title: FHL2 inhibits the activated osteoclast in a TRAF6-dependent manner.
abstract: TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) associates with the cytoplasmic domain of receptor activator of NF-kappaB (RANK). This event is central to normal osteoclastogenesis. We discovered that TRAF6 also interacts with FHL2 (four and a half LIM domain 2), a LIM domain--only protein that functions as a transcriptional coactivator or corepressor in a cell-type--specific manner. FHL2 mRNA and protein are undetectable in marrow macrophages and increase pari passu with osteoclast differentiation in vitro. FHL2 inhibits TRAF6-induced NF-kappaB activity in wild-type osteoclast precursors and, in keeping with its role as a suppressor of TRAF6-mediated RANK signaling, TRAF6/RANK association is enhanced in FHL2-/- osteoclasts. FHL2 overexpression delays RANK ligand-induced (RANKL-induced) osteoclast formation and cytoskeletal organization. Interestingly, osteoclast-residing FHL2 is not detectable in naive wild-type mice, in vivo, but is abundant in those treated with RANKL and following induction of inflammatory arthritis. Reflecting increased RANKL sensitivity, osteoclasts generated from FHL2-/- mice reach maturation and optimally organize their cytoskeleton earlier than their wild-type counterparts. As a consequence, FHL2-/- osteoclasts are hyperresorptive, and mice lacking the protein undergo enhanced RANKL and inflammatory arthritis-stimulated bone loss. FHL2 is, therefore, an antiosteoclastogenic molecule exerting its effect by attenuating TRAF6-mediated RANK signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Shuting
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitaura
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Judith M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schüle
authors.forename: Bryant
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Darnay
authors.forename: Deborah V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Novack
authors.forename: F Patrick
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Teitelbaum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D048029:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C491382:Fhl2 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D053245:RANK Ligand; D053246:Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; D048029:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6; C505687:Tnfrsf11a protein, mouse; C505689:Tnfsf11 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors