Osteopetrosis is a rare inherited disease caused by osteoclast failure, resulting in increasing bone density in humans. Patients with
osteopetrosis possess several dental and cranial complications. Since
carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II) deficiency is a major cause of
osteopetrosis, CA-II activators might be an attractive potential treatment option for
osteopetrosis patients. We conducted comprehensive label-free quantitative proteomics analysis on
Fluconazole-treated Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells from CA-II-Deficient
Osteopetrosis Patients. We identified 251 distinct differentially expressed
proteins between healthy subjects, as well as untreated and
azole-treated derived cells from
osteopetrosis patients. Twenty-six (26) of these
proteins were closely associated with osteogenesis and
osteopetrosis disease. Among them are ATP1A2, CPOX, Ap2 alpha, RAP1B and some members of the RAB
protein family. Others include AnnexinA1, 5, PYGL,
OSTF1 and PGAM4, all interacting with OSTM1 in the catalytic reactions of HCO3 and the Cl- channel via CAII regulation. In addition, the pro-inflammatory/osteoclast regulatory
proteins RACK1, MTSE, STING1, S100A13, ECE1 and TRIM10 are involved. We have identified
proteins involved in osteogenic and immune metabolic pathways, including ERK 1/2,
phosphatase and
ATPase, which opens the door for some CA activators to be used as an alternative
drug therapy for
osteopetrosis patients. These findings propose that
fluconazole might be a potential treatment agent for CAII- deficient OP patients. Altogether, our findings provide a basis for further work to elucidate the clinical utility of
azole, a CA activator, as a therapeutic for OP.