Peptidomimetic inhibitors of L-plastin reduce the resorptive activity of osteoclast but not the bone forming activity of osteoblasts in vitro

Sealing ring formation is a requirement for osteoclast function. We have recently identified the role of an actin-bundling protein L-plastin in the assembly of nascent sealing zones (NSZs) at the early phase of sealing ring formation in osteoclasts. TNF-α signaling regulates this actin assembly by the phosphorylation of L-plastin on serine -5 and -7 residues at the amino-terminal end. These NSZs function as a core for integrin localization and coordinating integrin signaling required for maturation into fully functional sealing rings. Our goal is to elucidate the essential function of L-plastin phosphorylation in actin bundling, a process required for NSZs formation. The present study was undertaken to determine whether targeting serine phosphorylation of cellular L-plastin would be the appropriate approach to attenuate the formation of NSZs. Our approach is to use TAT-fused small molecular weight amino-terminal L-plastin peptides (10 amino acids) containing phospho- Ser-5 and Ser-7. We used peptides unsubstituted (P1) and substituted (P2- P4) at serine-to-alanine residues. Immunoblotting, actin staining, and dentine resorption analyses were done to determine cellular L-plastin phosphorylation, NSZ or sealing ring formation, and osteoclast function, respectively. Immunoblotting for bone formation markers, Alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase activity assay have been done to determine the effect of peptides on the mineralization process mediated by osteoblasts. Transduction of unsubstituted (P1) and substituted peptides at either Serine 5 or Serine 7 with Alanine (P3 and P4) demonstrated variable inhibitory effects on the phosphorylation of cellular L-plastin protein. Peptide P1 reduces the following processes substantially: 1) cellular L-plastin phosphorylation; 2) formation of nascent sealing zones and sealing rings; 3) bone resorption. Substitution of both Serine-5 and -7 with Alanine (P2) had no effects on the inhibitory activities described above. Furthermore, either the L-plastin (P1-P5) or (P6) control peptides had a little or no impact on the a) assembly/disassembly of podosomes and migration of osteoclasts; b) mineralization process mediated by osteoblasts in vitro. Small molecular weight peptidomimetics of L-plastin inhibits bone resorption by osteoclasts via attenuation of NSZ and sealing ring formation but not bone formation by osteoblasts in vitro. The L-plastin may be a valuable therapeutic target to treat and prevent diseases associated with bone loss without affecting bone formation.