This study compares changes in bone microstructure in 6-month-old male GC-treated and female ovariectomized mice to their respective controls. In addition to a reduction in trabecular bone volume, GC treatment reduced bone mineral and elastic modulus of bone adjacent to osteocytes that was not observed in control mice nor estrogen-deficient mice. These microstructural changes in combination with the macrostructural changes could amplify the bone fragility in this metabolic bone disease. Introduction:Patients with glucocorticoid (GC)-induced secondary osteoporosis tend to fracture at higher bone mineral densities than patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. This suggests that GCs may alter bone material properties in addition to BMD and bone macrostructure. Materials and Methods: Changes in trabecular bone structure, elastic modulus, and mineral to matrix ratio of the fifth lumbar vertebrae was assessed in prednisolone-treated mice and placebo-treated controls for comparison with estrogen-deficient mice and sham-operated controls. Compression testing of the third lumbar vertebrae was performed to assess whole bone strength. Results: Significant reductions in trabecular bone volume and whole bone strength occurred in both prednisolone-treated and estrogen-deficient mice compared with controls after 21 days (p < 0.05). The average elastic modulus over the entire surface of each trabecula was similar in all the experimental groups. However, localized changes within the trabeculae in areas surrounding the osteocyte lacunae were observed only in the prednisolone-treated mice. The size of the osteocyte lacunae was increased, reduced elastic modulus around the lacunae was observed, and a "halo" of hypomineralized bone surrounding the lacunae was observed. This was associated with reduced (nearly 40%) mineral to matrix ratio determined by Raman microspectroscopy. These localized changes in elastic modulus and bone mineral to matrix ratio were not observed in the other three experimental groups. Conclusions: Based on these results, it seems that GCs may have direct effects on osteocytes, resulting in a modification of their microenvironment. These changes, including an enlargement of their lacunar space and the generation of a surrounding sphere of hypomineralized bone, seem to produce highly localized changes in bone material properties that may influence fracture risk.

Aging reduces the number of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the bone marrow which leads to impairment of osteogenesis. However, if MSCs could be directed toward osteogenic differentiation, they could be a viable therapeutic option for bone regeneration. We have developed a method to direct the MSCs to the bone surface by attaching a synthetic high affinity and specific peptidomimetic ligand (LLP2A) against integrin α4β1 on the MSC surface, to a bisphosphonate (alendronate, Ale) that has high affinity for bone. LLP2A-Ale increased MSCs migration and osteogenic differentiation in vitro. A single intravenous injection of LLP2A-Ale increased trabecular bone formation and bone mass in both xenotransplantation and immune competent mice. Additionally, LLP2A-Ale prevented trabecular bone loss after peak bone acquisition was achieved or following estrogen deficiency. These results provide a proof of principle that LLP2A-Ale can direct MSCs to the bone to form new bone and increase bone strength.

Human facial diversity is substantial, complex, and largely scientifically unexplained. We used spatially dense quasi-landmarks to measure face shape in population samples with mixed West African and European ancestry from three locations (United States, Brazil, and Cape Verde). Using bootstrapped response-based imputation modeling (BRIM), we uncover the relationships between facial variation and the effects of sex, genomic ancestry, and a subset of craniofacial candidate genes. The facial effects of these variables are summarized as response-based imputed predictor (RIP) variables, which are validated using self-reported sex, genomic ancestry, and observer-based facial ratings (femininity and proportional ancestry) and judgments (sex and population group). By jointly modeling sex, genomic ancestry, and genotype, the independent effects of particular alleles on facial features can be uncovered. Results on a set of 20 genes showing significant effects on facial features provide support for this approach as a novel means to identify genes affecting normal-range facial features and for approximating the appearance of a face from genetic markers.

Quantitative assessment of the strength and toughness of bone has become an integral part of many biological and bioengineering studies on the structural properties of bone and their degradation due to aging, disease and therapeutic treatment. Whereas the biomechanical techniques for characterizing bone strength are well documented, few studies have focused on the theory, methodology, and various experimental procedures for evaluating the fracture toughness of bone, i.e., its resistance to fracture, with particular reference to whole bone testing in small animal studies. In this tutorial, we consider the many techniques for evaluating toughness and assess their specific relevance and application to the mechanical testing of small animal bones. Parallel experimental studies on wild-type rat and mouse femurs are used to evaluate the utility of these techniques and specifically to determine the coefficient of variation of the measured toughness values.

Objective. Glucocorticoid (GC) excess induces alterations in bone metabolism that weaken bone structure and increase fracture risk. The aim of this study was to identify genes associated with bone metabolism in GC-treated mice, by performing a microarray analysis.Methods. Long bones from mice exposed to GC excess were collected after 0, 7, 28, and 56 days of treatment, to measure bone microarchitecture and extract RNA for microarray analyses.Results. Bone loss in this animal model was confirmed by changes in bone turnover markers as well as bone architecture, as measured by microfocal computed tomography. GC excess induced an early upregulation of genes involved in osteoclast activation, function, and adipogenesis, which peaked on day 7. The expression of genes associated with osteoclast cytoskeletal reorganization and genes associated with matrix degradation peaked on day 28. On day 28 and day 56, the expression of genes associated with osteoblast activation and maturation was decreased from baseline, while the expression of Wnt antagonists was increased. In addition, the expression of genes expressed in osteocytes associated with bone mineralization was significantly higher at the later time points, day 28 and day 56. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction confirmed the results of microarray analysis in selected genes.Conclusion. GC excess is associated with early activation of genes associated with osteoclastogenesis and adipogenesis and a later suppression of genes associated with osteogenesis and mineralization. Novel interventions with agents that modulate either Wnt signaling or mineralization may be effective in GCinduced osteoporosis.Glucocorticoids (GCs) are frequently prescribed for the treatment of many chronic noninfectious inflammatory disorders, including arthritis, pulmonary diseases, and skin diseases. Although GCs are potent antiinflammatory agents, long-term use results in several adverse side effects, the most common of which is bone loss, which increases the risk of fracture throughout the skeleton (1). Patients treated with GCs have been reported to have an early, rapid increase in bone resorption accompanied by a prolonged reduction in bone formation (2).The influence of GCs on bone resorption was thought to be indirect and related in part to reduced calcium absorption and increased renal calcium excretion (3). However, recent studies have shown that GCs act directly on osteoclasts to decrease apoptosis of