PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “OSTEOBLASTS”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,207 records · Page 67Linked to original sources

Endothelin modulates osteopontin and osteocalcin messenger ribonucleic acid expression in rat osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells.

Endothelins (ETs) are vasoconstrictive peptides produced mainly by endothelial cells. The ET receptors are expressed in many types of cells including osteoblast-like cells. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of endothelin on the expression of osteoblastic phenotype-related genes. We found that endothelin-1 (ET-1) enhanced approximately two-fold the mRNA expression of both osteopontin and osteocalcin genes in rat osteoblastic osteosarcoma ROS17/2.8 cells. These effects were dose-dependent, peaking at 10(-7) M. The ET-1 enhancement of the abundance of osteopontin and osteocalcin mRNAs was time-dependent, with a maximal effect at 24 h. ET-1 modulation of the expression of the two phenotype-related gene products of osteoblasts suggests that endothelin is one of the cytokines which modulate osteoblastic functions and that this molecule may play a role in the regulation of bone metabolism.

Animals↗

Nuclear architecture supports integration of physiological regulatory signals for transcription of cell growth and tissue-specific genes during osteoblast differentiation.

During the past several years it has become increasingly evident that the three-dimensional organization of the nucleus plays a critical role in transcriptional control. The principal theme of this prospect will be the contribution of nuclear structure to the regulation of gene expression as functionally related to development and maintenance of the osteoblast phenotype during establishment of bone tissue-like organization. The contributions of nuclear structure as it regulates and is regulated by the progressive developmental expression of cell growth and bone cell related genes will be examined. We will consider signalling mechanisms that integrate the complex and interdependent responsiveness to physiological mediators of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. The focus will be on the involvement of the nuclear matrix, chromatin structure, and nucleosome organization in transcriptional control of cell growth and bone cell related genes. Findings are presented which are consistent with involvement of nuclear structure in gene regulatory mechanisms which support osteoblast differentiation by addressing four principal questions: 1) Does the representation of nuclear matrix proteins reflect the developmental stage-specific requirements for modifications in transcription during osteoblast differentiation? 2) Are developmental stage-specific transcription factors components of nuclear matrix proteins? 3) Can the nuclear matrix facilitate interrelationships between physiological regulatory signals that control transcription and the integration of activities of multiple promoter regulatory elements? 4) Are alterations in gene expression and cell phenotypic properties in transformed osteoblasts and osteosarcoma cells reflected by modifications in nuclear matrix proteins? There is a striking representation of nuclear matrix proteins unique to cells, tissues as well as developmental stages of differentiation, and tissue organization. Together with selective association of regulatory molecules with the nuclear matrix in a growth and differentiation-specific manner, there is a potential for application of nuclear matrix proteins in tumor diagnosis, assessment of tumor progression, and prognosis of therapies where properties of the transformed state of cells is modified. It is realistic to consider the utilization of nuclear matrix proteins for targeting regions of cell nuclei and specific genomic domains on the basis of developmental phenotypic properties or tissue pathology.

Animals↗

Signal transduction pathways mediating parathyroid hormone regulation of osteoblastic gene expression.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) plays a central role in regulation of calcium metabolism. For example, excessive or inappropriate production of PTH or the related hormone, parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP), accounts for the majority of the causes of hypercalcemia. Both hormones act through the same receptor on the osteoblast to elicit enhanced bone resorption by the osteoclast. Thus, the osteoblast mediates the effect of PTH in the resorption process. In this process, PTH causes a change in the function and phenotype of the osteoblast from a cell involved in bone formation to one directing the process of bone resorption. In response to PTH, the osteoblast decreases collagen, alkaline phosphatase, and osteopontin expression and increases production of osteocalcin, cytokines, and neutral proteases. Many of these changes have been shown to be due to effects on mRNA abundance through either transcriptional or post-transcriptional mechanisms. However, the signal transduction pathway for the hormone to cause these changes is not completely elucidated in any case. Binding of PTH and PTHrP to their common receptor has been shown to result in activation of protein kinases A and C and increases in intracellular calcium. The latter has not been implicated in any changes in mRNA of osteoblastic genes. On the other hand activation of PKA can mimic all the effects of PTH; protein kinase C may be involved in some responses. We will discuss possible mechanisms linking PKA and PKC activation to changes in gene expression, particularly at the nuclear level.

Animals↗

Mechanisms by which cells of the osteoblast lineage control osteoclast formation and activity.

The cells of bone are of two lineages, the osteoblasts arising from pluripotential mesenchymal cells and osteoclasts from hemopoietic precursors of the monocyte-macrophage series. Resorption of bone by the multinucleate osteoclast requires the generation of new osteoclasts and their activation. Many hormones and cytokines are able to promote bone resorption by influencing these processes, but they achieve this without acting directly on osteoclasts. Most evidence indicates that their actions are mediated by cells of the osteoblast lineage. Evidence for hormone- and cytokine-induced activation of osteoclasts requiring the mediation of osteoblasts comes from studies of resorption by isolated osteoclasts. However, consistent evidence for a specific "activating factor" is lacking, and the argument is presented that the isolated osteoclast resorption assays have not been shown convincingly to be assays of osteoclast activation. The view is presented that osteoblast-mediated osteoclast activation is the result of several events in the microenvironment without necessarily requiring the existence of a specific, essential osteoclast activator. On the other hand, a specific promoter of osteoclast differentiation does seem likely to be a product of cells of the stromal/osteoblast series. Evidence in favour of this comes from studies of osteoclast generation in co-cultures of osteoblast/stromal cells with hemopoietic cells. Conflicting views, maintaining that osteoclasts can develop from hemopoietic cells without stromal intervention, might be explained by varying criteria used in identification of osteoclasts. Osteoblastic and osteoclastic renewal, and the interactions of these lineages, are central to the process of bone remodeling.

Animals↗

Tensile stress induces alpha-adaptin C production in mouse calvariae in an organ culture: possible involvement of endocytosis in mechanical stress-stimulated osteoblast differentiation.

We previously demonstrated that tensile stress (TS)-induced osteoblast differentiation eventually led to osteogenesis in an organ culture of mouse calvarial sutures. In the present study, we employed RNA-fingerprinting using an arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (RAP-PCR) to identify alpha-adaptin C, a component of the endocytosis machinery AP2, as a TS-inducible gene. Protein production, as well as the gene expression of alpha-adaptin C, was induced by TS as early as 3 h following the initiation of loading. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the induction of alpha-adaptin C mostly occurred in fibroblastic cells in the sutures, suggesting that it precedes TS-induced osteoblast differentiation. Consistent with this result, TS significantly increased the number of coated pits (CPs) and coated vesicles (CVs) in the undifferentiated fibroblastic cells but not in the osteoblastic cells around calvarial bones. Further, TS-induced osteoblast differentiation was suppressed when endocytosis was inhibited by potassium depletion. These results, taken together, suggest that TS accelerates osteoblast differentiation and osteogenesis, possibly through the induction of the alpha-adaptin C expression and consequent activation of receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Adaptor Protein Complex 2↗

Human skeletal growth factor stimulates collagen synthesis and inhibits proliferation in a clonal osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1).

Human skeletal growth factor (hSGF), an 11-kD polypeptide purified from human bone, has been proposed to be a local regulator of bone formation. To investigate the underlying cellular mechanisms in an in vitro model system, we examined the effects of hSGF on proliferation and collagen synthesis in cells of the clonal osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1. This line was isolated from newborn mouse calvarial cells and retains many characteristics of mature osteoblasts (Sudo, H., et al., (1984) J. Cell Biol. 96:191). A 14-hr treatment with hSGF increased noncollagenous protein synthesis to 215% of unstimulated controls and increased collagen synthesis to 630% of controls as determined by [3H]proline incorporation and high-pressure liquid chromatographic separation of [3H]proline and [3H]hydroxyproline in acid hydrolysates of trichloroacetic acid-insoluble protein. HSGF did not increase cell number over a 48-hr period and caused a reversible inhibition of DNA synthesis. Half-maximal hSGF concentration for stimulation of [3H]proline incorporation and inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation was 100 ng/ml. HSGF also inhibited DNA synthesis in cells stimulated by serum. In contrast, hSGF stimulated both collagen synthesis and DNA synthesis in primary cultures of chick embryo bone cells, which may be developmentally less mature than MC3T3-E1 cells. The results suggest that hSGF directly stimulated mature osteoblast matrix synthetic activity and that hSGF has differential effects on proliferation of osteoblast progenitor cells and mature osteoblasts.

Animals↗

Plasminogen activator regulation in osteoblasts: parathyroid hormone inhibition of type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor and its mRNA.

In order to determine the mechanism by which parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates plasminogen activator (PA) activity in rat osteoblasts, we investigated the effect of human PTH(1-34) [hPTH(1-34)] on the synthesis of mRNAs for tissue-type PA (tPA), urokinase-type PA (uPA), and PA inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and on release of PA activity and PAI-1 protein in both normal rat calvarial osteoblasts and UMR 106-01 osteogenic sarcoma cells. hPTH(1-34) (0.25-25 nM) decreased PAI-1 mRNA and protein, and increased PA activity in both cell types in a dose-dependent manner with ED50 of about 1 nM for both responses. Forskolin and isobutylmethylxanthine also stimulated PA activity and decreased PAI-1 protein and mRNA in both cell types. hPTH(1-34) did not show any consistent effect on tPA and uPA mRNA in calvarial osteoblasts, but a modest (two-fold) increase of both mRNAs was observed in UMR 106-01 cells treated with 25 nM hPTH(1-34). However, when protein synthesis was inhibited with 100 microM cycloheximide, the increase of tPA and uPA mRNA by hPTH(1-34) was enhanced in UMR 106-01 cells and became evident in calvarial osteoblasts. Fibrin autography also revealed that hPTH(1-34) increases tPA and uPA activity, especially after cycloheximide treatment in UMR 106-01 cells. These results strongly suggest that PTH increases PA activity predominantly by decreasing PAI-1 protein production through a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent mechanism in rat osteoblasts. The reduction of PAI-1 protein by PTH results in enhanced action of both tPA and uPA, and would contribute to the specific roles of these PAs in bone.

Animals↗

Osteoblastic gene expression during adipogenesis in hematopoietic supporting murine bone marrow stromal cells.

A growing body of data suggests that the bone marrow stroma contains a population of pluripotent cells capable of differentiating into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and lymphohematopoietic supporting cells. In this work, the murine stromal cell lines BMS2 and +/+ 2.4 have been examined as preadipocytes and adipocytes for evidence of osteoblastic gene expression. Adipocyte differentiation has been quantitated using fluorescence activated cell sorting. Within 7-10 days of adipocyte induction by treatment with glucocorticoids, indomethacin, and methylisobutylxanthine, between 40% to 50% of the cells contain lipid vacuoles and exhibit a characteristic adipocyte morphology. Based on immunocytochemistry, both the adipocytes and preadipocytes express a number of osteoblastic markers; these include alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, collagen (I, III), bone sialoprotein II, and fibronectin. Based on biochemical assays, the level of alkaline phosphatase expression is not significantly different between preadipocyte and adipocyte cells. However, unlike rat cell lines, dexamethasone exposure causes a dose-dependent decrease in enzyme activity. The steady-state mRNA levels of the osteoblast associated genes varies during the process of adiopogenesis. The relative level of collagen I and collagen III mRNA is lower in adipocyte-induced cells when compared to the uninduced controls. Osteocalcin mRNA is detected in preadipocytes but absent in adipocytes. These data indicate that osteoblastic gene expression is detected in cells capable of undergoing adipocyte differentiation, consistent with the hypothesis that these cell lineages are interrelated.

Adipose Tissue↗

In vitro expression of osteoblastic markers in cells isolated from normal fetal and postnatal human bone and from bone of patients with osteogenesis imperfecta.

We studied the expression of osteoblastic markers in cultured cells isolated from the bone of 15 patients with different clinical forms of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and of seven fetal and postnatal controls. Cultured bone cells of ten OI patients produced abnormal collagen type I. Similar to controls, OI bone cells produced predominantly collagen type I with traces of collagen types III and V. The 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3-stimulated synthesis of osteocalcin, a specific osteoblastic marker protein, was similar in OI bone cells and age-matched controls. Bone cells from fetal controls and from patients with the perinatal lethal OI type II produced less osteocalcin than bone cells from postnatal controls and surviving OI patients. OI bone cells responded to parathyroid hormone (PTH) by increased production of cAMP similar to controls. Bone cells from fetal controls and from OI type II donors showed a decreased response to PTH. Activity of the bone-liver-kidney isoenzyme alkaline phosphatase (AP) was detected in all control and OI bone cells. The expression of all osteoblastic markers was similar in bone cells producing abnormal collagen type I. These observations show that OI bone cells in vitro express a pattern of osteoblastic markers similar to age-matched control bone cells indicating that osteoblastic differentiation is not altered by the underlying defects of collagen type I metabolism in OI bone cells.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Endothelin-1 expression in long-term cultures of fetal rat calvarial osteoblasts: regulation by BMP-7.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a vasoactive peptide that modulates bone metabolism via regulatory effects on osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and osteoclasts. While ET-1 may circulate in the blood stream, tissue-specific expression of this peptide is more physiologically relevant. In the present study we measured ET-1 synthesis in sections of fetal rat calvaria (FRC) and in cultured FRC osteoblasts. Regulation of ET-1 synthesis in FRC osteoblasts by bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) also was examined. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed ET-1 staining in calvarial osteoblasts, endothelial cells, and osteocytes. ET-1 mRNA expression was detected in cultured FRC cells and ET-1 peptide was present in conditioned media. During long-term culture of FRC cells (26 days) ET-1 peptide production rose sharply and peaked during the time of cellular proliferation (Days 0-3) then returned to baseline levels by Day 18, when mineralized nodules were forming. Treatment of FRC cells with BMP-7 enhanced ET-1 levels by three-fold on Day 3 and enhanced nodule formation by 15-fold on Day 26. To determine whether ET-1 was involved in an autocrine manner in BMP-7-induced nodule formation, cells were cultured in the presence of BMP-7 and BQ-123, an ET(A) receptor antagonist. BQ-123 had no effect on nodule formation in control or BMP-7-treated cells, indicating that osteoblast-derived ET-1 regulates other cell types in vivo during the bone formation process.

Animals↗

High-dose retinoic acid modulates rat calvarial osteoblast biology.

Retinoic acid has been shown to adversely affect craniofacial development. Cleft palate and craniosynostosis are two examples of craniofacial defects associated with prenatal exposure to this agent. Although the effects of retinoic acid on cephalic neural crest-derived tissues have previously been studied, the specific effects of retinoic acid on the cellular biology of osteoblasts remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze in detail the effects of pharmacologic doses of retinoic acid on the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts derived from an intramembranous source. Primary rat calvarial osteoblasts were established in culture and treated with 1 or 10 microM all-trans-retinoic acid. Retinoic acid treatment markedly increased expression of osteopontin up to 48 h after stimulation. Consistent with this early stage of differentiation, both mRNA and protein analysis of FGF receptor isoforms demonstrated a switch in predominance from fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (fgfr2) to fgfr1. Analysis of PCNA protein confirmed inhibition of proliferation by retinoic acid. To determine whether these alterations in osteoblast biology would lead to increased differentiation, we examined short term [alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity] and long term (von Kossa staining) surrogates of bone formation in vitro. These assays confirmed that retinoic acid increased osteogenesis, with a 4-fold increase in bone nodule formation in cells treated with 10 microM retinoic acid after 28 days. Overall, our results demonstrated that pharmacologic doses of all-trans-retinoic acid decreased osteoblast proliferation and increased differentiation, suggesting that retinoic acid may effect craniofacial development by pathologically enhancing osteogenesis.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Heparanase is expressed in osteoblastic cells and stimulates bone formation and bone mass.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are ubiquitous macromolecules. In bone, they are associated with cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The heparan sulfate (HS) chains of HSPGs bind a multitude of bioactive molecules, thereby controlling normal and pathologic processes. The HS-degrading endoglycosidase, heparanase, has been implicated in processes such as inflammation, vascularization associated with wound healing and malignancies, and cancer metastasis. Here we show progressive mRNA expression of the hpa gene (encoding heparanase) in murine bone marrow stromal cells undergoing osteoblastic (bone forming) differentiation and in primary calvarial osteoblasts. Bone marrow stromal cells derived from transgenic mice expressing recombinant human heparanase (rh-heparanase) and MC3T3 E1 osteoblastic cells exposed to soluble rh-heparanase spontaneously undergo osteogenic differentiation. In addition, the transgenic bone marrow stromal cells degrade HS chains. In wild-type (WT) and hpa-transgenic (hpa-tg) mice, heparanase is weakly expressed throughout the bone marrow with a substantial increase in osteoblasts and osteocytes, especially in the hpa-tg mice. Heparanase expression was absent in osteoclasts. Micro-computed tomographic and histomorphometric skeletal analyses in male and female hpa-tg versus WT mice show markedly increased trabecular bone mass, cortical thickness, and bone formation rate, but no difference in osteoclast number. Collectively, our data suggest that proteoglycans tonically suppress osteoblast function and that this inhibition is alleviated by HS degradation with heparanase.

Animals↗

Bone-specific heparan sulfates induce osteoblast growth arrest and downregulation of retinoblastoma protein.

The heparan sulfate (HSs) sugars of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a key role during both development and wound repair in regulating the flow of growth and adhesive factors across their cell surface receptors. The aim of this study was to assess the structural and functional differences of HS chains extracted from the conditioned media (soluble), cell surface, and ECM of primary human osteoblast cultures, and to analyze their effects on osteoblast cell growth. HS chains from these compartments were characterized through a combination of enzymatic degradation, anion exchange chromatography, and molecular sieving. Although the chains were all approximately the same size, they varied systematically in their sulfate content, suggesting differences in their protein-binding domains. When added to pre-confluent hFOB1.19 osteoblast cultures, HS doses exceeding 500 ng/ml inhibited proliferation, without affecting viability, irrespective of their origin. Furthermore, HS doses of 500 ng/ml also downregulated retinoblastoma, Cyclin A and CDK1 protein expression, indicating that high doses of osteoblast HS negatively regulate cell cycle, resulting in growth arrest; when high doses of HS were withdrawn after a prolonged period, linear cell growth was reestablished. Thus, despite differences in sulfation, HS from either the soluble, cell surface, or matrix compartments of primary human osteoblast cultures are functionally similar with respect to their effects on growth. Binding assays revealed that the HS chains bound TGFbeta1, a known inhibitor of osteoprogenitor growth, at higher affinity than a suite of other bone-related, heparin-binding growth factors. Overcoming such sugar-mediated inhibition may prove important for wound repair.

Adult↗

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) induces RANKL, MCP-1, and MIP-1beta expression in osteoblasts through the angiotensin II type 1 receptor.

Constant mechanical stress is essential for the maintenance of bone mass and strength, which is achieved through the cooperative functions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. However, it has not been fully elucidated how these cell types mediate mechanical signals. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy is a recently developed method for application of mechanical stress, and is used clinically to promote bone fracture healing. In the present study, we applied LIPUS to osteoblasts at different stages of maturation and analyzed their chemokine and cytokine expression. In comparison with their immature counterparts, mature osteoblasts expressed significantly higher levels of mRNAs for the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and macrophage-inflammatory protein (MIP)-1beta after a few hours of LIPUS treatment. Intriguingly, protein and mRNA expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1), a known mechanoreceptor in cardiomyocytes, was detected in osteoblasts, and the level of expression increased significantly during cell maturation. Furthermore, LIPUS-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and RANKL/chemokine expression was abrogated by a specific AT1 inhibitor. Thus, AT1 may play one of the essential roles in bone metabolism as a mechanoreceptor of osteoblasts.

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers↗

BMP-2 promotes differentiation of osteoblasts and chondroblasts in Runx2-deficient cell lines.

To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the differentiation of osteoblasts and chondroblasts, we established a clonal cell lines, RD-C6, from Runx2-deficient mouse embryos. RD-C6 cells expressed almost undetectable levels of phenotypes related to osteoblast and chondroblast differentiation at basal culture condition, whereas treatment with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) or transduction of BMP-2 by adenovirus effectively induced this cell line to express mRNA related to the differentiation of osteoblasts and chondroblasts including alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and osterix. Transduction of Runx2 also induced the expression of these mRNA in RD-C6 cells. BMP-2 transduction increased expression levels of mRNA for Msx2 and Dlx5, but Runx2 transduction induced no significant increases in expression levels of these mRNA. Microarray analysis using RD-C6 cells with or without rhBMP-2 treatment demonstrated that BMP-2 upregulated 66 genes including 13 transcription-related molecules such as Id1, Id2, Id4, Hey1, Smad6, Smad7, and Msx2. To confirm bone and cartilage formation ability of RD-C6 cells, we transplanted RD-C6 cells into the peritoneal cavity of athymic mice using diffusion chambers with rhBMP-2. RD-C6 cells generated unmineralized cartilage but not bone. These results indicate that BMP-2 induces Runx2-deficient cells to express markers related to osteoblast and chondroblast differentiation using a Runx2-independent pathway, but it failed to induce these cells to differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts and mature chondrocytes.

Animals↗

Modulation of cell phenotype in human osteoblast-like cells by the simian virus 40.

At present, the majority of in vitro research into bone metabolism is performed on either primary cultures of bone or osteosarcoma lines. A better model of the behaviour of normal bone cells would be a cell line derived from normal, adult bone that retained osteoblast-like characteristics. We infected a culture of bone cells from adult humans with simian virus 1613, a variant of the simian virus 40, and obtained 12 clones of variable morphology. The clones were maintained in culture for as long as 6 months. Population doubling times, synthesis of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, secretion of mineral, morphology, and ability to withstand freezing were examined. SV/EC cell morphology varied from the polygonal, osteoblast-like to the bipolar, fibroblast-like. Population doubling times ranged from 0.55 to 2.8 days (compared with 3.9 days for the nontransformed human osteoblast-like cells). Synthesis of alkaline phosphatase varied but was less than that by the human osteoblast-like cells. With the exception of clone 11, all of the transformed clones synthesised mineral in vitro under mineralising conditions. Four clones showed increased synthesis of alkaline phosphatase and increased population doubling times after passaging. All of the clones were successfully frozen and thawed, but, unlike normal human osteoblast-like cells, none responded to stimulation with parathyroid hormone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Osteoblast adhesion to orthopaedic implant alloys: effects of cell adhesion molecules and diamond-like carbon coating.

In total joint arthroplasty, long-term outcomes depend in part on the biocompatibility of implant alloys. This study analyzed effects of surface finish and diamond-like carbon coating on osteoblast cell adhesion to polished titanium-aluminum-vanadium and polished or grit-blasted cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys. Osteoblast binding was tested in the presence and absence of the cell adhesion proteins fibronectin, laminin, fibrinogen, and vitronectin and was quantified by measurement of DNA content. Although adherence occurred in serum-free medium, maximal osteoblast binding required serum and was similar for titanium and cobalt alloys at 2 and 12 hours. With the grit-blasted cobalt alloy, cell binding was reduced 48% (p < 0.05) by 24 hours. Coating the alloys with diamond-like carbon did not alter osteoblast adhesion, whereas fibronectin pretreatment increased cell binding 2.6-fold (p < 0.05). In contrast, fibrinogen, vitronectin, and laminin did not enhance cell adhesion. These results support the hypothesis that cell adhesion proteins can modify cell binding to orthopaedic alloys. Although osteoblast binding was not affected by the presence of diamond-like carbon, this coating substance may influence other longer term processes, such as bone formation, and deserves further study.

Alloys↗

Characterization of human bone marrow stromal cells with respect to osteoblastic differentiation.

Human bone marrow was harvested by means of iliac crest aspiration and cultured under conditions that promote an osteoblastic phenotype. Human bone marrow aspirates from 30 normal subjects, ages 8-80 years, with no systemic illness, yielded a mean of 92 +/- 65 x 10(6) nucleated cells per 2 ml of aspirate. The prevalence of potential osteoblastic progenitors was estimated by counting the number of alkaline phosphatase-positive colonies. This assay demonstrated a mean of 43 +/- 28 alkaline phosphatase-positive colonies per 10(6) nucleated cells, which was about one per 23,000 nucleated cells. The prevalence of these colonies was positively correlated with the concentration of nucleated cells in the original aspirate (p = 0.014) and was negatively correlated with donor age (p = 0.020). The population of alkaline phosphatase-positive colonies in this model sequentially exhibited markers of the osteoblastic phenotype; essentially all colonies (more than 99%) stained positively for alkaline phosphatase on day 9. Matrix mineralization, which was associated with the synthesis of bone sialoprotein, was demonstrated on day 17 with alizarin red S staining. On day 45, cells that were stimulated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 synthesized and secreted osteocalcin at concentrations consistent with known osteoblastic cell lines. This model provides a useful method for the assay of progenitors of connective tissue from human subjects, examination of the effects of aging and selected disease states on this progenitor population, and investigation into the regulation of human osteoblastic differentiation.

Adipocytes↗