Models for the Study of Cementogenesis

Cementum is a mineralized tissue that acts to connect the periodontal ligament to the tooth root surface. Its composition is very much like bone, being comprised mainly of type I collagen, inorganic mineral and noncollagenous proteins, however the origin of the cells and factors necessary for cementum formation have yet to be elucidated.

Our laboratory has focused on the role that adhesion molecules, and their cell surface receptors, play in the formation of cementum and tooth root. In order to study this, we used a mouse molar as a model system. This system enabled us to study the formation of four distinct mineralized tissues; bone, cementum, dentin and enamel at various stages of their development. For these studies, we initiated experiments to examine potential cementoblast progenitor cells, in vitro. As a first step, we show that dental papilla and dental follicle cells, n vitro, obtained from molar tissues at day 21 of development, induce mineralized nodules, in vitro

In addition, we obtained tissues from mice where defects in root development may exist and determined bone sialoprotein (BSP) protein expression, a mineralized tissue specific adhesion molecule, in such tissues. As discussed here, we found that osteopetrotic (op/op) mice have delayed and/or defective root development and BSP does not localize in the dental tissues, at day 33 of development. In addition, dentin formation was defective and odontoblasts appeared immature, based on morphological examination. In contrast, the day 33 control molars demonstrated positive staining for BSP localized to root cementum, with normal formation of dentin.     

一例罕见的新的TCIRG1基因杂合性突变引起的婴儿恶性石骨症

目的:研究1例婴儿恶性石骨症患者的致病基因及其突变。TCIRG1和CLCN7是婴儿恶性石骨症最常见的致病基因。前者被认为是纯合性致病基因,国外只有6例其杂合性改变也致本病的报导,而我国无杂合性突变导致本病的报道。方法:通过骨组织X线检查结合临床症状及体征确诊1例散发性婴儿恶性石骨症患者。提取患者及其父母的外周血基因组DNA,PCR扩增TCIRG1和CLCN7基因外显子及其剪切位点序列,对PCR产物直接测序。用TCRIG1基因附近的微卫星标记和SNP构建患者及其父母的单倍型。用染色体微阵列分析技术对患者及其母亲进行TCIRG1基因拷贝数目变异的检测。结果:患者TCIRG1基因第5号外显子内发现一个4个碱基的缺失突变c.449_452del AGAG(p.Gln149Glnfs16),该突变使得基因3’端编码的666个氨基酸被截断,失去了整个ATP酶V0复合结构域。患儿双亲TCIRG1和CLCN7基因的突变检测及单倍体构建证实该突变来源于患者父亲。染色体微阵列分析未发现患儿及其母亲携带有任何累及TCIRG1及CLCN7基因的拷贝数目变异。结论:本研究发现了1例TCIRG1基因新的杂合性突变所致的婴儿恶性石骨症。这是我国TCIRG1基因杂合性突变引起婴儿恶性石骨症的首例报道。这个发现可用于婴儿恶性石骨症的分子诊断。     

Decreased osteoclastogenesis in serotonin-deficient mice

Peripheral serotonin, synthesized by tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (TPH(1)), has been shown to play a key role in several physiological functions. Recently, controversy has emerged about whether peripheral serotonin has any effect on bone density and remodeling.We therefore decided to investigate in detail bone remodeling in growing and mature TPH(1) knockout mice (TPH(1)(-/-)). Bone resorption in TPH(1)(-/-) mice, as assessed by biochemical markers and bone histomorphometry, was markedly decreased at both ages. Using bone marrow transplantation, we present evidence that the decrease in bone resorption in TPH(1)(-/-) mice is cell-autonomous. Cultures from TPH(1)(-/-) in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and receptor activator for NF-KB ligand (RANKL) displayed fewer osteoclasts, and the decreased differentiation could be rescued by adding serotonin. Our data also provide evidence that in the presence of RANKL, osteoclast precursors express TPH(1) and synthesize serotonin. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of serotonin receptor 1B with SB224289, and of receptor 2A with ketanserin, also reduced the number of osteoclasts. Our findings reveal that serotonin has an important local action in bone, as it can amplify the effect of RANKL on osteoclastogenesis.     

Electron microscopic findings in skin biopsies from patients with infantile osteopetrosis and neuronal storage disease

Infantile osteopetrosis with neuronal storage disease is a rare lysosomal storage disorder. It is an autosomal recessive disease that is associated with mutations in the OSTM1 and chloride channel ClCN-7genes. So far mutations in the OSTM1 gene have been identified in only 8 patients. To date, the clinical and morphological features of nine patients with infantile osteopetrosis with neuronal storage have been reported, but no ultrastructural findings of skin have been described in these patients. Skin biopsy is a cost-effective tool for the diagnosis of lysosomal storage disease. The purpose of this report is to define the ultrastructure of affected cells seen in skin biopsies of 2 boys whose mutation of OSTM1 has been characterized. The children presented in infancy with severe osteopetrosis and neurological deficiencies whose predominant symptoms were marked cerebral atrophy, decreased myelinization, and severe central nervous system involvement. Because of the difficulties in distinguishing this disorder from some lysosomal storage diseases such as mucopolysaccharidosis that have both neurological and skeletal abnormalities, the authors elected to examine skin biopsies from these children. Ultrastructural examination revealed the presence of swollen unmyelinated axons containing spheroids, reduced numbers of myelinated axons, and the presence of secondary lysosomes in Schwann cells containing lipofuscin. This study demonstrates that electron microscopy of skin biopsy is a useful diagnostic method to identify patients with clinical features of osteopetrosis with neuronal storage disease.     

Unusual Endosteally Formed Bone Tissue in a Patagonian Basal Sauropodomorph Dinosaur

Mussaurus patagonicus (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) is a basal sauropodomorph from the Late Triassic of southern Argentina that is known from a large number of individuals, including juveniles, subadults, and adults. Here, we report on the occurrence of an unusual bone tissue in an individual of M. patagonicus. The rather atypical bone tissue is located within the femoral medullary cavity and also occurs within several erosion cavities of the midinner part of the cortex. This tissue is well vascularized and is composed of a matrix that consists of abundant and densely packed osteocyte lacunae. Although some features of this tissue resembles avian medullary bone, the histological features are distinctive and share more features with the pathological, reactive bone produced in extant birds in response to a retrovirus‐induced disease (avian osteopetrosis). Here, we also discuss and provide histological features to effectively differentiate endosteally formed medullary bone from pathological avian osteopetrosis. Anat Rec, 297:1385–1391, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

TCIGR1基因新发插入突变致幼儿型石骨症1例报告

目的探讨恶性幼儿型石骨症的临床特点和基因特征。方法分析1例恶性幼儿型石骨症的临床资料和基因检测结果,并复习相关文献。结果女性患儿,1岁6个月,X线摄片显示全身骨骼密度增高硬化、骨髓腔缩小,脊椎椎体上下密度高、中间密度低。基因检测结果显示父亲及母亲TCIRG1基因11号外显子出现杂合突变c.1450_1451ins T c.1451AT:484PP,患儿为纯合突变;另外,骨骼发育异常的17个相关基因COL9A1出现一个错义突变,c.902CT,p.Pro301Leu。结论恶性幼儿型石骨症的诊断主要通过临床和基因检测。     

Failure of calcitriol treatment in a patient with malignant osteopetrosis

In an attempt to stimulate bone resportion, a 10-week-old infant with malignant infantile osteopetrosis was treated with high doses of calcitriol, a potent bone resorption stimulatory agent, combined with a low calcium diet to prevent hypercalcaemia. Although calcitriol administration was initiated at this very young age, our patient did not show any clinical, radiological, or histological improvement. Despite reports of positive results of this treatment in the literature, our patient did not reveal any signs of bone resorption. She eventually died from the complications of osteopetrosis at the age of 6 months after 88 days of therapy.     

Regulatory mechanisms of osteoclast differentiation and function

Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for osteoclast generation, differentiation, and bone resorption have improved dramatically in recent years. In part, this has been due to studies in osteopetrosis, the disease characterized by impairment of osteoclast action, and to improved techniques for isolation of osteoclasts and their precursors. This review will discuss some of these mechanisms.This paper was presented at a satellite symposium of the 13th annual meeting of the Japanese Society for Bone and Mineral Research, sponsored by Asahi Chemical Co. Ltd. The subject of the symposium was differentiated function of the osteoclast.     

Total hip arthroplasty in osteopetrosis using computer-assisted fluoroscopic navigation

Hybrid total hip arthroplasty with computer-assisted fluoroscopic navigation was performed on a patient with osteoarthritis due to an autosomal dominant form of osteopetrosis. The surgical procedures were difficult because the bone was extremely hard and brittle with obliteration of the medullary cavity. Especially, preparation of a femoral canal for the stem was technically challenging and required changes from a conventional surgical procedure. Therefore, we used a computer-assisted fluoroscopic navigation system to create the femoral cavity for the stem, and an accurate placement of the prosthesis was achieved. Navigation guidance can be a useful tool when performing arthroplasty in patients with hip osteoarthritis associated with osteopetrosis.