Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by skeletal abnormalities which is secondary to haploinsufficiency of the transcription factor Runx2 that plays a role in osteoblast differentiation.
We found that the RUNX2 mutation in CCD reduced the expression of osteoclast-related genes, such as RUNX2, CTR, CTSK, RANKL and OPG The ability of osteoclastogenesis in DFCs and PDLCs detected by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining in the co-culture system was also reduced by the RUNX2 mutation compared with the normal control.
Surprisingly, the osteogenic deficiency and the abnormal expression of osteoblast-associated genes in DFCs from the CCD patient were almost rescued by overexpression of wild-type RUNX2 using lentivirus.
CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (Cebpb) is a key factor of Runx2 expression and our previous study has reported two CCD signs including hyperdontia and elongated coronoid process of the mandible in Cebpb deficient mice.
Therefore, the pathogenesis of CCD may be related to the impaired Smad signaling of transforming growth factor beta/bone morphogenetic protein pathways that target the activity of RUNX2 during bone formation.
On the one hand, these genotype-phenotype correlations highlight a general, quantitative dependency, by skeleto-dental developments, on the gene dosage of RUNX2, which has hitherto been obscured by extreme clinical diversities of CCD; this gene-dosage effect is presumed to manifest on small reductions in the total RUNX2 activity, by approximately one-fourth of the normal level at minimum.
Here we report that mice with a deficiency of either mTOR or Raptor in preosteoblasts exhibited clavicular hypoplasia and delayed fontanelle fusion, similar to those found in human patients with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) haploinsufficient for the transcription factor runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) or those identified in Runx2<sup>+/-</sup> mice.
In addition, AML3 has an essential role in bone development, as it is required for osteoblast differentiation and is mutated in patients with cleidocranial dysplasia.J.Cell.Biochem.Suppls.32/33:51-58, 1999.
On the one hand, these genotype-phenotype correlations highlight a general, quantitative dependency, by skeleto-dental developments, on the gene dosage of RUNX2, which has hitherto been obscured by extreme clinical diversities of CCD; this gene-dosage effect is presumed to manifest on small reductions in the total RUNX2 activity, by approximately one-fourth of the normal level at minimum.
Deregulated TGFβ or Runx2 function compromises the distinctly hard cochlear bone matrix and causes hearing loss, as seen in human cleidocranial dysplasia.
The results confirm the map position of CCD on 6p21, further refine the CCD genetic interval by identifying a recombination between D6S451 and D6S459, and exclude BMP6 as a candidate gene.
The results of our study and the comprehensive review of the literature show that pathways of forming supernumerary teeth appear to involve APC and RUNX2, the genes responsible for familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome and cleidocranial dysplasia, respectively.
These results establish GSK-3beta as a key attenuator of Runx2 activity in bone formation and as a potential molecular target for clinical treatment of bone catabolic disorders like cleidocranial dysplasia.