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Orthosilicic acid stimulates collagen type 1 synthesis and osteoblastic differentiation in human osteoblast-like cells in vitro.

Silicon deficiency in animals leads to bone defects. This element may therefore play an important role in bone metabolism. Silicon is absorbed from the diet as orthosilicic acid and concentrations in plasma are 5-20 microM. The in vitro effects of orthosilicic acid (0-50 microM) on collagen type 1 synthesis was investigated using the human osteosarcoma cell line (MG-63), primary osteoblast-like cells derived from human bone marrow stromal cells, and an immortalized human early osteoblastic cell line (HCC1). Collagen type 1 mRNA expression and prolyl hydroxylase activity were also determined in the MG-63 cells. Alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin (osteoblastic differentiation) were assessed both at the protein and the mRNA level in MG-63 cells treated with orthosilicic acid. Collagen type 1 synthesis increased in all treated cells at orthosilicic acid concentrations of 10 and 20 microM, although the effects were more marked in the clonal cell lines (MG-63, HCCl 1.75- and 1.8-fold, respectively, P < 0.001, compared to 1.45-fold in the primary cell lines). Treatment at 50 microM resulted in a smaller increase in collagen type 1 synthesis (MG-63 1.45-fold, P = 0.004). The effect of orthosilicic acid was abolished in the presence of prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors. No change in collagen type 1 mRNA level was seen in treated MG-63 cells. Alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin were significantly increased (1.5, 1.2-fold at concentrations of 10 and 20 microM, respectively, P < 0.05). Gene expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin also increased significantly following treatment. In conclusion, orthosilicic acid at physiological concentrations stimulates collagen type 1 synthesis in human osteoblast-like cells and enhances osteoblastic differentiation.

Adolescent↗

Rat tibial osteoblasts III: propagation in vitro is accompanied by enhancement of osteoblast phenotype.

Postproliferative confluent cultures of primary rat tibial osteoblasts (ROB), cultured in medium supplemented with ascorbic acid and beta-glycerophosphate (AS-bGP, differentiation medium) express, in sequence, specific bone markers which identify a succession of maturation stages, and eventually form mineralized noduli. We report an investigation on the effect of extensive proliferation in vitro in unsupplemented medium on the osteogenic potential of mass cultures of ROB. The growth rates of the populations, derived from two independent primary cultures, was constant throughout 110 cumulative population doublings (CPD) in culture. Propagated cells maintained features similar to osteoblasts in primary cultures with respect to serum and anchorage dependence for growth and to the chemokinetic effect on endothelial cells exerted by their conditioned media (CM). Propagated populations, set at confluence in differentiation medium, were tested for the expression of early [alkaline phosphatase (AP)] and late [osteocalcin (OC); bone sialoprotein (BSP); 45Ca incorporation and mineralization] osteogenic markers. We observed an increase, parallel to the increase in CPD, in both the level of maximal expression of AP (enzyme/microgram cellular DNA) and in the frequency of nodules, reaching five- to sixfold (at 78 CPD) and eightfold (at 60 CPD), respectively, the levels of primary cultures. AP expression (enzyme and mRNA) persisted during mineralization and 45Ca incorporation. The time required by propagated cultures for the formation of nodules decreased with increase of CPD, and was reduced to less than one third at 87 CDP. Nodules became mineralized over a similar lapse of time as in primary cultures and were positive by histochemistry for BSP and OC. We also obtained osteogenic clones from two independent cultures after 72 CPD. 90% of these showed an osteoblast phenotype, expressing AP and forming nodules positive for OC and BSP, which mineralized. Timing of formation and frequency of nodules/plated cells in clones was similar to that found in propagated cultures of equivalent CPD. In summary, propagated ROB populations and derived clones showed enhanced osteoblast phenotype, possibly due to an increase in osteogenic cells and enrichment of proliferating mature osteoblasts, consequent to extended propagation in culture.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

The potential role of the osteoblast in the development of periprosthetic osteolysis: review of in vitro osteoblast responses to wear debris, corrosion products, and cytokines and growth factors.

Limited information is available on the responses of osteoblasts to wear debris, corrosion products, and cytokines and on the roles of altered osteoblast functions in the development of periprosthetic bone loss. Wear debris-challenged osteoblasts exhibit altered functions resulting in the loss of their capacity to produce bone matrix and to replace the resorbed bone. Also, osteoblasts may secrete cytokines, which act in a paracrine fashion to recruit inflammatory cells into the periprosthetic space and to stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption. These effects may be mediated in part by ionic metal dissolution products. We review the mechanisms by which altered osteoblast functions, in response to particulate wear debris, corrosion products, and cytokines and growth factors, may contribute to the development and the progression of periprosthetic osteolysis.

Corrosion↗

Myeloma cells block RUNX2/CBFA1 activity in human bone marrow osteoblast progenitors and inhibit osteoblast formation and differentiation.

Decreased bone formation contributes to the development of bone lesions in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. In this study, we have investigated the effects of myeloma cells on osteoblast formation and differentiation and the potential role of the critical osteoblast transcription factor RUNX2/CBFA1 (Runt-related transcription factor 2/core-binding factor Runt domain alpha subunit 1) in the inhibition of osteoblastogenesis in MM. We found that human myeloma cells suppress the formation of human osteoblast progenitors in bone marrow (BM) cultures. Moreover, an inhibitory effect on osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, collagen I mRNA, protein expression, and RUNX2/CBFA1 activity by human preosteoblastic cells was observed in cocultures with myeloma cells. The inhibitory effect was more pronounced in the cell-to-cell contact conditions compared with those without the contact and involved the very late antigen 4 (VLA-4) integrin system. Among the soluble osteoblast inhibitors screened, we show the potential contribution of interleukin-7 (IL-7) in the inhibitory effect on osteoblast formation and RUNX2/CBFA1 activity by human myeloma cells in coculture. Finally, our in vitro results were supported in vivo by the finding of a significant reduction in the number of Runx2/Cbfa1-positive cells in the BM biopsies of patients with MM who had osteolytic lesions compared with those who did not have bone lesions, suggesting the critical involvement of RUNX2/CBFA1 in the decreased bone formation in MM.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Differential regulation of plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor by osteotropic factors in primary cultures of mature osteoblasts and osteoblast precursors.

Plasminogen activators (PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI) have been implicated in the process of extracellular matrix degradation. To study their role in bone matrix turnover, we examined the activity and regulation of PA and PAI in cultures of periosteal osteoblast-like precursor cells and mature osteoblast-like cells from fetal rat calvariae. Both cell populations released PA activity of the tissue type and a 50K PAI species into the culture medium. However, mature osteoblasts had a strikingly lower PA activity and higher PAI activity than periosteal precursor cells, indicating that osteoblast differentiation is associated with a marked decrease in the PA/PAI ratio. PTH and prostaglandin E2 transiently increased PA activity and decreased PAI activity. In contrast, transforming growth factor-beta decreased PA activity and increased PAI activity. Differential effects of these factors on PA and PAI activity may be involved in the regulation of extracellular matrix deposition by osteoblasts.

Animals↗

Effects of calcitonin on 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate and calcium second messenger generation and osteoblast function in UMR 106-06 osteoblast-like cells.

The UMR 106-06 rat osteosarcoma osteoblast-like cell line possesses calcitonin (CT) receptors in addition to expressing PTH receptors and a highly osteoblast-like phenotype, and may represent an intermediate developmental stage between early osteoblast precursors and mature osteoblasts. Therefore, we examined the effects of CT and PTH on second messenger generation and osteoblastic function in these cells. In UMR-106-06 cells, 10-1000 nM CT produced a dose-dependent stimulation of intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), which reached a plateau between 2-3 min. This stimulatory effect was abolished in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) and was mimicked by forskolin and (Bu)2cAMP. One hundred nanomolar CT also produced a slight but significant increase in inositol triphosphate production (13%, P less than 0.05) but did not produce a rapid, transient increase in [Ca2+]i. In contrast, PTH produced a rapid, transient increase in [Ca2+]i, which reached a maximum within 30 sec. This stimulatory effect of PTH on [Ca2+]i signal was dose-dependent and accompanied by a parallel stimulation of inositol triphosphate production. PTH, forskolin, and (Bu)2cAMP all produced a marked dose-related suppression of both DNA and collagen synthesis, which paralleled their stimulatory effects on intracellular cAMP levels. In marked contrast, CT only minimally reduced DNA and collagen synthesis despite producing comparable increases in intracellular cAMP. One hundred nanomolar CT also stimulated alkaline phosphatase specific activity by 33% (P less than 0.05). Thus, CT stimulates cAMP, [Ca2+]i, and inositol phosphate second messengers in UMR 106-06 cells. However, in contrast to other agents which elevate intracellular cAMP levels, CT does not suppress DNA synthesis. These results suggest that the linkage of CT receptor second messengers to effects on cell function differ from those of PTH and/or that CT may produce additional second messenger(s) which antagonize the antiproliferative effect of increased cAMP levels in UMR-106-06 cells.

Animals↗

Enhanced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human SaOS-2 osteoblast-like cells and murine osteoblasts induced by insulin-like growth factor I.

Formation of new capillaries, a critical component of tissue growth and repair, is a recognized process in the development, formation, and remodeling of bone. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic factor with specific mitogenic actions on endothelial cells, is produced in a regulated manner by many cell types, including osteoblasts. The aim of the present investigation was to test the hypothesis that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), a known osteogenic factor, modulates VEGF expression in osteoblasts. In human SaOS-2 osteoblast-like cells, 10 nM IGF-I increased the abundance of VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) by 4-fold above the control value at 2h, and the elevated levels of mRNA returned to near basal by 8 h. IGF-I stimulated VEGF mRNA levels at IGF-I concentrations as low as 1-2 nM. The stability of VEGF mRNA was not increased after IGF-I treatment, and actinomycin D abrogated the enhanced expression of VEGF mRNA by IGF-I, indicating that the action of IGF-I was probably mediated by a transcriptional mechanism. The induction of VEGF mRNA by IGF-I in SaOS-2 cells was associated with an increase in immunoreactive VEGF protein, as detected by immunoblot analysis. IGF-I also increased the expression of VEGF mRNA in primary murine osteoblasts, which confirmed that the actions of IGF-I were not unique to SaOS-2 cells. We conclude that IGF-I enhances osteoblast synthesis of VEGF, which may then act locally on endothelium to stimulate angiogenesis, an essential component of bone growth and remodeling.

Animals↗

Targeted overexpression of insulin-like growth factor I to osteoblasts of transgenic mice: increased trabecular bone volume without increased osteoblast proliferation.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is an important growth factor for bone, yet the mechanisms that mediate its anabolic activity in the skeleton are poorly understood. To examine the effects of locally produced IGF-I in bone in vivo, we targeted expression IGF-I to osteoblasts of transgenic mice using a human osteocalcin promoter. The IGF-I transgene was expressed in bone osteoblasts in OC-IGF-I transgenic mice at high levels in the absence of any change in serum IGF-I levels, or of total body growth. Bone formation rate at the distal femur in 3-week-old OC-IGF-I transgenic mice was approximately twice that of controls. By 6 weeks, bone mineral density as measured by dual energy x-ray, and quantitative computed tomography was significantly greater in OC-IGF-I transgenic mice compared with controls. Histomorphometric measurements revealed a marked (30%) increase femoral cancellous bone volume in the OC-IGF-I transgenic mice, but no change in the total number of osteoblasts or osteoclasts. Transgenic mice also demonstrated an increase in the osteocyte lacunea occupancy, suggesting that IGF-I may extend the osteocyte life span. We conclude that IGF-I produced locally in bone osteoblasts exerts its anabolic effect primarily by increasing the activity of resident osteoblasts.

Animals↗

Phenotypic heterogeneity of osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells: changes of bradykinin-induced prostaglandin E2 production during osteoblast maturation.

We have examined clonal murine calvarial MC3T3-E1 cells obtained from different sources to compare their osteoblastic features (alkaline phosphatase [ALP], cyclic adenosine monophosphate [cAMP] response to parathyroid hormone, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGE1, bradykinin-induced production of PGE2). It was found that the sublines investigated showed large variation of the above-mentioned parameters, which may be attributed to distinct differentiated stages of osteoblast development. Increase of ALP activity was paralleled by an increase in cAMP accumulation in response to the above-mentioned agents. The most striking difference was observed with bradykinin-induced production of PGE2. Early stage cells (low ALP) produced high levels of PGE2, whereas cells with high ALP activity showed no bradykinin stimulation at all. This was consistent with the results of specific binding of 3H-bradykinin to its receptor and also correlated well with the bradykinin-induced signal transduction sequence (inositol triphosphate liberation and elevation of intracellular calcium levels). This was confirmed by Northern blot analysis of bradykinin receptor mRNA expression. These results indicate that the widely used osteoblast-like cell line MC3T3-E1 is synonymous for multiple sublines, representing different stages of osteoblast development. These sublines were most likely emerging from the early stage cell line due to the applied culture conditions. Moreover, distinct biochemical features are displayed in correlation to the differentiation stage, thus providing a useful model to study the molecular mechanism of osteoblast maturation.

3T3 Cells↗

Polarity of osteoblasts and osteoblast-like UMR-108 cells.

Enveloped viruses, such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and Influenza virus, have been widely used in studying epithelial cell polarity. Viral particles of VSV-infected epithelial cells bud from the basolateral membrane, which is in contact with the internal milieu and the blood supply. Influenza-infected cells bud viral particles from the apical surface facing the external milieu. This feature can be utilized in labeling polarized membrane domains. We studied the polarity of mesenchymal osteoblasts using osteosarcoma cell line UMR-108 and endosteal osteoblasts in situ in bone tissue cultures. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy revealed that the VSV glycoprotein (VSV G) was targeted to the culture medium-facing surface. In endosteal osteoblasts, VSV G protein was found in the surface facing bone marrow and circulation. On the contrary, Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) was localized to the bone substrate-facing surface of the UMR-108 cells. Electron microscopy showed that in the cases where the cells were growing as a single layer, VSV particles were budding from the culture medium-facing surface, whereas Influenza viruses budded from the bone substrate-facing surface. When the cells overlapped, this polarity was lost. Cell surface biotinylation revealed that 55% of VSV G protein was biotinylated, whereas Influenza virus HA was only 22% biotinylated. These findings suggest that osteoblasts are polarized at some point of their life cycle. The bone-attaching plasma membrane of osteoblasts is apical, and the circulation or bone marrow-facing plasma membrane is basolateral in nature.

Animals↗

The frequency of common progenitors for adipocytes and osteoblasts and of committed and restricted adipocyte and osteoblast progenitors in fetal rat calvaria cell populations.

In fetal rat calvaria (RC) cell populations, adipocyte differentiation is stimulated by both dexamethasone (Dex) and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], whereas osteoblast differentiation is stimulated by Dex but inhibited by 1,25(OH)2D3. We examined whether the osteoblastic and adipocytic colonies were derived from a common progenitor, from committed and restricted adipocyte and osteoblast progenitors, or from both and whether the adipocyte progenitors stimulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 constitute a population of progenitors that is different from that stimulated by Dex. RC cells were isolated by sequential enzyme digestion yielding five populations designated I-V. In population I the effect of Dex on adipocyte formation was greater than that of 1,25(OH)2D3, whereas the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 was greater than that of Dex in populations III-V. We next applied replica plating techniques to further investigate the response characteristics of individual osteoprogenitors and adipocyte progenitors by looking at the fate of duplicate colonies derived from the same progenitor under different culture conditions. RC cells were plated at 1,000-1,500 cells/100 mm culture dish and a 17-microm mesh polyester membrane overlaid onto master dishes on day 4 or day 5 and removed on day 11 or day 12. Then, replicas and master dishes were cultured separately in medium containing either Dex, 1,25(OH)2D3, or Dex plus 1,25(OH)2D3 for a further 17-21 days and then fixed and stained with both Sudan IV and the von Kossa technique. Nine hundred twenty-seven matched colonies present on both master dishes and replica membranes were screened and colonies were classified as either adipocytic, osteoblastic (bone or osteoid), or fibroblastic. Results show convincingly that most of the osteoprogenitors present in fetal RC cells are committed and restricted to the osteoblastic cell lineage (95.29%); that the 1,25(OH)2D3-responsive adipocyte progenitors are different from the Dex-responsive adipocyte progenitors, but both are restricted to form adipocytes and finally; and that a common osteoblastladipocyte progenitor is present in a low frequency (4.71% of osteoprogenitors).

Adipocytes↗

The transition of cadherin expression in osteoblast differentiation from mesenchymal cells: consistent expression of cadherin-11 in osteoblast lineage.

Osteoblasts are derived originally from pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells on migration into the bone matrix. To elucidate the contribution of classical cadherins in this differentiation pathway, we developed a new protocol for their analysis and studied their specific expressions in various cell lines of the mesenchymal lineage, including osteoblasts. N-cadherin was expressed constitutively in all cell lines examined except an osteocyte-like cell line whereas cadherin-11 was expressed selectively in preosteoblast and preadipocyte cell lines. P-cadherin also was expressed in primary cultures of calvarial cells and mature osteoblasts at a relatively low level compared with N-cadherin and cadherin-11. M-cadherin was expressed only in a premyoblast cell line. We observed the transition of cadherin expression from M-cadherin to cadherin-11 in the premyoblast cell line when osteogenic differentiation was induced by treatment with bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), while the expression of N-cadherin remained unchanged. In contrast, when a preadipocyte cell line, which shows a similar pattern of cadherin expression to osteoblasts, was induced to undergo adipogenic differentiation, the expression of N-cadherin and cadherin-11 was decreased. These observations characterize the cadherin expression profile of mesenchymal lineage cells, especially osteoblasts, which regularly express cadherin-11. Cadherin-11 may affect cell sorting, alignment, and separation through differentiation.

Adipocytes↗

Estrogen modulates osteoblast proliferation and function regulated by parathyroid hormone in osteoblastic SaOS-2 cells: role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-binding protein-5.

Although there is clinical evidence showing that combined therapy with parathyroid hormone (PTH) and estrogen is additively effective in increasing the bone mass of patients with osteoporosis, the mechanism of the interaction between these hormones remains unclear. The present study was performed to determine whether estrogen would affect osteoblast proliferation and function modulated by PTH in human osteoblastic SaOS-2 cells. Human PTH-(1-34) significantly inhibited [(3)H]thymidine (TdR) incorporation, which was attenuated by 24 h pretreatment with 10(-10) to 10(-7) M 17 beta-estradiol (17 beta-E(2)) in a concentration-dependent manner. PTH significantly stimulated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, collagen synthesis and type-1 procollagen mRNA expression after pretreatment with 17 beta-E(2 )in these cells. Tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen, antagonized these 17 beta-E(2)-induced effects. Pretreatment with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) mimicked estrogen action, and coincubation of 3 microg/ml anti-IGF-I antibody antagonized the effects of 17 beta-E(2 )as well as those of IGF-I. In the presence of 17 beta-E(2 )pretreatment, PTH strongly stimulated IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-5 mRNA expression in these cells, and recombinant IGFBP-5 increased type-1 procollagen mRNA expression and ALP activity. In conclusion, estrogen attenuates PTH-induced inhibition of osteoblast proliferation and PTH stimulates osteoblast function in the presence of estrogen pretreatment. IGF-I and/or IGFBP-5 seemed to be involved in the estrogen-induced modulation of PTH action on osteoblast proliferation and function.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Cbfa1 isoform overexpression upregulates osteocalcin gene expression in non-osteoblastic and pre-osteoblastic cells.

The mouse Cbfa1 gene potentially encodes several proteins that differ in their N-terminal sequences, including an osteoblast-specific transcription factor, Cbfa1/Osf2, a Cbfa1 isoform (Cbfa1/iso), and the originally described Cbfa1 gene product (Cbfa1/org). Uncertainty exists about the function of these potential isoforms of the Cbfa1 gene. To examine the transactivation potential of different Cbfa1 gene products, we compared the ability of Cbfa1/Osf2, Cbfa1/iso, and Cbfa1/org overexpression to activate an osteocalcin promoter/reporter construct in NIH3T3 fibroblasts, C3H10T1/2 pluripotent cells and MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. These three cell lines were transiently cotransfected with a 1.3-kb mouse osteocalcin promoter luciferase-fusion construct (p1.3OC-luc) and different amounts of expression vectors containing the respective full-length Cbfa1 isoform cDNAs. Using transfection protocols with lower amounts of expression plasmid DNAs, we found that all three Cbfa1 isoforms stimulated osteocalcin promoter activity in each of the cell types, consistent with the their ability to induce expression of an osteoblast-specific gene both in non-osteoblast cells and in osteoblast cell lines. However, using transfection protocols with higher amounts of expression plasmids containing Cbfa1 cDNAs, we found that the Cbfa1/Osf2 and Cbfa1/org had less transactivating potential compared with Cbfa1/iso. Our studies suggest that the 87-amino acid N-terminus of Cbfa1/Osf2 is not crucial for optimal transactivation, whereas the 19-amino acid N-terminal sequence of Cbfa1/iso augments transcriptional activation only at high doses of the expression plasmid. The physiological significance of these in vitro findings remain to be determined.

3T3 Cells↗

Prostate cancer cells-osteoblast interaction shifts expression of growth/survival-related genes in prostate cancer and reduces expression of osteoprotegerin in osteoblasts.

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer specifically metastasizes to bone where it leads to bone formation. We previously reported that coculturing MDA PCa 2b prostate cancer cells with primary mouse osteoblasts (PMOs) induced PMO proliferation and differentiation. An osteoblastic reaction was also observed in vivo after injection of MDA PCa 2b cells into the bones of severe combined immunodeficient disease mice. The aim of this study was to identify the sequence of events that leads to these osteoblastic lesions in vivo and, using this in vitro model, to define the contributions of various genes and cellular pathways in the pathophysiology of osteoblastic bone metastases of prostate cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND RESULTS: We show histological evidence of de novo bone formation as early as 2 weeks after injection of MDA PCa 2b cells in the bone of severe combined immunodeficient disease mice. In vitro, we show that PMOs induce MDA PCa 2b proliferation, suggesting a synergistic paracrine loop between these cells and PMOs. Endothelin (ET)-1, which is a mitogen for several cell types, is produced by all prostate cancer cell lines tested, and Atrasentan, an antagonist of ET-1 receptor A, partially reversed PMO proliferation induced by MDA PCa 2b cells. ET-1 is known to be comitogenic with a number of growth factors, including insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I. In this study, we report that IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-3 transcripts (that regulate levels of free IGF) are down-regulated in prostate cancer cells cocultured with PMO, whereas prostate-specific antigen (a protease known to cleave IGFBP-3) is detected in the 150-400 ng/ml range. Accordingly, IGFBP-3 has antiproliferative effects in PMOs, which were attenuated in our in vitro system. Taken together, our studies also implicate the IGF axis to play a role in this model of bone metastases. Secondly, the transcript level of mouse double minute 2 (a protein that regulate p53) was increased in prostate cancer cells grown with PMOs. The p53-dependent and -independent oncogenic activities of mouse double minute 2 suggest that osteoblasts induce a survival advantage in prostate cancer cells. Lastly, we show that expression of osteoprotegerin is decreased and of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand is increased in PMOs cultured in the presence of MDA PCa 2b cells, two events associated with osteoclast activation and bone resorption. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that multiple and distinct molecular events affecting both bone formation and bone resorption concur to the increase bone mass in prostate cancer bone metastases. These data also provide a rationale for developing therapeutic strategies designed to target these molecular changes.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

[Influence of vascular cell co-cultured with osteoblast in vitro on ability of osteoblast].

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE; The purpose of this study was to observe the influence on proliferation of rabbit osteoblast (ROB) of rabbit vascular endothelial cell(RVEC) co-cultured with rabbit osteoblast (ROB). METHODS: Rabbit osteoblasts and rabbit vascular endothelial cells in ratio of 1:0, 1:1, 2:1, 4:1 were selected to co-culture. The function of osteoblasts was assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin (OC) assay. RESULTS: There was good compatibility when osteoblasts and vascular endothelial cells were co-cultured. The activity of ALP and OC in the group of ROB and RVEC co-cultured in ratio of 2:1 was higher than that of the other three groups. CONCLUSION: In direct co-culture system in vitro, RVEC can improve activity of ROB.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Transforming growth factor--alpha stimulates chemotaxis of osteoblasts and osteoblast-like cells in vitro.

Homeostatic turnover of bone is believed to be regulated in part by growth factors present in the surrounding environment. The first step during the bone formation process is the recruitment of osteoblasts from the surrounding intact bone to the resorption site. In this study, the effects of TGF-alpha on osteoblast chemotaxis was investigated. Cultures of rat osteoblasts and human osteoblast-like cells were examined for chemotaxis in response to increasing concentrations of TGF-alpha utilizing a modified Boyden Chamber technique. TGF-alpha stimulated a dose-dependent increase in chemotaxis by both cell populations. These results indicate that TGF-alpha may be playing an important role in the early stages of bone matrix regeneration by stimulating osteoblast chemotaxis.

Animals↗

[The influence of fluoride on the development of the osteoblast phenotype in rat calvarial osteoblasts: an in vitro study]

OBJECTIVE:The effects of low doses fluoride on the phenotypic development of rat fetal calvarial osteoblast were studied because the cellular mechanism of fluoride promotes the increasing of bone volume clinically is unclear. METHODS:The influence of fluoride on the rat first passage osteoblast were valuated by histochemistry, enzyme-histochemistry and electron microanalysis in vitro.RESULTS:The study had revealed that not only the bone tubular and the degree of mineralization, but also the activity expression of alkaline phosphatase of osteoblasts in fluoride group were better than the control group. CONCLUSION:The results suggested that low doses fluoride might not only increase the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast precursors as well as the production and activity of alkaline phosphatase; but also favored the mineralized formation of osteoblast nodules.

Journal Article↗