Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 regulates osteoprogenitor cells and bone formation, and offers an anabolic treatment approach for osteoporosis.

ABSTRACT: Bone is accrued and maintained primarily through the coupled actions of bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Cumulative in vitro studies indicated that proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2) is a positive mediator of osteoclast function and activity. However, our investigation of PYK2-/- mice did not reveal evidence supporting an essential function for PYK2 in osteoclasts either in vivo or in culture. We find that PYK2-/- mice have high bone mass resulting from an unexpected increase in bone formation. Consistent with the in vivo findings, mouse bone marrow cultures show that PYK2 deficiency enhances differentiation and activity of osteoprogenitor cells, as does expressing a PYK2-specific short hairpin RNA or dominantly interfering proteins in human mesenchymal stem cell

SUBMITTER: Buckbinder L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1880863 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature