Defects in mesenchymal stem cell self-renewal and cell fate determination lead to an osteopenic phenotype in Bmi-1 null mice.

In parathyroid hormone-related protein 1-84 [PTHrP(1-84)] knockin mice, expression of the polycomb protein Bmi-1 is reduced and potentially can mediate the phenotypic alterations observed. We have therefore now examined the skeletal phenotype of Bmi-1(-/-) mice in vivo and also assessed the function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) from Bmi-1(-/-) mice ex vivo in culture. Neonatal Bmi-1(-/-) mice exhibited skeletal growth retardation, with reduced chondrocyte proliferation and increased apoptosis. Osteoblast numbers; gene expression of alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen, and osteocalcin; the mineral apposition rate; trabecular bone volume; and bone mineral density all were reduced significantly; however, the number of bone marrow adipocytes and Ppar-gamma expression were increased. These changes were consistent with the skeletal phenotype observed in the PTHrP(1-84) knockin mouse. The efficiency of colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) formation in bone marrow cultures was decreased, and the percentage of alkaline phosphatase-positive CFU-F and Runx2 expression were reduced. In contrast, adipocyte formation and Ppar-gamma expression in cultures were increased, and expression of the polycomb protein sirtuin (Sirt1) was reduced. Reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis of BM-MSCs were associated with upregulation of senescence-associated tumor-suppressor genes, including p16, p19, and p27. Analysis of the skeletal phenotype in Bmi-1(-/-) mice suggests that Bmi-1 functions downstream of PTHrP. Furthermore, our studies indicate that Bmi-1 maintains self-renewal of BM-MSCs by inhibiting the expression of p27, p16, and p19 and alters the cell fate of BM-MSCs by enhancing osteoblast differentiation and inhibiting adipocyte differentiation at least in part by stimulating Sirt1 expression. Bmi-1 therefore plays a critical role in promoting osteogenesis.