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The regulation of sclerostin by cathepsin K in periodontal ligament cells.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Whitty, Ciara 
Wardale, R John 
Henson, Frances MD 

Abstract

Sclerostin is a clinically important protein with key functions in the musculoskeletal system playing a key role in bone formation and remodelling. Whilst a wide range of mechanisms have been identified which regulate sclerostin expression, little is known about the degradation of the protein. The aim of this study was to identify enzymes capable of degrading sclerostin in peridontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts cells in vitro and to investigate the functionality of these enzymes. We have demonstrated that cathepsin K cleaves sclerostin in vitro in PDL. We have shown that cathepsin K and sclerostin are co-localised in PDL cells and, using cathepsin K knockdown experiments, we have shown that cathepsin K actively controls sclerostin levels in these cells, through a lysosomal mechanism that is affected by hypoxia. These results are the first description of the degradative control of sclerostin in musculoskeletally derived cells in vitro and suggest that degradation of the protein may well play an important role in the control of bone formation and remodelling.

Description

Keywords

Cathepsin K, Hypoxia, Lysosome, Sclerostin, Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins, Cathepsin K, Cell Hypoxia, Cell Line, Fibroblasts, Genetic Markers, Humans, Osteogenesis, Periodontal Ligament, Proteolysis

Journal Title

Biochem Biophys Res Commun

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0006-291X
1090-2104

Volume Title

503

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Insall Foundation