Ovalbumin-induced asthma leads to bone loss with Piezo channel suppression in mice

The impact of allergic diseases on bone loss remains unclear because it is considered to result from the use of corticosteroids to ameliorate allergic inflammation. To explore the effects of allergic diseases on bone metabolism, we investigated long bones in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mice. Compared with that of vehicle-treated controls, the bone mass of OVA-induced asthmatic mice was lower. We found fewer mature osteoblasts on the surfaces of the cortical and trabecular bones of allergen-sensitized mice than in those of vehicle-treated mice. Piezo1 and Piezo2 were located in mature osteoblasts, and their expression levels decrease during osteocytogenesis. Compared with that in non-asthmatic mice, the expression levels of both Piezo1 and Piezo2 were suppressed in asthmatic mice. The Piezo1 agonist reversed OVA-induced bone loss, with increased osteogenesis and type I collagen (Col1) expression. Furthermore, compared with control mice, Piezo2 heterozygous deletion mice with OVA presented a decreased bone volume. Our data suggest that asthma could induce osteopenia and that Piezo channel modulation could be a possible way to prevent bone loss induced by allergic asthma.