Mice with Targeted Knockout of Tetraspanin 3 Exhibit Reduced Trabecular Bone Mass Caused by Decreased Osteoblast Functions

Tetraspanin3 (TSPAN3) was identified as a binding partner of claudin11 (CLDN11) in osteoblasts and other cell types. Mice with targeted disruption of exhibited trabecular bone mass deficit caused by reduced bone formation and osteoblast function. To determine if the disruption of CLDN11 interacting protein gene results in a similar skeletal phenotype as that of knockout (KO) mice, we generated homozygous KO and heterozygous control mice and characterized their skeletal phenotypes at 13 weeks of age. Micro-CT measurements of the secondary spongiosa of the distal femur revealed 17% and 29% reduction in trabecular bone volume adjusted for tissue volume (BV/TV) in the male and female mice, respectively. Similarly, trabecular BV/TV of the proximal tibia was reduced by 19% and 20% in the male and female mice, respectively. The reduced trabecular bone mass was caused primarily by reduced trabecular thickness and number, and increased trabecular spacing. Consistent with the reduced bone formation as confirmed by histomorphometry analyses, serum alkaline phosphatase was reduced by 11% in the KO mice as compared with controls. Our findings indicate that TSPAN3 is an important positive regulator of osteoblast function and trabecular bone mass, and the interaction of TSPAN3 with CLDN11 could contribute in part to the bone forming effects of Cldn11 in mice.