Carfilzomib alleviated osteoporosis by targeting PSME1/2 to activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Osteoporosis (OP) is characterized by decreased bone mineral density and impaired bone strength. Carfilzomib (CFZ) is a new-generation proteasome inhibitor and has been found to affect bone metabolism. However, the effect and mechanism of CFZ on OP has not been investigated systematically. In this study, we found that protein levels of proteasome activator subunit 1/2 (PSME1/2) increased in OP, and accumulated mostly in osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Treatment with PSME1/2 recombinant protein inhibited osteogenesis and promoted osteoclast formation in vitro. Also, PSME1/2 inhibited the expression of β-catenin protein, resulting in limitation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. CFZ inhibited PSME1 and PSME2 proteasome activities and increased β-catenin protein level, resulting in the translocation of β-catenin to the nucleus and activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, further promoting osteogenesis and inhibiting osteoclastic differentiation. In vivo, we conducted ovariectomy (OVX) to create a model of OVX-induced postmenopausal OP in mice. When analyzed by micro-CT scanning, enhancement of bone mineral density, bone volume, trabecular number, and thickness was seen in the CFZ-treated mice. Also, we noticed increased osteogenesis and decreased osteoclastogenesis, diminished expression of PSME1 and PSME2 and activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in bone sections from OP mice treated with CFZ. Overall, our data indicated that PSME1/2 may serve as new targets for the treatment of OP, and targeting PSME1/2 with CFZ provides a candidate therapeutic molecule for postmenopausal OP.