Parathyroid-hormone-related Protein Induces Expression of Receptor Activator of NF-κB Ligand in Human Periodontal Ligament Cells via a cAMP/Protein Kinase A-independent Pathway

Abstract

Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells play important roles in root resorption of human deciduous teeth by odontoclasts (osteoclast-like cells). However, it is unclear how PDL cells regulate osteoclastogenesis. We examined the effects of PTHrP, TGF-β, and EGF, which are all secreted by the tooth germ, on tartrate-resistant acid-phosphatase-positive (TRAP⁺) cell formation using co-cultures of human PDL cells and mouse spleen cells. Only PTHrP promoted TRAP⁺ cell formation in co-cultures. PTHrP induced receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) mRNA expression and slightly reduced osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression in PDL cells. The cAMP/PKA inhibitors Rp-cAMP, H89, and PKI did not affect PTHrP-induced TRAP⁺ cell formation. The PKC inhibitor, Ro-32-0432, suppressed RANKL expression in PDL cells and PTHrP-induced TRAP⁺ cell formation. However, this inhibitor directly modulated the number of osteoclast precursors. Thus, PTHrP induces osteoclastogenesis by increasing the relative expression level of RANKL vs. OPG in PDL cells via a cAMP/PKA-independent pathway. Abbreviations: PTHrP, parathyroid-hormone-related protein; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β; EGF, epidermal growth factor; RANKL, receptor activator of NF-κB ligand; OPG, osteoprotegerin; PDL, periodontal ligament; TRAP, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase; PKA, protein kinase A; PKC, protein kinase C; MAP, mitogen-activated protein; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; cAMP, cyclic Adenosine 3′5′-Monophosphate.