Osteoclast radical interactions: NADPH causes pulsatile release of NO and stimulates superoxide production

Osteoclasts have been shown to destroy calcified tissue by complex developmental steps involving cell recruitment, cell attachment and deployment of multiple enzymes. They also appear to regulate resorption by several mechanisms. In particular, earlier investigations have indicated that oxygen radical metabolites may be produce by osteoclasts. These labile reactants could accelerate destruction of calcified tissue. In addition, recent studies have suggested that nitric oxide may have an inhibitory role in bone resorption. Previous studies of these radical substituents have predicted that interactions of nitric oxide and oxygen radicals could explain the conflicting roles of these radicals in the control of bone resorption. In view of the requirement of both of the enzymes, NADPH-oxidase and NO synthase (NOS), for NADPH(beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate), one level of interaction could be related to competition for this necessary cofactor. To test this hypothesis, we have investigated the ability of the osteoclast to generate nitric oxide and oxygen radicals after stimulation by NADPH. Consistent with earlier diaphorase histochemistry, we have shown that resorbing osteoclasts produce NO. Addition of NADPH (10 microM) resulted in a transient burst of NO production (measured by porphyrin coated microsensor) with an amplitude of 152 +/- 43 nM and a duration of 4 seconds. Repetitive stimulation resulted in a decremental response with a partial recovery after 30 minutes. Addition of L-NAME (N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, 100 microM) to the cells resulted in at least 50% inhibition of the amplitude of NO peak and produced an extended peak duration. To compare the effect of the added NADPH on superoxide production by osteoclast NADPH-oxidase, osteoclast oxygen radicals were detected by EPR(electron paramagnetic resonance) spectrometer with the spin-trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). The production of a spin adduct with a quadruplet signal was inhibited by SOD (superoxide dismutase). We were not able to demonstrate an increase in superoxide production after addition of L-NAME, another possible interaction of NOS and NADPH-oxidase. These results demonstrate that although osteoclasts produce both NO and superoxide, NOS competition for NADPH is not a major site of interaction with NADPH-oxidase under these conditions. Additionally, these initial findings set the stage for the further investigation of interactions of osteoclast radicals in modulating bone resorption.