The effects of Dickkopf-1 antibody on metaphyseal bone and implant fixation under different loading conditions

The secreted protein Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1) is an antagonist of canonical Wnt signaling, expressed during fracture healing. It is unclear how it is involved in the mechanical control of bone maintenance. We investigated the response to administration of a Dkk1 neutralizing antibody (Dkk1-ab) in metaphyseal bone under different loading conditions, with or without trauma. In this three part experiment, 120 rats had a screw or bone chamber inserted either unilaterally or bilaterally in the proximal tibia. Mechanical (pull-out) testing, μCT and histology were used for evaluation. The animals were injected with either 10 mg/kg Dkk1-ab or saline every 14 days for 14, 28, or 42 days. Antibody treatment increased bone formation around the screws and improved their fixation. After 28 days, the pull-out force was increased by over 100%. In cancellous bone, the bone volume fraction was increased by 50%. In some animals, one hind limb was paralyzed with Botulinum toxin A (Botox) to create a mechanically unloaded environment. This did not increase the response to antibody treatment with regard to screw fixation, but in cancellous bone, the bone volume fraction increased by 233%. Thus, the response in unloaded, untraumatized bone was proportionally larger, suggesting that Dkk1 may be up-regulated in unloaded bone. There was also an increase in thickness of the metaphyseal cortex. In bone chambers, the antibody treatment increased the bone volume fraction. The results suggest that antibodies blocking Dkk1 might be used to stimulate bone formation especially during implant fixation, fracture repair, or bone disuse. It also seems that Dkk1 is up-regulated both after metaphyseal trauma and after unloading, and that Dkk1 is involved in mechano-transduction.

Research Highlights
► We studied the effect of Dickkopf-1 antibodies on fracture healing in rats.
► Antibody treatment improved fixation of implanted screws and increased bone formation.
► Treatment had a stronger effect in traumatized bone compared to untraumatized.
► Load dependent response suggests Dickkopf-1 involved in mechanotransduction.
► Antibody treatment can be used to stimulate bone regeneration and healing.