Vitamin E decreases bone mass by stimulating osteoclast fusion

K Fujita, M Iwasaki, H Ochi, T Fukuda, C Ma… - Nature medicine, 2012 - nature.com
K Fujita, M Iwasaki, H Ochi, T Fukuda, C Ma, T Miyamoto, K Takitani, T Negishi-Koga…
Nature medicine, 2012nature.com
Bone homeostasis is maintained by the balance between osteoblastic bone formation and
osteoclastic bone resorption,,. Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that are formed by
mononuclear preosteoclast fusion,,,. Fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D are pivotal in
maintaining skeletal integrity. However, the role of vitamin E in bone remodeling is unknown.
Here, we show that mice deficient in α-tocopherol transfer protein (Ttpa−/− mice), a mouse
model of genetic vitamin E deficiency, have high bone mass as a result of a decrease in …
Abstract
Bone homeostasis is maintained by the balance between osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption,,. Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that are formed by mononuclear preosteoclast fusion,,,. Fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D are pivotal in maintaining skeletal integrity. However, the role of vitamin E in bone remodeling is unknown. Here, we show that mice deficient in α-tocopherol transfer protein (Ttpa−/− mice), a mouse model of genetic vitamin E deficiency, have high bone mass as a result of a decrease in bone resorption. Cell-based assays indicated that α-tocopherol stimulated osteoclast fusion, independent of its antioxidant capacity, by inducing the expression of dendritic-cell–specific transmembrane protein, an essential molecule for osteoclast fusion, through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (p38) and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, as well as its direct recruitment to the Tm7sf4 (a gene encoding DC-STAMP) promoter,,. Indeed, the bone abnormality seen in Ttpa−/− mice was rescued by a Tm7sf4 transgene. Moreover, wild-type mice or rats fed an α-tocopherol–supplemented diet, which contains a comparable amount of α-tocopherol to supplements consumed by many people, lost bone mass. These results show that serum vitamin E is a determinant of bone mass through its regulation of osteoclast fusion.
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