Authors
Ariana Dela Cruz, Marc D. Grynpas, Jane Mitchell
Abstract
Intermittent parathyroid hormone (iPTH) treatment and mechanical loading are osteoanabolic stimuli that are partially mediated through actions on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCR signaling can be altered by heterotrimeric G protein Gα subunits levels, which can therefore lead to altered responses to such stimuli. Previous studies have suggested that enhanced signaling through the Gαq/11 pathway inhibits the osteoanabolic actions of PTH. The influence of Gαq/11 signaling on mechanotransduction, however, has not been reported in vivo. Using transgenic mice that specifically overexpress Gα11 in osteoblast lineage cells (G11-Tg mice), we investigated the skeletal effects of elevated Gα11 levels on iPTH and mechanical loading by treadmill exercise. Both regimens increased trabecular and cortical bone in Wild-Type (WT) mice as a result of increased bone formation. In G11-Tg mice, there was no change in trabecular or cortical bone and no increase in bone formation in response to iPTH or exercise. While exercise reduced osteoclast parameters in WT mice, these changes were diminished in G11-Tg mice as expression of M-csf and Trap remained increased. Collectively, our results suggest that osteoblastic upregulation of Gα11 is inhibitory to osteoanabolic actions of both PTH and exercise, and that its suppression may be a promising target for treating bone loss.