Bone defects, including
bone loss due to increased osteoclast activity,
have become a global health-related issue. Osteoclasts attach to the
bone matrix and resorb the same, playing a vital role in bone remodeling.
Ca
2+
homeostasis plays a pivotal role in the differentiation
and maturation of osteoclasts. In this work, we examined the role
of TRPV1, a nonselective cation channel, in osteoclast function and
differentiation. We demonstrate that endogenous TRPV1 is functional
and causes Ca
2+
influx upon activation with pharmacological
activators [resiniferatoxin (RTX) and capsaicin] at nanomolar concentration,
which enhances the generation of osteoclasts, whereas the TRPV1 inhibitor
(5′-IRTX) reduces osteoclast differentiation. Activation of
TRPV1 upregulates tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity and
the expression of cathepsin K and calcitonin receptor genes, whereas
TRPV1 inhibition reverses this effect. The slow release of capsaicin
or RTX at a nanomolar concentration from a polysaccharide-based hydrogel
enhances bone marrow macrophage (BMM) differentiation into osteoclasts
whereas release of 5′-IRTX, an inhibitor of TRPV1, prevents
macrophage fusion and osteoclast formation. We also characterize several
subcellular parameters, including reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen
(RNS) species in the cytosol, mitochondrial, and lysosomal profiles
in BMMs. ROS were found to be unaltered upon TRPV1 modulation. NO,
however, had elevated levels upon RTX-mediated TRPV1 activation. Capsaicin
altered mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) of BMMs
but not 5′-IRTX. Channel modulation had no significant impact
on cytosolic pH but significantly altered the pH of lysosomes, making
these organelles less acidic. Since BMMs are precursors for osteoclasts,
our findings of the cellular physiology of these cells may have broad
implications in understanding the role of thermosensitive ion channels
in bone formation and functions, and the TRPV1 modulator-releasing
hydrogel may have application in bone tissue engineering and other
biomedical sectors.