stromal cells or added cytokines remains unclear. Using a stromal cell free human osteoclast generating system, we investigated the ability of activated T cells to support osteoclastogenesis. We show that when activated by phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA), T cells (both CD4+ and CD8+) stimulate human OC formation in vitro. Although both soluble M-CSF and RANKL were detected in activated T cell supernatants, the presence of M-CSF was not essential for macrophage survival or RANKL-dependent osteoclast formation, suggesting that other soluble T cell-derived factors were capable of substituting for this cytokine. We also found that saturating concentrations of osteoprotegerin (OPG) failed to neutralize 30% of the observed OC formation and that T cell conditioned medium (CM) could superinduce osteoclastogenesis in cultures of purified monocytes maximally stimulated by RANKL and M-CSF. Together, these data suggest that activated T cells support osteoclastogenesis via RANKL-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Although not relevant for T cell-induced osteoclastogenesis, secretion of soluble M-CSF is a previously undescribed property of activated T cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Weitzmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cenci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rifas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dipersio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pacifici
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology*; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; C505686:TNFRSF11A protein, human; C505688:TNFSF11 protein, human; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor