Genetic Analysis of Lrp5 Function in Osteoblast Progenitors

The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (Lrp)-5 regulates osteoblast proliferation and bone formation through its expression in duodenum by modifying the gut serotonin–bone endocrine axis. However, its direct role, if any, in osteoblast progenitor cells has not been studied thus far. Here, we show that mice with a Dermo1-Cre-mediated disruption of Lrp5 in osteoblast progenitor cells have normal embryonic skeletogenesis and normal skeletal growth and development postnatally. Histomorphometric analysis of 3-month-old adult mice revealed normal osteoblast numbers, bone formation rate, and bone mass in Lrp5 _Dermo ^−/− mice. In addition, analysis of two osteoporosis pseudoglioma (OPPG) patients revealed a three- to fivefold increase in their serum serotonin levels compared to age-matched controls. These results rule out a direct function of Lrp5 in osteoblast progenitor cells and add further support to the notion that dysregulation of serotonin synthesis is involved in bone mass abnormalities observed in OPPG patients.