Osteoblastic heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans control bone remodeling by regulating Wnt signaling and the crosstalk between bone surface and marrow cells.

Stimulating bone formation is an important challenge for bone anabolism in osteoporotic patients or to repair bone defects. The osteogenic properties of matrix glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have been explored; however, the functions of GAGs at the surface of bone-forming cells are less documented. Syndecan-2 is a membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan that is associated with osteoblastic differentiation. We used a transgenic mouse model with high syndecan-2 expression in osteoblasts to enrich the bone surface with cellular GAGs. Bone mass was increased in these transgenic mice. Syndecan-2 overexpression reduced the expression of receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) in bone marrow cells and strongly inhibited bone resorption. Osteoblast activity was not modified in the transgenic mice, but bone formation was decreased in 4-month-old transgenic mice because of reduced osteoblast number. Increased proteoglycan expression at the bone surface resulted in decreased osteoblastic and osteoclastic precursors in bone marrow. Indeed, syndecan-2 overexpression increased apoptosis of mesenchymal precursors within the bone marrow. However, syndecan-2 specifically promoted the vasculature characterized by high expression of CD31 and Endomucin in 6-week-old transgenic mice, but this was reduced in 12-week-old transgenic mice. Finally, syndecan-2 functions as an inhibitor of Wnt-β-catenin-T-cell factor signaling pathway, activating glycogen synthase kinase 3 and then decreasing the Wnt-dependent production of Wnt ligands and R-spondin. In conclusion, our results show that GAG supply may improve osteogenesis, but also interfere with the crosstalk between the bone surface and marrow cells, altering the supporting function of osteoblasts.