Prolonged Cadmium Exposure and Osteoclastogenesis: A Mechanistic Mouse and Study.

Background: Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic and widespread environmental oxidative stressor that causes a myriad of health problems, including osteoporosis and bone damage. Although nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and its Cap 'n' Collar and basic region Leucine Zipper (CNC-bZIP) family member nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 1 (NRF1) coordinate various stress responses by regulating the transcription of a variety of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes, they play distinct roles in bone metabolism and remodeling. However, the precise roles of both transcription factors in bone loss induced by prolonged Cd exposure remain unclear.

Objectives: We aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying Cd-induced bone loss, focusing mainly on the roles of NRF2 and NRF1 in osteoclastogenesis provoked by Cd.

Methods: Male wild-type (WT), global -knockout () and myeloid-specific knockout [(M)-KO] mice were administered Cd (50 or ) via drinking water for 8 or 16 wk, followed by micro-computed tomography, histological analyses, and plasma biochemical testing. Osteoclastogenesis was evaluated using bone marrow-derived osteoclast progenitor cells (BM-OPCs) and RAW 264.7 cells in the presence of Cd (10 or ) with a combination of genetic and chemical modulations targeting NRF2 and NRF1.

Results: Compared with relevant control mice, global or (M)-KO mice showed exacerbated bone loss and augmented osteoclast activity following exposure to Cd in drinking water for up to 16 wk. osteoclastogenic analyses suggested that -deficient BM-OPCs and RAW 264.7 cells responded more robustly to low levels of Cd (up to ) with regard to osteoclast differentiation compared with WT cells. Further mechanistic studies supported a compensatory up-regulation of long isoform of NRF1 (L-NRF1) and subsequent induction of nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin dependent 1 (NFATc1) as the key molecular events in the deficiency-worsened and Cd-provoked osteoclastogenesis. L- silenced (via lentiviral means) -knockdown (KD) RAW cells exposed to Cd showed dramatically different NFATc1 and subsequent osteoclastogenesis outcomes compared with the cells of -KD alone exposed to Cd, suggesting a mitigating effect of the silencing. In addition, suppression of reactive oxygen species by exogenous antioxidants -acetyl-l-cysteine () and mitoquinone mesylate (MitoQ; ) mitigated the L-NRF1-associated effects on NFATc1-driven osteoclastogenesis outcomes in Cd-exposed -KD cells.

Conclusions: This and study supported the authors' hypothesis that Cd exposure caused bone loss, in which NRF2 and L-NRF1 responded to Cd and osteoclastogenic stimuli in a cooperative, but contradictive, manner to coordinate expression, osteoclastogenesis and thus bone homeostasis. Our study suggests a novel strategy targeting NRF2 and L-NRF1 to prevent and treat the bone toxicity of Cd. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13849.