NHA-oc/NHA2: A mitochondrial cation-proton antiporter selectively expressed in osteoclasts

Bone resorption is regulated by a complex system of hormones and cytokines that cause osteoblasts/stromal cells and lymphocytes to produce factors including RANKL, that ultimately result in the differentiation and activation of osteoclasts, the bone resorbing cells. We used a microarray approach to identify genes upregulated in RANKL-stimulated osteoclast precursor cells. Osteoclast expression was confirmed by multiple tissue Northern and in situ hybridization analysis. Gene function studies were carried out by siRNA analysis. We identified a novel gene, which we termed nha-oc/NHA2, which is strongly upregulated during RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in vitro and in vivo. nha-oc/NHA2 encodes a novel cation-proton antiporter (CPA) and is the mouse orthologue of a human gene identified in a database search: HsNHA2. nha-oc/NHA2 is selectively expressed in osteoclasts. NHA-oc/NHA2 protein localizes to the mitochondria, where it mediates Na⁺-dependent changes in mitochondrial pH and Na⁺ acetate induced mitochondrial passive swelling. RNA silencing of nha-oc/nha2 reduces osteoclast differentiation and resorption, suggesting a role for NHA-oc/NHA2 in these processes. nha-oc/NHA2 therefore is a novel member of the CPA family and is the first mitochondrial NHA characterized to date. nha-oc/NHA2 is also unique in that it is the first eukaryotic and tissue-specific CPA2 characterized to date. NHA-oc/NHA2 displays the expected activities of a bona fide CPA and plays a key role(s) in normal osteoclast differentiation and function.