Osteoclastogenesis-related antigen, a novel molecule on mouse stromal cells, regulates osteoclastogenesis

Osteoclastogenesis is regulated by RANKL expressed on stromal cells. In this study, we sought to isolate a new surface molecule regulating osteoclastogenesis on stromal cells by generating monoclonal antibodies. A rat was immunized with the mouse stromal cell line, TSB13, which can support osteoclastogenesis, and a monoclonal antibody, A15-1, was obtained. A15-1 bound to a surface antigen on TSB13 cells, termed osteoclastogenesis-related antigen (OCRA), and immunoprecipitation with this antibody revealed that OCRA was a 220-kDa molecule. By means of flow cytometry, the A15-1 antigen (OCRA) was found to be expressed on various mesenchymal cell lines but not on hematopoietic cell lines, and the expression level of OCRA on the TSB13 cells was slightly increased by treatment with 1alpha,25(OH)2D3. When osteoclast progenitors and TSB13 cells were co-cultured in the presence of 1alpha,25(OH)2D3, the addition of A15-1 inhibited osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner; however, no significant inhibition of soluble RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis was observed, suggesting that A15-1 inhibited only stromal cell-dependent osteoclastogenesis. The same inhibitory effect of A15-1 was also observed when primary bone marrow-derived stromal cells were used. The osteoclastogenesis-promoting effects of other osteotropic factors, such as parathyroid hormone (PTH) and interleukin (IL)-1beta, were also inhibited by A15-1. Time-course analysis of osteoclast differentiation in vitro indicated that the initial 2 days of treatment with A15-1 was sufficient for inhibition, suggesting that A15-1 inhibits the early stages of osteoclast differentiation. Finally, we investigated the in vivo effects of A15-1 on PTH-induced hypercalcemia in mice. Treatment with A15-1 significantly decreased the osteoclast surface in the PTH-administered mice. Taken together, our data indicate that OCRA, a novel A15-1-detected antigen, regulates stromal cell-dependent osteoclastogenesis.