FAM98 Family Proteins Play Distinct Roles in Osteoclastogenesis and Bone Resorption

There are three FAM98 family proteins (FAM98A/B/C) in humans and mice. Their physiological functions remain largely unknown. We have previously reported that Fam98a interacts with Plekhm1 in murine osteoclasts and functions in lysosome trafficking/secretion and bone resorption in osteoclasts in vitr...

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Main Authors: Lei Wang, Tarun Minocha, Bhaba K. Das, Mikaela D. Kunika, Aarthi Kannan, Ling Gao, Subburaman Mohan, Weirong Xing, Kottayil I. Varughese, Haibo Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/1/45
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Summary:There are three FAM98 family proteins (FAM98A/B/C) in humans and mice. Their physiological functions remain largely unknown. We have previously reported that Fam98a interacts with Plekhm1 in murine osteoclasts and functions in lysosome trafficking/secretion and bone resorption in osteoclasts in vitro. In this study, we found that all three <i>Fam98</i> genes were expressed in precursor and mature osteoclasts. While the knockdown of Fam98c by a specific short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) in osteoclast precursors attenuated osteoclastogenesis, depletion of Fam98b by an shRNA specifically disrupted osteoclast lysosome trafficking and bone resorption with phenotypes similar to Fam98a shRNA-knockdown in our previous study. Loss of Fam98a in myeloid osteoclast precursors was dispensable for trabecular and cortical bone mass in mice, as well as osteoclastogenesis/bone resorption in vitro, possibly due to compensation by increased Fam98b expression in Fam98a-null osteoclasts. These findings indicate that the three Fam98 proteins play distinct roles in osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast function and need further investigation in future studies.
ISSN:2079-7737