Runx1 Control of Bone Resorption during Fracture Repair

University Of Connecticut Sch Of Med/Dnt, Farmington CT

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We generated preliminary evidence showing that the number of osteoclasts in the fracture calluses of mice haploinsufficient for Runx1 is increased compared to wild type littermates. Furthermore, we found that targeted deletion of Runx1 in osteoclast precursors led to 25-30% decrease in trabecular bone mass and a 40-50% increase in bone resorption. Finally, we determined that Runx1 inhibits the expression of osteoclast specific genes in vitro. Thus, we hypothesized that Runx1 inhibits myeloid precursor cell differentiation into mature osteoclasts and in this way alters skeletal homeostasis and repair. We propose to: 1. Evaluate the role of Runx1 in regulating osteoclasts during bone remodeling and fracture repair. (Aim 1). We propose to determine whether: (i) Runx1 is a transcriptional repressor of osteoclast differentiation and function in vivo and (ii) if conditional deletion of Rux1 in precursors but not mature osteoclasts will impair fracture healing. 2. Define the mechanisms underlying Runx1-mediated inhibition of osteoclastogenesis. (Aim 2). We propose to determine whether (i) Runx1 is critical for early but not late osteoclast differentiation; (ii) examine if Rux1-mediated inhibition of osteoclastogenesis depends on inhibition of RANK-signaling; (iii) Runx1 alters osteoclast precursor lineage commitment and differentiation by regulating critical genes; (iv) Runx1 regulates myeloid precursor commitment towards various lineage fates. Our proposed experiments will provide a novel and integrated mechanistic insight into the transcriptional repression of osteoclast differentiation during skeletal regeneration and repair.