Targeting cellular senescence prevents age-related bone loss in mice

Nat Med. 2017 Sep;23(9):1072-1079. doi: 10.1038/nm.4385. Epub 2017 Aug 21.

Abstract

Aging is associated with increased cellular senescence, which is hypothesized to drive the eventual development of multiple comorbidities. Here we investigate a role for senescent cells in age-related bone loss through multiple approaches. In particular, we used either genetic (i.e., the INK-ATTAC 'suicide' transgene encoding an inducible caspase 8 expressed specifically in senescent cells) or pharmacological (i.e., 'senolytic' compounds) means to eliminate senescent cells. We also inhibited the production of the proinflammatory secretome of senescent cells using a JAK inhibitor (JAKi). In aged (20- to 22-month-old) mice with established bone loss, activation of the INK-ATTAC caspase 8 in senescent cells or treatment with senolytics or the JAKi for 2-4 months resulted in higher bone mass and strength and better bone microarchitecture than in vehicle-treated mice. The beneficial effects of targeting senescent cells were due to lower bone resorption with either maintained (trabecular) or higher (cortical) bone formation as compared to vehicle-treated mice. In vitro studies demonstrated that senescent-cell conditioned medium impaired osteoblast mineralization and enhanced osteoclast-progenitor survival, leading to increased osteoclastogenesis. Collectively, these data establish a causal role for senescent cells in bone loss with aging, and demonstrate that targeting these cells has both anti-resorptive and anabolic effects on bone. Given that eliminating senescent cells and/or inhibiting their proinflammatory secretome also improves cardiovascular function, enhances insulin sensitivity, and reduces frailty, targeting this fundamental mechanism to prevent age-related bone loss suggests a novel treatment strategy not only for osteoporosis, but also for multiple age-related comorbidities.

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Bone and Bones / drug effects*
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Cancellous Bone / drug effects
  • Cancellous Bone / metabolism
  • Caspase 8 / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cellular Senescence / drug effects*
  • Cellular Senescence / genetics
  • Cortical Bone / drug effects
  • Cortical Bone / metabolism
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Janus Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nitriles
  • Osteoblasts / cytology
  • Osteoblasts / drug effects*
  • Osteoclasts / cytology
  • Osteoclasts / drug effects*
  • Osteocytes / drug effects*
  • Osteoporosis / genetics
  • Osteoporosis / metabolism*
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Weight-Bearing
  • beta-Galactosidase

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Nitriles
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • ruxolitinib
  • Janus Kinases
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • Casp8 protein, mouse
  • Caspase 8