Overlapping functions of bone sialoprotein and pyrophosphate regulators in directing cementogenesis.

Although acellular cementum is essential for tooth attachment, factors directing its development and regeneration remain poorly understood. Inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a mineralization inhibitor, is a key regulator of cementum formation: tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (Alpl/TNAP) null mice (increased PPi) feature deficient cementum, while progressive ankylosis protein (Ank/ANK) null mice (decreased PPi) feature increased cementum. Bone sialoprotein (Bsp/BSP) and osteopontin (Spp1/OPN) are multifunctional extracellular matrix components of cementum proposed to have direct and indirect effects on cell activities and mineralization. Studies on dentoalveolar development of Bsp knockout (Bsp-/-) mice revealed severely reduced acellular cementum, however underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The similarity in defective cementum phenotypes between Bsp-/- mice and Alpl-/- mice (the latter featuring elevated PPi and OPN), prompted us to examine whether BSP is operating by modulating PPi-associated genes. Genetic ablation of Bsp caused a 2-fold increase in circulating PPi, altered mRNA expression of Alpl, Spp1, and Ank, and increased OPN protein in the periodontia. Generation of a Bsp knock-out (KO) cementoblast cell line revealed significantly decreased mineralization capacity, 50% increased PPi in culture media, and increased Spp1 and Ank mRNA expression. While addition of 2μg/ml recombinant BSP altered Spp1, Ank, and Enpp1 expression in cementoblasts, changes resulting from this dose were not dependent on the integrin-binding RGD motif or MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Decreasing PPi by genetic ablation of Ank on the Bsp-/- mouse background reestablished cementum formation, allowing >3-fold increased acellular cementum volume compared to wild-type (WT). However, deleting Ank did not fully compensate for the absence of BSP. Bsp-/-; Ank-/- double-deficient mice exhibited mean 20-27% reduced cementum thickness and volume compared to Ank-/- mice. From these data, we conclude that the perturbations in PPi metabolism are not solely driving the cementum pathology in Bsp-/- mice, and that PPi is more potent than BSP as a cementum regulator, as shown by the ability to override loss of BSP by lowering PPi. We propose that BSP and PPi work in concert to direct mineralization in cementum and likely other mineralized tissues.