Lack of Schnurri-2 expression associates with reduced bone remodeling and osteopenia

Regulation of bone remodeling determines the levels of bone mass and its imbalance causes major skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis. A zinc finger protein, Schnurri-2 (SHN-2), was recently demonstrated to regulate bone morphogenetic protein-dependent adipogenesis and lymphogenesis. However, the role of SHN-2 in bone is not known. Here, we investigated the effects of Shn-2 deficiency on bone metabolism and cell function in Shn-2-null mice. Lack of SHN-2 expression reduced bone remodeling by suppressing both osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption activities in vivo. Shn-2 deficiency suppressed osterix and osteocalcin expression as well as in vitro mineralization. Conversely, Shn-2 overexpression enhanced osteocalcin promoter activity and bone morphogenetic protein-dependent osteoblastic differentiation. Shn-2 deficiency suppressed Nfatc1 and c-fos expression leading to reduction of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cell development in vivo as well as in the cultures of bone marrow cells. These studies demonstrate that SHN-2 regulates the activities of critical transcription factors required for normal bone remodeling.