KIAA1199 is a secreted molecule that enhances osteoblastic stem cell migration and recruitment

Factors mediating mobilization of osteoblastic stem and progenitor cells from their bone marrow niche to be recruited to bone formation sites during bone remodeling are poorly known. We have studied secreted factors present in the bone marrow microenvironment and identified KIAA1199 (also known as CEMIP, cell migration inducing hyaluronan binding protein) in human bone biopsies as highly expressed in osteoprogenitor reversal cells (Rv.C) recruited to the eroded surfaces (ES), which are the future bone formation sites. In vitro, KIAA1199 did not affect the proliferation of human osteoblastic stem cells (also known as human bone marrow skeletal or stromal stem cells, hMSCs); but it enhanced cell migration as determined by scratch assay and trans-well migration assay. KIAA1199 deficient hMSCs (KIAA1199^down) exhibited significant changes in cell size, cell length, ratio of cell width to length and cell roundness, together with reduction of polymerization actin (F-actin) and changes in phos-CFL1 (cofflin1), phos-LIMK1 (LIM domain kinase 1) and DSTN (destrin), key factors regulating actin cytoskeletal dynamics and cell motility. Moreover, KIAA1199^down hMSC exhibited impaired Wnt signaling in TCF-reporter assay and decreased expression of Wnt target genes and these effects were rescued by KIAA1199 treatment. Finally, KIAA1199 regulated the activation of P38 kinase and its associated changes in Wnt-signaling. Thus, KIAA1199 is a mobilizing factor that interacts with P38 and Wnt signaling, and induces changes in actin cytoskeleton, as a mechanism mediating recruitment of hMSC to bone formation sites.