Neurokinin B activates the formation and bone resorption activity of rat osteoclasts

Neurokinin B (NKB) is a neuropeptide in the tachykinin family that acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator, primarily in the central nervous system. The distribution and role of NKB and its receptor, the neurokinin-3 receptor (NK-3R), in peripheral tissues are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the distribution of NKB and NK-3R in peripheral tissues as well as the role of NKB in bone metabolism, especially in osteoclast formation and bone resorption activity through NK-3R. The distributions of NKB in intact rat neurons of the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and in axons of periodontal tissue were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Osteoclasts from cultured rat bone marrow cells were used to examine the distribution of NK-3R by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR and to investigate the effects of NKB on the resorption activity of osteoclasts on ivory slices. We found that NKB immunopositive neurons were localized in the rat TG and that NKB immunopositive axons were distributed in periodontal tissues. Immunoreactivity for NK-3R was found in cultured osteoclasts, and NK-3R mRNA expression in the osteoclasts was confirmed by RT-PCR. The addition of NKB significantly increased the number of osteoclasts and the resorption area compared with the control. These findings suggest that NKB was localized in peripheral neurons and may involve the activation of osteoclast formation and bone resorption through NK-3R.