Colony stimulating factor 1 (Csf1) is an essential growth factor for osteoclast progenitors and an important regulator for bone resorption. It remains elusive which mesenchymal cells synthesize Csf1 to stimulate osteoclastogenesis. We recently identified a novel mesenchymal cell population, marrow adipogenic lineage precursors (MALPs), in bone. Compared to other mesenchymal subpopulations, MALPs expressed Csf1 at a much higher level and this expression was further increased during aging. To investigate its role, we constructed MALP-deficient Csf1 CKO mice using AdipoqCre. These mice had increased femoral trabecular bone mass, but their cortical bone appeared normal. In comparison, depletion of Csf1 in the entire mesenchymal lineage using Prrx1Cre led to a more striking high bone mass phenotype, suggesting that additional mesenchymal subpopulations secrete Csf1. TRAP staining revealed diminished osteoclasts in the femoral secondary spongiosa region of Csf1 CKOAdipoq mice, but not at the chondral-osseous junction nor at the endosteal surface of cortical bone. Moreover, Csf1 CKOAdipoq mice were resistant to LPS-induced calvarial osteolysis. Bone marrow cellularity, hematopoietic progenitors, and macrophages were also reduced in these mice. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that MALPs synthesize Csf1 to control bone remodeling and hematopoiesis.
Pre-aligned scRNA-seq matrix files were acquired from previously published dataset GEO GSE145477 and snRNA-seq matrix files were from GSE176171 (mouse), human scRNA-seq matrix files were acquired from EMBL-EBI E-MTAB-9139 (human).All data are available as source data files with submission.
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Animal experimentation: All animal work performed in this report was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at the University of Pennsylvania under Protocol 806887. University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR) of the University of Pennsylvania is responsible for the procurement, care, and use of all university-owned animals as approved by IACUC. Animal facilities in the University of Pennsylvania meet federal, state, and local guidelines for laboratory animal care and are accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International.
© 2023, Zhong et al.
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