WISH-BONE: Whole-mount In Situ Histology, to label osteocyte mRNA and protein in 3D adult mouse bones

Bone is a three dimensional and highly dynamic tissue under constant remodeling. Commonly used tools to investigate bone biology require sample digestion for biomolecule extraction or only provide two-dimensional spatial information. There is a need for 3D tools to investigate spatially preserved biomarker expression in osteocytes. In this work, we present a new method, WISH-BONE, to label osteocyte mRNA and protein in whole-mount mouse bone. For mRNA labeling, we used Hybridization Chain Reaction – Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization to label genes of interest in osteocytes. For protein labeling, samples were preserved using an epoxy-based solution that protects tissue structure and biomolecular components. Then an enzymatic matrix permeabilization step was performed to enable antibody penetration. Immunostaining was used to label various proteins involved in bone homeostasis. We also demonstrate the use of customized fluorescent nanobodies to target and label proteins in the cortical bone. However, the relatively dim signal observed from nanobodies staining limited detection. In this study, we share protocols, highlight opportunities, and identify the challenges of this novel 3D labeling method. They are the first protocols for whole-mount osteocyte 3D labeling of mRNA and protein in mature mouse bones. WISH-BONE will allow the investigation of molecular signaling in bone cells in their 3D environment and could be applied to various bone-related fields of research.