Mechanical loading of the skeleton is a powerful stimulus for new bone formation (osteogenesis). Bone formation in many contexts (e.g., development, fracture healing) depends critically on the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), yet the role of angiogenesis in supporting mechanical loading-induced osteogenesis is not known. Deficits in vascularity due to aging and diabetes may compromise the skeletal response to mechanical stimuli and thus may contribute to osteoporotic fracture risk. Using the rat forelimb loading model, we recently quantified a rapid increase in vascularity after damaging fatigue loading of bone, prior to woven bone formation. We also quantified the upregulation of angiogenic genes (e.g., VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor) and the osteoinductive gene BMP-2 (bone morphogenetic protein-2) within 1 hr after fatigue loading, with the unexpected finding that BMP-2 expression occurred first in vascular cells then in bone cells. Functionally, woven bone formation occurred in proportion to the level of fatigue damage and whole-bone strength was restored two weeks after loading - regardless of the level of initial damage. Notably, angiogenic inhibition markedly reduced the woven bone response after fatigue loading. A fundamental unknown remains - what are the biological factors that cause woven bone formation after fatigue loading versus lamellar bone formation after anabolic loading? In the next project period we will use the in vivo loading model of forelimb compression (in rats and mice) as we work toward the long term goal of determining the mechano-biological pathways that lead to rapid non-endochondral bone formation after mechanical loading.
In Aim 1, we will compare molecular, vascular and bone formation responses to fatigue loading versus anabolic loading, and determine the role of developmental osteogenesis (in particular Hedgehog signaling) and angiogenesis in loading-induced woven and lamellar bone formation.
In Aim 2, we will determine if BMP signaling (and in particular endothelial BMP-2) is required for loading-induced osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Taken together, these studies will establish important mechano-biological factors that mediate the distinct processes of lamellar versus woven bone formation and clarify the role of angiogenesis. They will extend our understanding of the osteogenic response to skeletal stress injuries (fatigue fractures) and may serve as a basis for future development of strategies for rapid bone formation to augment weak or damaged bones.

Public Health Relevance

The skeleton is regulated in part by mechanical forces. The goal of this project is to understand the biological pathways that control bone formation following mechanical stimulation. This information may lead to future strategies to increase bone mass and reduce skeletal fragility.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AR050211-05A2
Application #
7590184
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MOSS-L (04))
Program Officer
Sharrock, William J
Project Start
2003-07-25
Project End
2014-05-31
Budget Start
2009-06-10
Budget End
2010-05-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$342,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Orthopedics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Shi, Yu; He, Guangxu; Lee, Wen-Chih et al. (2017) Gli1 identifies osteogenic progenitors for bone formation and fracture repair. Nat Commun 8:2043
McKenzie, Jennifer A; Buettmann, Evan; Abraham, Adam C et al. (2017) Loss of scleraxis in mice leads to geometric and structural changes in cortical bone, as well as asymmetry in fracture healing. FASEB J 31:882-892
McBride-Gagyi, Sarah Howe; McKenzie, Jennifer A; Buettmann, Evan G et al. (2015) Bmp2 conditional knockout in osteoblasts and endothelial cells does not impair bone formation after injury or mechanical loading in adult mice. Bone 81:533-543
Tomlinson, Ryan E; Silva, Matthew J (2015) HIF-1? regulates bone formation after osteogenic mechanical loading. Bone 73:98-104
Izawa, Takashi; Rohatgi, Nidhi; Fukunaga, Tomohiro et al. (2015) ASXL2 Regulates Glucose, Lipid, and Skeletal Homeostasis. Cell Rep 11:1625-37
Kazmers, Nikolas H; McKenzie, Jennifer A; Shen, Tony S et al. (2015) Hedgehog signaling mediates woven bone formation and vascularization during stress fracture healing. Bone 81:524-532
Tomlinson, Ryan E; Shoghi, Kooresh I; Silva, Matthew J (2014) Nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation increases blood flow during the early stages of stress fracture healing. J Appl Physiol (1985) 116:416-24
Tomlinson, Ryan E; Schmieder, Anne H; Quirk, James D et al. (2014) Antagonizing the ?v ?3 integrin inhibits angiogenesis and impairs woven but not lamellar bone formation induced by mechanical loading. J Bone Miner Res 29:1970-80
McBride, Sarah H; McKenzie, Jennifer A; Bedrick, Bronwyn S et al. (2014) Long bone structure and strength depend on BMP2 from osteoblasts and osteocytes, but not vascular endothelial cells. PLoS One 9:e96862
Tomlinson, Ryan E; McKenzie, Jennifer A; Schmieder, Anne H et al. (2013) Angiogenesis is required for stress fracture healing in rats. Bone 52:212-9

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