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Journal of Molecular Endocrinology (2005) 34 257-261    DOI: 10.1677/jme.1.01652
© 2005 Society for Endocrinology

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Osteoclast-like cells express receptor activity modifying protein 2: application of laser capture microdissection

M Nakamura1, S Morimoto2, Q Yang1,4, T Hisamatsu1, N Hanai3, Y Nakamura1, I Mori1 and K Kakudo1

1 Second Department of Pathology, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-0012, Japan
2 Department of Geriatric Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 1-1, Ishikawa, Ishikawa, 920-0290, Japan
3 Department of Pediatrics, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera 811-1, Wakayama City, Wakayama, 641-0012, Japan
4 The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA

(Requests for offprints should be addressed to M Nakamura; Email: marumisa{at}wakayama-med.ac.jp)


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results and discussion
 References
 
Receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPs) act as receptor modulators that determine the ligand specificity of receptors for the calcitonin (CT) family. The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression of RAMPs in osteoclast-like cells using the laser capture microdissection (LCM) technique. Mouse bone marrow and spleen cells were co-cultured on a film designed for LCM. After 10 days, 250 osteoclast-like cells were captured using the LCM system. Total RNA from these cells was used to synthesize cDNA and RT-PCR analysis was performed. Osteoclast-like cells expressed CT receptor (CTR), CT receptor-like receptor (CRLR) and RAMP2, but did not express RAMP1 or RAMP3. These results indicated (1) that a pure population of osteoclast-like cells can be prepared by LCM and gene expression of this population can be analyzed by RT-PCR and (2) that RT-PCR shows that osteoclast-like cells express RAMP2, CTR and CRLR, suggesting the potential for adrenomedullin binding to osteoclast-like cells. This is the first report that osteoclast-like cells express RAMP2.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results and discussion
 References
 
The calcitonin (CT) family of peptides comprises five known members: CT, amylin (AMY), two CT gene-related peptides (CGRP1 and CGRP2) and adrenomedullin (ADM). Receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPs) comprise a family of accessory proteins for G protein-coupled receptors, three of which act as receptor modulators that determine the ligand specificity of receptors for CT family members. CT receptor-like receptor (CRLR) has been shown to form a high affinity receptor for CGRP, when associated with RAMP1, or, when associated with RAMP2 or RAMP3, to specifically bind ADM (McLatchie et al. 1998, Sexton et al. 2001). RAMPs are type I transmembrane proteins that share ~30% amino acid identity and a common predicted topology, with short cytoplasmic C termini, one trans-membrane domain and large extracellular N termini that are responsible for the specificity (McLatchie et al. 1998, Fraser et al. 1999). More recently, CT receptor (CTR) was demonstrated to form heterodimeric complexes with RAMP. CTR/RAMP1 and CTR/RAMP3 heterodimers exhibited the pharmacological profiles of receptors specific for AMY (Christopoulos et al. 1999, Muff et al. 1999, Sexton et al. 2001).

There is significant interest in analyzing gene expression of distinct cell populations. Heterogeneous populations of cells within tissues of various types possess correspondingly different patterns of gene expression, and these cell types must be separated from one another for accurate assessment of gene expression. Tong et al.(1994) has reported that a microisolation system using a micromanupilator tool was applied for mRNA phenotyping of a blood cell lineage. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is a particularly useful tool for recovering small cell samples and even enables the collection of individual cells from tissue sections (Emmert-Buck et al. 1996). This method facilitates the separation of histologically distinct cells so that proteins, DNA or RNA from these cells can be analyzed in isolation from the surrounding cells (Bonner et al. 1997). Osteoclasts act centrally in the remodeling of bone in normal and diseased states. Nonetheless, because of their low numbers within bone, cell culture model systems have been increasingly used to investigate the biochemical functions of osteoclasts (Udagawa et al.1989, Nakamura et al. 1998). However, because of their heterogeneity and adherence to the plate in such systems, there has been difficulty and controversy in analyzing these cell types. Thus, a more sensitive isolation method for osteoclasts is needed.

To address this problem, we used LCM techniques to isolate a pure population of osteoclast-like cells. We then analyzed RAMP gene expression in microdissected osteoclast-like cells using RT-PCR.


    Materials and methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results and discussion
 References
 
An in vitro osteoclast model

Osteoclast differentiation in vitro was induced using the technique described by Udagawa et al.(1989). Both bone marrow cells and spleen cells were obtained from 10-to 14-week-old male C57BL/6 mice (Charles River, Sagamihara, Japan). The bone marrow cells were collected from tibiae and femora. Splenic tissue was cut with scissors and dispersed by pipetting, then the spleen cells were collected by centrifugation at 1000 r.p.m. for 5 min at 4 °C. Bone marrow cells were co-cultured with spleen cells (2 x 106 cells/ml for each cell type) on a film produced for use in LCM (Matsunami Glass Co., Osaka, Japan) for 10 days at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2. Cultures were fed with {alpha}-modified Eagle’s medium supplemented with penicillin and streptomycin, 10% fetal calf serum (Hyclone, Logan, UT, USA) and 10–8 M 1,25(OH)2 D3 (Calbiochem-Novabiochem Co., San Diego, CA, USA). Multinucleated osteoclast-like cells were then isolated using LCM. All the animal experimental procedures were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Wakayama Medical University (Wakayama, Japan).

LCM of samples

Before LCM, cells were fixed in ethanol for 1 min and stained for 3 min with filtered hematoxylin. They were then washed with sterilized water and air-dried for 10 min. LCM of cultured osteoclast-like cells was performed using the Application Solutions Laser Micro-dissection System (Leica Microsystems Co., Tokyo, Japan) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

RNA isolation

Total RNA was extracted from 250 LCM-captured cells and 250 spleen cells. The spleen cells used for RNA extraction were from an aliquot of those prepared for the co-culture system. Total RNA extraction was performed using TRIzol LS Reagent (Invitrogen Life Technologies Co., Carlsbad, CA, USA) as described by the manufacturer. Briefly, 170 µl TRIzol reagent was added to a tube containing LCM cells and this was incubated for 5 min at room temperature. Forty microliters of chloroform were then added and the tube was incubated at room temperature for a further 15 min. The samples were then centrifuged at 12 000 g for 15 min. The aqueous phase was transferred to a new tube and isopropyl alcohol was added followed by centrifugation at 12 000 g for 10 min. The RNA precipitate was washed with 70% ethanol and dissolved in 20 µl sterilized water.

RT-PCR

The SUPERSCRIP One-Step RT-PCR with PLATINUM Taq (Invitrogen Life Technologies Co.) was used to synthesize cDNA and PCR was performed as described by the manufacturer. The nucleic acid sequences of primers used for RT-PCR are shown in Table 1Go. RT-PCR reactions were initially performed in a 25 µl reaction volume containing 1 µl of each primer (at 100 ng/µl) and 3 µl RNA as template. The reactions were run at 55 °C for 30 min (cDNA synthesis) and 94 °C for 2 min (predenaturation), followed by 45 cycles of 94 °C for 30 s (denaturation), 53 °C for 30 s (annealing) and 72 °C for 30 s (extension), followed by 7 min at 72 °C (final extension). To increase the detection capacity, we performed a second round of PCR. The second-round PCR reactions were carried out using Taq polymerase (Perkin-Elmer-Cetus, Norwalk, CT, USA) with 8 µl RT-PCR products as template (final 25 µl reaction mixture) under the following conditions: 35 cycles of 95 °C for 30 s, 55 °C for 30 s and 72 °C for 30 s. In the second-round PCR, CTR was amplified using 2nd sense and anti-sense primers (Table 1Go). The primers of CRLR, RAMP1, 2, 3, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and ß-actin for the second-round PCR were the same primers as those used in the initial RT-PCR. The samples were electrophoresed in 3% agarose gels and stained with ethidium bromide.


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Table 1 Oligonucleotide sequences used for PCR
 

    Results and discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results and discussion
 References
 
We have developed a rapid and precise method for the isolation of pure populations of osteoclast-like cells using LCM. Figure 1Go illustrates two osteoclast-like cells before and after LCM. Two hundred and fifty cells with > three nuclei each were isolated. Total RNA was extracted and RT-PCR was used to analyze multiple gene expressions. Figure 2Go shows the RT-PCR results for CTR, RAMP1, 2 and 3, CRLR and ß-actin. The predicted sizes were clearly visualized by ethidium bromide staining. RT-PCR results showed that the ubiquitous gene, ß-actin, was amplified from both spleen and osteoclast-like cells, whereas CTR mRNA was amplified from osteoclast-like cells alone. RAMP1 and RAMP3 mRNAs were amplified from spleen cells alone. RAMP2 and CRLR mRNAs were amplified from both types of cells.



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Figure 1 Osteoclast-like cells were isolated by using LCM. Two osteoclast-like cells (A) before and (B) after microdissection are shown. Stained by hematoxylin; bar denotes 50 µm.

 


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Figure 2 mRNA expression of various genes in spleen and osteoclast-like cells. Total RNA was extracted from microdissected osteoclast-like cells and spleen cells, RT-PCR was carried out to analyze the gene expression. ß-actin served as the positive control. The products were electrophoresed in 3% agarose gels and stained with ethidium bromide. RAMP1, RAMP2, RAMP3 and CRLR were detected in spleen cells. M.W., molecular weight markers; H2O, H2O as template served as negative control; spleen, using RNA from spleen as template; Oc, using RNA from osteoclast-like cells from LCM as template.

 
In the present study, we were able to isolate a pure population of osteoclast-like cells and detect a series of gene expressions. Two hundred and fifty cells were used for RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. Three microliters of the 20 µl cDNA solution was successful for each gene amplification. Approximately 40 cells were therefore used for RT-PCR analysis. Naot et al.(2001) have reported that osteoclastic cells such as primary osteoblasts and UMR 106-06 cells expressed all three types of RAMP analyzed using RT-PCR. A very high expression of mRNA for RAMP2 was detected in those cells, compared with those for RAMP1 and RAMP3. Previous studies showed that osteoblast but not osteoclast cells express ALP (Tong et al. 1994). To exclude the possibility of osteoblast contamination, we investigated ALP mRNA expression in the microdissected osteoclast-like cells. The result showed that no ALP mRNA was detectable (Fig. 3Go), which supported the idea that RAMP2 was amplified from osteoclast-like cells. Thus, LCM is a useful technique for isolation of small cell samples, and our strategy might be extended to other procedures, such as quantitative RT-PCR to measure mRNA levels in the osteoclast. The bone marrow macrophages are the precursors of osteoclasts; it will be interesting to compare gene expression between osteoclasts and bone marrow macrophages. Immunostaining of the Fc receptor, C3 receptor or vitamin D receptor will help to distinguish those cell types in our co-culture system. However, in order to perform RNA analysis after immunostaining, further efforts should be made to modify the conventional staining protocol to protect RNA from degradation.



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Figure 3 RT-PCR analysis of ALP expression. ALP expression was detected in spleen cells but not in osteoclast-like cells. M.W., molecular weight markers; H2O, RT-PCR products using H2O as template; spleen, using RNA from spleen as template; Oc, using RNA from osteoclast-like cells from LCM as template.

 
Our findings that osteoclast-like cells expressed RAMP2 and CRLR as well as CTR provide the first evidence that osteoclasts express RAMP2. These results suggest that osteoclasts may have the ability to bind ADM through the CRLR/RAMP2 heterodimer. ADM is a 52 amino acid peptide first described in a human phaeochromocytoma but subsequently found to be present in many tissues, including the vascular system and bone tissue (Kitamura et al. 1993). Naot et al.(2001) has suggested that ADM is mitogenic to osteoblasts, raising the possiblity that ADM is a local regulator of bone growth; however, the action of ADM or RAMP on the osteoclast is not clear. It has been reported that bone abnormalities were observed in both CTR +/– and AMY +/– mice, thereby ruling out the possibility that AMY uses CTR to inhibit osteoclastogenesis in vivo (Dacquin et al. 2004).

In summary, we have demonstrated that LCM is a useful solution for osteoclast research. We found that osteoclast-like cells expressed mRNAs for CTR, CRLR and RAMP2 but not RAMP1 or RAMP3; RAMP2 may therefore play an important role in osteoclast function. Further study is needed to elucidate the role of RAMP2 and its relationship to the CT family of receptors.


    Acknowledgements
 
We thank Dr Yomekazu Sakamoto (Matsunami Glass Ind., Ltd) and Dr Hirotoshi Utsunomiya (Wakayama Medical University) for their technical advice on the LCM methodology. This research was supported by funding from the Health Sciences Research Grants ‘Comprehensive Research on Aging and Health’ (13030201) from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan. The authors are grateful to Dr Danielle Frikker (The Cancer Institute of New Jersey) for critical review of our manuscript. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that would prejudice the impartiality of this scientific work.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and methods
 Results and discussion
 References
 
Bonner RF, Emmert-Buck MR, Cole K, Pohida T, Chuaqui R, Goldstein S & Liotta L 1997 Laser capture microdissection: molecular analysis of tissue. Science 278 1481–1483.[Free Full Text]

Christopoulos G, Perry KJ, Morfis M, Tilakaratne N, Gao Y, Fraser NJ, Main MJ, Foord SM & Sexton PM 1999 Multiple amylin receptors arise from receptor activity-modifying protein interaction with the calcitonin receptor gene product. Molecular Pharmacology 56 235–242.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Dacquin R, Davey RA, Laplace C, Levasseur R, Morris HA, Goldring SR, Gebre-Medhin S, Galson DL, Zajac JD & Karsenty G 2004 Amylin inhibits bone resorption while the calcitonin receptor controls bone formation in vivo. Journal of Cell Biology 164 509–514.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Emmert-Buck MR, Bonner RF, Smith PD, Chaqui RF, Zhunag Z, Goldstien SR, Weiss RA & Liota L 1996 Laser capture microdissection. Science 274 998–1001.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Flores-Delgado G, Bringas P & Warburton D 1998 Laminin 2 attachment selects myofibroblasts from fetal mouse lung. American Journal of Physiology 275 L622–L630.[Medline]

Fraser NJ, Wise A, Brown J, McLatchie LM, Main MJ & Foord SM 1999 The amino terminus of receptor activity modifying proteins is a critical determinant of glycosylation state and ligand binding of calcitonin receptor-like receptor. Molecular Pharmacology 55 1054–1059.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Inoue D, Shih C, Galson DL, Goldring SR, Horne WC & Baron R 1999 Calcitonin-dependent down-regulation of the mouse C1a calcitonin receptor in cells of the osteoclast lineage involves a transcriptional mechanism. Endocrinology 140 1060–1080.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Kitamura K, Kangawa K, Kawamoto M, Ichiki Y, Nakamura S, Matsuo H & Eto T 1993 Adrenomedullin: a novel hypotensive peptide isolated from human pheochromocytoma. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 192 553–560.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]

McLatchie LM, Fraser NJ, Main MJ, Wise A, Brown J, Thompson N, Solari R, Lee MG & Foord SM 1998 RAMPs regulated the transport and ligand specificity of the calcitonin-receptor-like receptor. Nature 393 333–339.[CrossRef][Medline]

Muff R, Buhlmann N, Fischer JA & Born W 1999 An amylin receptor is revealed following co-transfection of a calcitonin receptor with receptor activity modifying proteins-1 or -3. Endocrinology 140 2924–2927.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Nakamura I, Jimi E, Duong LT, Sasaki T, Takahashi N, Rodan GA & Suda T 1998 Tyrosine phosphorylation of p130 Cas is involved in actin organization in osteoclasts. Journal of Biological Chemistry 273 11144–11149.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Naot D, Callon KE, Grey A, Cooper GJ, Reid IR & Cornish 2001 A potential role for adrenomedullin as a local regulator of bone growth. Endocrinology 142 1849–1857.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Sexton PM, Albiston A, Morfis M & Tilakaratne N 2001 Receptor activity modifying proteins. Cellular Signalling 13 73–83.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]

Tong HS, Sakai DD, Sims SM, Dixon SJ, Yamin M, Goldring SR, Snead ML & Minkin C 1994 Murine osteoclasts and spleen cell polykaryons are distinguished by mRNA phenotyping. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 9 577–584.[Web of Science][Medline]

Udagawa N, Takahashi N, Akatsu T, Sasaki T, Yamaguchi A, Kodama H, Martin TJ & Suda T 1989 The bone marrow-derived stromal cell lines MC3T3- G2/PA6 and ST2 support osteoclast-like cell differentiation in cocultures with mouse spleen cells. Endocrinology 125 1805–1813.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Received 22 October 2004
Accepted 1 November 2004




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