Short-term treatment of recombinant murine interleukin-4 rapidly inhibits bone formation in normal and ovariectomized...

Estrogen deficiency contributes to an increase in bone resorption and bone formation characterized by a high rate of bone turnover. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a rapid and potent inhibitor of bone resorption. We examined the short term in vivo effects of recombinant murine IL-4 (rmIL-4) on bone remodeling in normal and ovariectomized mice. Eight-week-old mice were randomized into the following five groups: (1) sham-operated mice (sham); (2) sham-operated mice infused with rmIL-4; (3) ovariectomized mice (ovx); (4) ovx infused with rmIL-4; and (5) ovx replaced by 10 or 20 microg of 17beta-estradiol (E2) for 14 or 28 days after ovariectomy, respectively. rmIL-4 at a dose of 5 microg/day was infused into ovx and sham for 3 days prior to sacrifice. Analyses were performed 14 and 28 days after operation. An increase in serum alkaline phosphatase and urinary deoxypyridinoline levels induced by ovariectomy was inhibited by the 3-day infusion of rmIL-4. In ovx, serum and urinary IL-6 levels were also increased significantly 14 days after ovariectomy, which were restored by E2 but not by rmIL-4. Histomorphometrical analysis of trabecular bone revealed that the 3-day infusion of rmIL-4 inhibited the high rate of bone turnover induced by ovariectomy, such as an increase in the osteoclastic surface (Oc.S/BS), number of osteoclasts per mm bone surface (N.Oc/BS), mineralized surface per mm bone surface (MS/BS), and bone mineral apposition rate (MAR). A significant decrease in the bone volume (BV/TV) observed in ovx was not modulated by a 3-day infusion of rmIL-4 prior to sacrifice. In sham, rmIL-4 also caused a significant decrease in the Oc.S/BS, N.Oc/BS, MS/BS, and MAR, but the BV/TV was not modulated by rmIL-4. We conclude that short term infusion of rmIL-4 in vivo rapidly inhibits not only bone resorption but also its formation in both sham-operated and ovariectomized growing mice, resulting in a low rate of bone turnover without modulating bone volume.