Project description:Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a hormone, mainly produced by osteocytes, regulates phosphate and vitamin D metabolism. By contrast, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the active form of vitamin D, has been shown to enhance FGF23 production. While it is likely that osteocytes are heterogenous in terms of gene expression profiles, specific subpopulations of Fgf23-expressing osteocytes have not been identified. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology can characterize the transcriptome of an individual cell. Recently, scRNA-seq has been used for bone tissue analysis. However, owing to technical difficulties associated with isolation of osteocytes, studies using scRNA-seq analysis to characterize FGF23-producing osteocytes are lacking. In this study, we characterized osteocytes secreting FGF23 from murine femurs in response to calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) using scRNA-seq. We first detected Dmp1, Mepe, and Phex expression in murine osteocytes by in situ hybridization and used these as marker genes of osteocytes. After decalcification, enzyme digestion, and removal of CD45+ cells, femoral bone cells were subjected to scRNA-seq. We identified cell clusters containing osteocytes using marker gene expression. While Fgf23 expression was observed in some osteocytes isolated from femurs of calcitriol-injected mice, no Fgf23 expression was detected in untreated mice. In addition, the expression of several genes which are known to be changed after 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 treatment such as Ccnd2, Fn1, Igfbp7, Pdgfa, and Timp1 was also affected by calcitriol treatment in Fgf23-expressing osteocytes, but not in those lacking Fgf23 expression, even after calcitriol administration. Furthermore, box-and-whisker plots indicated that Fgf23 expression was observed in osteocytes with higher expression levels of the Fam20c, Dmp1, and Phex genes, whose inactivating mutations have been shown to cause FGF23-related hypophosphatemic diseases. These results indicate that osteocytes are heterogeneous with respect to their responsiveness to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and sensitivity to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is one of the characteristics of osteocytes with Fgf23 expression. It is likely that there is a subpopulation of osteocytes expressing several genes, including Fgf23, involved in phosphate metabolism.
Project description:One of the main regulators of phosphate homeostasis is fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), secreted by osteocytes. The effects of organic versus inorganic dietary phosphate on this homeostasis is unclear. This study used MC3T3-E1 osteocyte-like cells to examine the transcriptomic responses to these phosphates. Most importantly, the expression and secretion of FGF23 was only increased in response to organic phosphate. Gene ontology terms related to a response to environmental change were only enriched in osteocytes treated with organic phosphate while osteocytes treated with inorganic phosphate were enriched for terms associated with regulation of cellular phosphate metabolism. Inhibition of MAPK signaling diminished the response of Fgf23 to organic phosphate, suggesting it activates FGF23. TGF-β signaling inhibition increased Fgf23 expression after the addition of organic phosphate, while the negative TGF-β regulator Skil decreased this response. In summary, the observed differential response of osteocytes to phosphate types may have consequences for phosphate homeostasis.
Project description:RNAseq of liver of mice with a conditional overexpression of Cterminal FGF23 peptide in osteoblasts and osteocytes and WT littermates 6 hours post-injection of 250ng/g of recombinant murine Il-1B or saline.
Project description:We used gene array analysis of cortical bone to identify Phex-dependent gene transcripts regulating Fgf23 production and mineralization in Hyp mice. We discovered that activation of Fgf receptor- and Wnt-pathways contribute to increased Ffg23 gene transcription in Hyp bone. We found evidence in Hyp bone for increased expression of Fgf1, Fgf7, and Egr2 in the Fgf-signaling pathway and decrements in Sost and Cpz and increments in Sfrp1 and 4 in the Wnt-signaling pathway. Moreover, activation of Fgf and Wnt-signaling stimulated, whereas Tgf β inhibited Fgf23 promoter activity in osteoblasts. We also observed reductions in Bmp1, a metalloproteinase that metabolizes the Fgf23 regulatory extracellular matrix protein Dmp1. These findings suggest that elevation of Fgf23 expression in osteocytes is regulated by interactions between cell surface expression of Phex, extracellular matrix proteins and paracrine effects of Fgf and Wnt. Alterations were also found in enzymes regulating the posttranslational processing and stability of Fgf23, including decrements in the glycosyltransferase Galnt3 and the proprotein convertase Pcsk5. In addition, we found that the Pcsk5 and the glycosyltransferase Galnt3 were decreased in Hyp bone, suggesting that reduced post-translational processing of FGF23 may also contribute to increased Fgf23 levels in Hyp mice. With regards to mineralization, we identified additional candidates to explain the intrinsic mineralization defect in Hyp osteoblasts, including increases in the mineralization inhibitors Mgp and Thbs4, as well as increases in local pH altering factors, carbonic anhydrase 12 (Car12) and 3 (Car3) and the sodium-dependent citrate transporter (Slc13a5). These studies demonstrate the complexity of gene expression alterations in bone that accompanies inactivating Phex mutations and identify novel pathways that may coordinate Fgf23 expression and mineralization of extracellular matrix in Hyp bone. We isolated total RNAs from long bones of both WT and Hyp mice at 12 days of age. Since the RNA yields from the long bones are very low, we combined 2 bone samples with same genotype (WT or Hyp) for one RNA extraction. We will compare the difference of the gene expressions between Hyp and WT. We will use 4 samples in each animal condition.
Project description:Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a hormone, mainly produced by osteocytes, regulates phosphate and vitamin D metabolism. By contrast, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the active form of vitamin D, has been shown to enhance FGF23 production. While it is likely that osteocytes are heterogenous in terms of gene expression profiles, specific subpopulations of Fgf23-expressing osteocytes have not been identified. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology can characterize the transcriptome of an individual cell. Recently, scRNA-seq has been used for bone tissue analysis. However, owing to technical difficulties associated with isolation of osteocytes, studies using scRNA-seq analysis to characterize FGF23-producing osteocytes are lacking. In this study, we characterized osteocytes secreting FGF23 from murine femurs in response to calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) using scRNA-seq. We first detected Dmp1, Mepe, and Phex expression in murine osteocytes by in situ hybridization and used these as marker genes of osteocytes. After decalcification, enzyme digestion, and removal of CD45+ cells, femoral bone cells were subjected to scRNA-seq. We identified cell clusters containing osteocytes using marker gene expression. While Fgf23 expression was observed in some osteocytes isolated from femurs of calcitriol-injected mice, no Fgf23 expression was detected in untreated mice. In addition, the expression of several genes which are known to be changed after 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 treatment such as Ccnd2, Fn1, Igfbp7, Pdgfa, and Timp1 was also affected by calcitriol treatment in Fgf23-expressing osteocytes, but not in those lacking Fgf23 expression, even after calcitriol administration. Furthermore, box-and-whisker plots indicated that Fgf23 expression was observed in osteocytes with higher expression levels of the Fam20c, Dmp1, and Phex genes, whose inactivating mutations have been shown to cause FGF23-related hypophosphatemic diseases. These results indicate that osteocytes are heterogeneous with respect to their responsiveness to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and sensitivity to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is one of the characteristics of osteocytes with Fgf23 expression. It is likely that there is a subpopulation of osteocytes expressing several genes, including Fgf23, involved in phosphate metabolism.
Project description:We used gene array analysis of cortical bone to identify Phex-dependent gene transcripts regulating Fgf23 production and mineralization in Hyp mice. We discovered that activation of Fgf receptor- and Wnt-pathways contribute to increased Ffg23 gene transcription in Hyp bone. We found evidence in Hyp bone for increased expression of Fgf1, Fgf7, and Egr2 in the Fgf-signaling pathway and decrements in Sost and Cpz and increments in Sfrp1 and 4 in the Wnt-signaling pathway. Moreover, activation of Fgf and Wnt-signaling stimulated, whereas Tgf β inhibited Fgf23 promoter activity in osteoblasts. We also observed reductions in Bmp1, a metalloproteinase that metabolizes the Fgf23 regulatory extracellular matrix protein Dmp1. These findings suggest that elevation of Fgf23 expression in osteocytes is regulated by interactions between cell surface expression of Phex, extracellular matrix proteins and paracrine effects of Fgf and Wnt. Alterations were also found in enzymes regulating the posttranslational processing and stability of Fgf23, including decrements in the glycosyltransferase Galnt3 and the proprotein convertase Pcsk5. In addition, we found that the Pcsk5 and the glycosyltransferase Galnt3 were decreased in Hyp bone, suggesting that reduced post-translational processing of FGF23 may also contribute to increased Fgf23 levels in Hyp mice. With regards to mineralization, we identified additional candidates to explain the intrinsic mineralization defect in Hyp osteoblasts, including increases in the mineralization inhibitors Mgp and Thbs4, as well as increases in local pH altering factors, carbonic anhydrase 12 (Car12) and 3 (Car3) and the sodium-dependent citrate transporter (Slc13a5). These studies demonstrate the complexity of gene expression alterations in bone that accompanies inactivating Phex mutations and identify novel pathways that may coordinate Fgf23 expression and mineralization of extracellular matrix in Hyp bone.
Project description:Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23), a circulating protein produced in bone, causes renal inorganic phosphate (Pi) wasting by down-regulation of sodium phosphate co-transporter 2a (Npt2a). The mechanism behind this action is unknown. We have previously generated transgenic mice (TG) expressing human wild-type FGF23 under the control of the α1 (I) collagen promoter. In this study we performed a large scale gene expression study of kidneys from TG mice and wild-type littermates. Several genes that play a role in Pi regulation had decreased expression levels, such as Npt2a, but also Pdzk1 which is a scaffolding protein known to interact with NPT2a. Importantly, the Klotho gene, a suggested crucial co-factor for FGF23 receptor binding and activation, was the most affected decreased gene. However, other genes proposed to regulate Pi levels, such as secreted Frizzled Related Protein 4 (sFRP4), Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERF1) and the FGF-receptors 1-4, revealed no changes. Interestingly, expression levels of inflammatory response genes were increased and histological analysis revealed tubular nephropathy in the TG mice kidneys. In conclusion, FGF23 TG mice have altered kidney gene expression levels of several genes thought to be part of Pi homeostasis and an increase in inflammatory response genes, data supported by histological analysis. These findings may lead to further understanding of how FGF23 mediates its actions on renal Pi regulation. Experiment Overall Design: Five kidneys from FGF23 TG mice and five kidneys from WT littermates was used for Affymetrix Genechip analysis. One Genechip was used/animal. Animals were 8 weeks old when kidneys were collected.
Project description:There are three main cell types associated with the skeleton, osteoblasts that bone build, osteoclasts that resorb bone and the osteocytes which among other things control the action of these other effector cell types. In this experiment we compare transcriptome data from bone samples enriched for osteocytes (by removing soft tissue and marrow) and bone samples with the soft tissue removed but the marrow left intact. This identifies genes that are enriched for data when we enrich for osteocytes - highlighting genes enriched for expression in this pivotal skeletal cell type.
Project description:Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is a bone-derived hormone that has recently received much attention due to its association with the progression of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and associated mortality. Extracellular sodium ion concentration ([Na+]) plays a significant role in bone metabolism. Both hyponatremia (low serum [Na+]) and hypernatremia (high serum [Na+]) have been shown to affect bone remodeling. However, nothing is known about the impact of [Na+] on FGF23 production. Here, we show that elevated [Na+] (by +20 mM) suppressed FGF23 formation, whereas low [Na+] (by -20 mM) led to an increase in FGF23 synthesis in the osteoblast-like cell line UMR-106. Similar bidirectional changes in FGF23 were observed when osmolality was altered by mannitol but not by urea, suggesting a role of tonicity in FGF23 formation. Moreover, these changes in FGF23 were inversely proportional to the expression of NFAT5 (nuclear factor of activated T cells-5), a transcription factor responsible for tonicity-mediated cellular adaptations. On the other hand, arginine vasopressin (AVP), which is often responsible for hyponatremia, did not affect FGF23 production. Next, comprehensive and unbiased RNA-seq analysis of UMR-106 cells exposed to low vs. high [Na+] revealed several novel genes involved in cellular adaptation to altered tonicity. Additional analysis of cells with Crisp-Cas9 mediated NFAT5 deletion indicated that NFAT5 controls numerous genes associated with FGF23 synthesis, thereby confirming its role in [Na+]-mediated FGF23 regulation. In line with these findings, in a pilot study, we found that human hyponatremic patients have higher FGF23 levels. Our results suggest that [Na+] is a critical regulator of FGF23 synthesis.