Go to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • By specialty
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Immunology
    • Metabolism
    • Nephrology
    • Oncology
    • Pulmonology
    • All ...
  • Videos
  • Collections
    • In-Press Preview
    • Resource and Technical Advances
    • Clinical Research and Public Health
    • Research Letters
    • Editorials
    • Perspectives
    • Physician-Scientist Development
    • Reviews
    • Top read articles

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Specialties
  • In-Press Preview
  • Resource and Technical Advances
  • Clinical Research and Public Health
  • Research Letters
  • Editorials
  • Perspectives
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Reviews
  • Top read articles
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
Vitamin D–regulated osteocytic sclerostin and BMP2 modulate uremic extraskeletal calcification
Loan Nguyen-Yamamoto, Ken-Ichiro Tanaka, Rene St–Arnaud, David Goltzman
Loan Nguyen-Yamamoto, Ken-Ichiro Tanaka, Rene St–Arnaud, David Goltzman
View: Text | PDF
Research Article Bone biology Nephrology

Vitamin D–regulated osteocytic sclerostin and BMP2 modulate uremic extraskeletal calcification

  • Text
  • PDF
Abstract

We induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) with adenine in WT mice, mice with osteocyte-specific deletion of Cyp27b1, encoding the 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1(OH)ase [Oct-1(OH)ase–/–], and mice with global deletion of Cyp27b1 [global-1α(OH)ase–/–]; we then compared extraskeletal calcification. After adenine treatment, mice displayed increased blood urea nitrogen, decreased serum 1,25(OH)2D, and severe hyperparathyroidism. Skeletal expression of Cyp27b1 and of sclerostin and serum sclerostin all increased in WT mice but not in Oct-1α(OH)ase–/– mice or global-1α(OH)ase–/– mice. In contrast, skeletal expression of BMP2 and serum BMP2 rose in the Oct-1α(OH)ase–/– mice and in the global-1α(OH)ase–/– mice. Extraskeletal calcification occurred in muscle and blood vessels of mice with CKD and was highest in Oct-1α(OH)ase–/–mice. In vitro, recombinant sclerostin (100 ng/mL) significantly suppressed BMP2-induced osteoblastic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle A7r5 cells and diminished BMP2-induced mineralization. Our study provides evidence that local osteocytic production of 1,25(OH)2D stimulates sclerostin and inhibits BMP2 production in murine CKD, thus mitigating osteoblastic transdifferentiation and mineralization of soft tissues. Increased osteocytic 1,25(OH)2D production, triggered by renal malfunction, may represent a “primary defensive response” to protect the organism from ectopic calcification by increasing sclerostin and suppressing BMP2 production.

Authors

Loan Nguyen-Yamamoto, Ken-Ichiro Tanaka, Rene St–Arnaud, David Goltzman

×

Figure 4

Bone BMP2 expression by RT-PCR and serum BMP2 levels.

Options: View larger image (or click on image) Download as PowerPoint
Bone BMP2 expression by RT-PCR and serum BMP2 levels.
BMP2 mRNA expressi...
BMP2 mRNA expression in bone (A). Total RNA was extracted from bone marrow–flushed femurs 13 weeks of age and mRNA levels of BMP2 were determined by RT-PCR. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM, of 3–6 determinations normalized to Gapdh mRNA. ◊◊◊◊P ≤ 0.0001, ◊P ≤ 0.05 compared with WT mice not treated with adenine or to mice of the same genotype on a non-adenine–containing diet *P ≤ 0.05, determined by ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustment. Serum BMP2 levels at 13 weeks of age in mice of the indicated genotype (B). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM, (n = 3–6 mice of each genotype) compared with mice of the same genotype on a non-adenine–containing diet *P ≤ 0.01 or compared to Wt mice ◊◊◊◊P ≤ 0.0001, ◊P ≤ 0.05 by ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustment

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN 2379-3708

Sign up for email alerts