Antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-2 is essential for the anabolic activity of parathyroid hormone in bone

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010 Mar:1192:330-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05209.x.

Abstract

The antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis by preventing cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Although several studies have indicated the importance of Bcl-2 in maintaining skeletal integrity, the detailed cellular and molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Since Bcl-2(-/-) mice die before six weeks of age on account of renal failure and cannot be compared to adult wild-type mice, we generated Bcl-2(-/-)Bim(+/-) mice, in which a single Bim allele was inactivated, and compared them with their Bcl-2(+/-)Bim(+/-) littermates. Bcl-2(-/-)Bim(+/-) mice grew normally, but exhibited decreased bone mass compared to Bcl-2(+/-)Bim(+/-) mice, mainly due to impaired osteoblast function. Interestingly, the anabolic effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) was not observed in Bcl-2(-/-)Bim(+/-) mice. This data demonstrates that Bcl-2 is indispensable for the anabolic activity of PTH in bone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anabolic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / physiology
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Bone Resorption / genetics
  • Bone and Bones / drug effects*
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism*
  • Calcification, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Calcification, Physiologic / genetics
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / physiology
  • Metabolism / drug effects
  • Metabolism / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects
  • Osteogenesis / genetics
  • Parathyroid Hormone / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / physiology*

Substances

  • Anabolic Agents
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Bcl2l11 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2