Findings suggest new approach for treating inflammatory bone diseases and skeletal metastases

Dec 5 2013

The skeleton is constantly being remodelled by the breakdown of old bone by cells called osteoclasts and the formation of new bone by cells called osteoblasts. This coordinated activity is essential for maintaining healthy bone. However, excessive osteoclast activity leads to bone destruction in skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer metastases in bone. A family of signaling enzymes known as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks) control diverse cell functions but, up until now, little was known about the function of specific PI3K isoforms in osteoclasts.

A paper published in the December 6 issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry announces the characterization of a new potent and selective PI3Kdelta inhibitor, GS-9820. The discovery was made by members of Western University's Bone and Joint Initiative with collaborators from Nihon University, the University of Calgary and Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Graduate student Ryan Shugg, working under the supervision of Stephen Sims, PhD, and Jeff Dixon, PhD, of Western's Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, used a panel of isoform-selective inhibitors and found that one isoform in particular, PI3Kdelta, regulates osteoclast shape and resorptive activity.

Sims says, "These findings suggest that selective inhibition of PI3K isoforms offers a new approach for the treatment of inflammatory bone diseases and skeletal metastases."

The studies were carried out by an interdisciplinary team, which included undergraduate student Ashley Thomson, visiting professor Natsuko Tanabe, research scientist Alexey Pereverzev, investigator Frank Jirik at the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health (University of Calgary), along with researchers Adam Kashishian, Bart Steiner, Kamal Puri, and Brian Lannutti from Gilead Sciences.

"Collaboration among researchers at Gilead Sciences, Western, Calgary and Nihon Universities was critical for accessing and testing this novel inhibitor" says Sims. "Such partnerships are essential for translating progress in fundamental cell biology into therapeutic advances."

Source: University of Western Ontario