Histone demethylase KDM7A regulates bone homeostasis through balancing osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation

Abstract Histone methylation plays a crucial role in various cellular processes. We previously reported the in vitro function of histone lysine demethylase 7 A (KDM7A) in osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation. The current study was undertaken to investigate the physiological role of KDM7A in bone homeostasis and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. A conditional strategy was employed to delete the Kdm7a gene specifically in osterix-expressing osteoprogenitor cells in mice. The resulting mutant mice exhibited a significant increase in cancellous bone mass, accompanied by an increase in osteoblasts and bone formation, as well as a reduction in osteoclasts, marrow adipocytes and bone resorption. The bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and calvarial pre-osteoblastic cells derived from the mutant mice exhibited enhanced osteogenic differentiation and suppressed adipogenic differentiation. Additionally, osteoclastic precursor cells from the mutant mice exhibited impaired osteoclast differentiation. Co-culturing BMSCs from the mutant mice with wild-type osteoclast precursor cells resulted in the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation. Mechanistic investigation revealed that KDM7A was able to upregulate the expression of fibroblast activation protein α (FAP) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) in BMSCs through removing repressive di-methylation marks of H3K9 and H3K27 from Fap and Rankl promoters. Moreover, recombinant FAP attenuated the dysregulation of osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation in BMSCs from Kdm7a deficient mice. Finally, Kdm7a deficiency prevented ovariectomy-induced bone loss in mice. This study establish the role of KDM7A in bone homeostasis through its epigenetic regulation of osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation. Consequently, inhibiting KDM7A may prove beneficial in ameliorating osteoporosis.