Inactivation of Regulatory-associated Protein of mTOR (Raptor)/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) Signaling in Osteoclasts Increases Bone Mass by Inhibiting Osteoclast Differentiation in Mice

Abstract

Edited by Xiao-Fan WangMammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is involved in anabolic metabolism in both osteoblasts and chondrocytes, but the role of mTORC1 in osteoclast biology in vivo remains to be elucidated. In this study, we showed that deletion of regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (Raptor) in osteoclasts led to an increase in bone mass with decreased bone resorption. Raptordeficient bone marrow-derived macrophages exhibited lower mTORC1-S6K1 signaling and retarded osteoclast differentiation, as determined by the number of osteoclasts, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity, and expression of osteoclast-specific genes. Enforced expression of constitutively active S6K1 rescued the impaired osteoclast differentiation in Raptor-deficient bone marrow-derived macrophages. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 signaling by rapamycin could also inhibit osteoclast differentiation and osteoclast-specific gene expression. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that mTORC1 plays a key role in the network of catabolic bone resorption in osteoclasts and may serve as a potential pharmacological target for the regulation of osteoclast activity in bone metabolic disorders.Bone is a rigid yet metabolically active organ that is molded, shaped, and repaired continuously (1). After bone is formed, bone undergoes a process known as remodeling by which bone is turned over throughout life (2). Bone remodeling acts as the predominant metabolic regulator of both the physical structure and physiological function of bone. Remodeling is a complex process involving osteoclasts, which are responsible for removing old mineralized matrix, and osteoblasts, which synthesize and secrete new bone matrix (1, 3). An imbalance in bone remodeling can induce perturbation of bone structure and function and potentially result in disease (1). In adults, most bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontal disease, are the result of bone loss secondary to excess osteoclast activity (4). Prevention and treatment of these pathological disorders highlight the study of the underlying mechanisms by which osteoclasts differentiate from their precursors.Osteoclasts are tissue-specific giant multinucleated cells that differentiate from monocyte/macrophage precursor cells at or near the bone surface (1). It is known that the differentiation of osteoclasts is under the control of two important cytokines, receptor activator of nuclear factor B ligand (RANKL) 5 and M-CSF (3). RANKL and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) may activate a set of signaling pathways, including AKT and NF-B, that promote the differentiation, multinucleation, activation, and survival of osteoclasts (5). However, the * This work was supported in part by grants from the 973 Program from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (2014CB964704 and 2015CB964503), the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai (124119b0101), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31371463, 81371121, and 81570950), Shan...

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