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Osteoblastic cells from rat long bone. I. Characterization of their differentiation in culture.

We here report the characterization for osteogenic markers alkaline phosphate (AP), osteocalcin, and mineral deposition of osteoblast cultures derived from cells migrating out from seven-day-old rat tibia fragments. The cells outgrown from bone fragments responded to stimulation with PTH with cAMP increase. We show in these cultures a high level of biosynthesis of type III collagen and osteonectin, and report the stimulatory effect that conditioned serum-free media (CM) from these cultures exert on the migration of endothelial cells (EA hy 926). The cultures were kept for the initial seven days in a Coon's modified F12 medium, then were switched to a medium containing ascorbic acid and beta-glycerophosphate (BGP), and cultured for another 41 days. They showed constitutive and timely restricted osteoblast markers and mineralization. Maximal AP activity occurred in concomitance with cell doubling, then fell to low levels by the time cultures were stationary. 45Ca incorporation in the monolayer increased after four weeks of culture, in concomitance with the appearance of unmineralized nodules, and remained high throughout the phase of mineral deposition. Biosynthesis of collagens type I, type III, and type V was detected at all times; secreted newly synthesized collagens decreased overall, relative to total secreted newly synthesized proteins, and on a per cell basis, with progression of the culture, while the ratio of collagen type III/collagen type I increased. Osteonectin was detected by immunohistochemistry and high amounts of osteonectin were synthesized constitutively. Osteocalcin was detected on virtually all cells tested at 21 and 28 days. A preliminary step in neoangiogenesis is the migration of endothelial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Adhesive properties of isolated chick osteocytes in vitro.

Different functions have been proposed for osteocytes over time, but it is now generally accepted that their most important task lies in the sensing of strain caused by mechanical loading on bone. The fact that mechanical strain can be sensed as deformation of the extracellular matrix or as fluid shear stress along the cell, in the space between cell membrane and extracellular matrix, requires that osteocytes have close (specialized) contact with the bone matrix. We studied to which extracellular matrix proteins isolated chicken osteocytes adhere and whether this adhesion is mediated by specific cell adhesion receptors called integrins. The adhesive properties of the osteocytes were compared with that of osteoblasts. Osteocytes (and osteoblasts) adhere to the same substrates (i.e., collagen types I and II, collagen fibers, osteopontin, osteonectin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, thrombospondin, and laminin). Cell spreading varied between substrates, from all cells rounded on thrombospondin to all cells fully spread out on osteopontin, osteonectin, vitronectin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, and laminin. The percentage of osteocytes adhered was equivalent to that of osteoblasts adhered on all substrates except osteopontin and vitronectin, where osteocytes adhered less. The adhesion of osteocytes and osteoblasts to osteopontin, osteonectin, vitronectin, and fibrinogen was strongly inhibited, and to fibronectin and laminin moderately, by an RGD peptide. No RGD inhibition was found on collagen. An antibody against chicken integrin alpha v beta 3, the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 23C6, did not interfere with the adhesion of osteocytes and osteoblasts to matrix proteins, whereas an MAb against chicken integrin subunit beta 1 (CSAT) strongly inhibited adhesion to all substrates. Labeling with osteocyte-specific MAbs (OB7.3, OB37.4, and OB37.11) also did not hinder the adhesion of osteocytes to collagen type I, vitronectin, and osteopontin. Adhesion sites on osteocytes were small compared with the large adhesion plaques of osteoblasts, as demonstrated by interference reflection microscopy and immunocytochemically by staining for vinculin. Osteocyte adhesion is analogous to osteoblast adhesion with regard to the range of extracellular matrix proteins to which they adhere. The adhesion is mediated by the integrin subunit beta 1, but other integrins or nonintegrin adhesion receptors are also involved. Osteocytes make contact with the extracellular matrix via small attachment points which colocalize with vinculin. This connection between the bone matrix and the cytoskeleton may be important for osteocytic sensing of mechanical strain, as it supplies a transduction route of extracellular (mechanical) signals into intracellular messages.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibodies to native noncollagenous bone-specific proteins.

Hybridoma technology was used for preparation of murine monoclonal antibodies of high titer against bone-Gla protein and osteonectin. A procedure of immunization and hybridization similar to that already described [Katzmann, J.A., Nesheim, M.E., Hibbard, L.S. & Mann, K.G. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78, 162-166; and Foster, W.B., Katzmann, J.A., Miller, R.S., Nesheim, M.E. & Mann, K.G. (1982) Thromb. Res. 28, 649-661] was used. However, in contrast to earlier studies, mice were immunized with an unfractionated protein mixture that had been extracted from bone under nondenaturing conditions. The extract was labeled with 125I by the chloramine-T method. After fusion and initial hybrid growth, screening was accomplished by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay with total 125I-labeled bovine bone protein extract as the tracer. The identities of antibody-bound 125I-labeled proteins were assessed by dissolution of the solid-phase immune complex in NaDodSO4 and subsequent electrophoresis and autoradiography. Clones producing specific antibody to a single protein were selected by limiting dilution. The identity of the proteins against which the specific antibodies were produced was confirmed by immunoprecipitation, electrophoresis, and autoradiography. From two fusions, 30 positive hybrids to bone-Gla protein were identified; 7 of these were subcloned and 1 has been expanded as an ascites tumor. One hybrid population was positive for osteonectin, a Mr 15,000 peptide, and for bone-Gla protein. By limiting dilution, the osteonectin clone was selected and subsequently expanded as an ascites tumor. Titration curves made using the respective 125I-labeled purified proteins show the ascites tumors to be producing antibody of high titer (I50 = 10(-6) for anti-bone-Gla protein and (I50 = 10(-5) for antiosteonectin. Both of the antibovine antibodies are cross-reactive with the corresponding human protein. Immobilized specific anti-bone-Gla protein has been used to isolate human bone-Gla protein from an EDTA extract of human cortical bone. Thus, this method offers the possibility of developing a complete library of monoclonal antibodies against these and other bone-specific proteins.

Animals↗

Bone-related genes expressed in advanced malignancies induce invasion and metastasis in a genetically defined human cancer model.

We employed a genetically defined human cancer model to investigate the contributions of two genes up-regulated in several cancers to phenotypic changes associated with late stages of tumorigenesis. Specifically, tumor cells expressing two structurally unrelated bone-related genes, osteonectin and osteoactivin, acquired a highly invasive phenotype when implanted intracranially in immunocompromised mice. Mimicking a subset of gliomas, tumor cells invaded brain along blood vessels and developed altered vasculature at the brain-tumor interface, suggesting that production of those two proteins by tumor cells may create a complex relationship between invading tumor and vasculature co-opted during tumor invasion. Interestingly, the same tumor cells formed massive spontaneous metastases when implanted subcutaneously. This dramatic alteration in tumor phenotype indicates that cellular microenvironment plays an important role in defining the specific effects of those gene products in tumor behavior. In vitro examination of tumor cells expressing either osteonectin or osteoactivin revealed that there was no impact on cellular growth or death but increased invasiveness and expression of MMP-9 and MMP-3. Specific pharmacologic inhibitors of MMP-2/9 and MMP-3 blocked the increased in vitro invasion associated with osteoactivin expression, but only MMP-3 inhibition altered the invasive in vitro phenotype mediated by osteonectin. Results from this genetically defined model system are supported by similar findings obtained from several established tumor cell lines derived originally from human patients. In sum, these results reveal that the expression of a single bone-related gene can dramatically alter or modify tumor cell behavior and may confer differential growth characteristics in different microenvironments. Genetically defined human cancer models offer useful tools in functional genomics to define the roles of specific genes in late stages of carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Submicroscopic and immunohistochemical profile of surface osteosarcomas.

While the analysis of the clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic features of surface osteosarcomas has been the subject of several papers, identification of the phenotypic features of these tumors has so far received little attention. The aim of the present study was to characterize the neoplastic cells of surface osteosarcomas using an ultrastructural and immunohistochemical approach. Glutaraldehyde-fixed, epoxy resin-embedded archival pieces of tissue from 8 surface osteosarcomas (4 parosteal low-grade osteosarcomas, 3 dedifferentiated parosteal osteosarcomas, 1 periosteal osteosarcoma) were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. Sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens were employed for the immunohistochemical analysis of osteonectin and osteocalcin, two markers of cells of osteoblastic lineage, and sigma-smooth muscle actin and muscle specific actin. By electron microscopy, the tumors were composed of a mixture of neoplastic cells with varied differentiation, i.e., osteoblast-like, fibroblast-like, myofibroblast-like, and chondroblast-like. The latter were particularly abundant in the periosteal osteosarcoma. Osteocalcin expression was detected in the cytoplasm of neoplastic cells in 6 cases (66.6%), while osteonectin was expressed at least focally in all cases. The expression of the noncollagenous bone proteins was higher in low-grade osteosarcomas than in dedifferentiated osteosarcomas. sigma-Smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin expression were detected in 4 (44.4%) and 5 (55.5%) cases respectively, and the distribution was similar in both low-grade and dedifferentiated lesions. The results do not confirm previous observations regarding the prevalence of a specific cellular phenotype in surface osteosarcomas. Further, the myofibroblast-like cells that are present in variable numbers in these tumors are probably modified osteoblasts, since they co-express actin, osteonectin, and osteocalcin.

Actins↗

Basement membrane components secreted by mouse yolk sac carcinoma cell lines.

Three new cell lines (NE, ME, LRD) were cloned from mouse-embryo-derived teratocarcinomas and characterized on the basis of developmental, ultrastructural, and cytochemical criteria as nullipotent embryonal carcinoma (EC), pure parietal yolk sac (PYS) carcinoma and mixed parieto-visceral yolk sac carcinoma respectively. Cell lines NE and ME were composed of a monomorphous cell population; however, the morphology of ME was growth-medium-dependent. LRD was composed of a heterogeneous cell population and formed embryoid bodies. NE secreted soluble laminin, osteonectin, entactin and fibronectin but did not form visible pericellular matrix. ME formed pericellular matrix which was composed of laminin and entactin, but did not contain fibronectin. The LRD cells formed pericellular matrix which was composed of laminin, entactin and fibronectin. Whereas laminin from ME and LRD reacted with polyclonal antibodies and a monoclonal antibody to parietal yolk sac laminin, the laminin from NE cells was unreactive with the monoclonal antibody. Osteonectin was found in the supernatant of LRD and ME, but could not be demonstrated immunohistochemically in the extracellular matrix. We conclude that some extracellular matrix components, such as laminin and fibronectin, are produced not only by yolk sac carcinoma cells but by nullipotent EC as well, although the latter do not assemble them into extracellular matrix. Laminin produced by EC is immunochemically different from laminin secreted by yolk sac carcinoma. The extracellular matrix produced by mixed parieto-visceral yolk sac carcinoma is different from the matrix laid down by the pure PYS in that the latter does not contain fibronectin. The lack of osteonectin in the extracellular matrix of yolk sac carcinoma cells indicates that not all polypeptides secreted by these cell lines are incorporated into the extracellular matrix. The new cell lines described in this paper differ with regard to their capacity to form extracellular matrix and secrete its various components. Hence they could be used for further studies of basement membrane assembly in vitro.

Animals↗

Markers of bone and cementum formation accumulate in tissues regenerated in periodontal defects treated with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membranes.

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is a concept that evolved from the development of membrane-barrier techniques, which allow the repopulation of periodontal wounds by specific cells, resulting in a new attachment apparatus. To help understand the biological mechanisms involved in membrane barrier-led periodontal healing, the present study investigated the macromolecules phenotypic of bone and cementum formation in tissues grown under the GTR barrier by immunolocalization. Periodontal regeneration was initiated by placing barriers on experimentally induced periodontal defects in a Rhesus monkey model. Samples were harvested 6 wk after healing and sections of soft tissues grown under GTR barriers (membrane tissue) were stained with antibodies to bone morphogenetic proteins-2 and 4 (BMP-2, BMP-4), bone morphogenetic protein-7 (OP-1), cementum attachment protein (CAP), osteonectin (OTN) and bone sialoprotein (BSP). Tissues grown in the absence of any barrier device served as a control (control tissue). Membrane periodontal tissues from beneath the ePTFE membrane were comprised of spindle-shaped fibroblast-like cells encased in a dense fibrillar extracellular matrix (ECM). Round-shaped cells aggregated to form nodules. Newly formed hard tissue was conspicuous. A similar, but very disorganized, fiber network was observed in control tissues, but neither nodule formation nor hard tissue was observed. Osteonectin staining was observed in the ECM of membrane tissues and particularly in the area of the connective tissue adjacent to newly formed hard tissue. The dense network of connective tissue fibers was also stained. In control tissues, cells and fiber network had a significantly weaker signal for osteonectin. An intense reaction was observed in membrane tissues stained for BSP, particularly the connective tissue adjacent to the newly formed hard tissue, while the control tissues did not stain for BSP. Cementum attachment protein (CAP) was observed in the connective tissue adjacent to the newly formed hard tissue of the membrane tissues whereas control tissues exhibited no CAP staining. In membrane tissues, BMP-2 and 4 distribution was found to concentrate in nodule areas, in the newly formed hard tissue and in the fiber network, while very faint staining was observed in control sections. The distribution of OP-1 in membrane and control tissues was found to mimic the BMP-2 pattern, but staining was more distributed in hard tissue matrix. When the profile of BMP-2, BMP-4, OP-1, OTN, CAP and BSP staining was analyzed on membrane tissue sections, striking similarities were noted in the connective tissue adjacent to the newly formed hard tissue and in nodular areas. In addition, the localization of BMP-2 and BMP-4 mRNA was investigated in both tissues by in situ hybridization. An intense expression of BMP-2 and 4 transcripts was observed in membrane tissues while control tissues never yielded any positive hybridization signal. The correlation between these histochemical findings strongly suggests that the forming soft tissues under ePTFE membranes contain cells and ECM macromolecules normally associated with bone and cementum.

Alveolar Process↗

Ultrastructural analysis of bone calcification by using energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy.

In order to elucidate the mechanisms of bone calcification, embryonic rat calvariae treated with chemical or cryo-fixation were observed using transmission electron microscopy by three techniques: fine structures, various cvtochemical localizations including nonspecific proteoglycan, decorin, chondroitin 4-sulfate, hyaluronan, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteonectin, as well as the elemental mapping of calcium and phosphorus by energy-filtering electron microscopy. In the calvariae, the calcification sequence ran as follows crystallization within matrix vesicles, formation of calcified nodules, collagen calcification, and finally the establishment of an expansive calcified matrix. The osteoid contained an abundance of mesh-like fibers of proteoglycans, including decorin, chondroitin 4-sulfate, and hyaluronan, around collagen fibrils approximately 50 nm in diameter. Calcium tended to localize at the proteoglycan sites, while phosphorus was often mapped to the collagen fibril-structures in the osteoid. Calcium/phosphorus co-localization was found in and around the calcified nodules, where ALP and small sized proteoglycans were observed. During this stage, native proteoglycans surrounding the collagen fibrils disappeared, with the collagen fibrils fusing laterally, and attaining a diameter of more than 400nm. The calcified nodules expanded to occupy the entire space made available by the collagen fibril-fusion, following osteonectin accumulation in the calcified nodule/collagen fibril border. In conclusion, crystals present within the matrix vesicles became calcified nodules, in a process induced by the co-localization of calcium and phosphorus. ALP and proteoglycans may participate in the calcium/phosphorus co-localization. Decreases in the native proteoglycans, and the lateral fusion of collagen fibrils are thought to be involved in the expansion of calcified areas, followed by osteonectin-mediated collagen calcification.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Evaluation of proliferation and protein expression of human bone marrow cells cultured on coral crystallized in the aragonite of calcite form.

The two crystalline forms of CaCO3, aragonite (from natural coral) and calcite (from natural limestone), have been used with success as bone graft substitutes. However, natural coral transformed into calcite by heating has never been tested. The objective of this work was to study the proliferation and alkaline phosphatase, osteonectin, and osteocalcin expression of human bone marrow cells cultured on CaCO3 crystallized both in the aragonite form (natural coral) and in the calcite form (natural coral modified by heating). The methods used to characterize calcite obtained from the coral were volumic porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. Cell colonization of the material was assessed by SEM performed on days 1, 7, 20, and 30 and [3H]thymidine incorporation was performed on days 3, 7, 12, 18, 25, and 32. Phenotypic expression was assessed by using in situ cytochemistry (alkaline phosphatase), immunocytochemistry (osteonectin and osteocalcin), and hybridization (osteocalcin, beta-actin, and alkaline phosphatase mRNA). Results showed the transformation of aragonite into calcite after heating, the conservation of macroporosity, and a modification of the surface. Calcite appeared to have a smoother and more uniform surface than aragonite crystals. As for [3H]thymidine there was an increase incorporation from days 3 to 18, a stabilization from days 18 to 25, and a decrease from days 25 to 32. After 20 days of culture, immunological studies using monoclonal antibodies to osteocalcin, osteonectin, cytochemical analysis of alkaline phosphatase activity, and in situ hybridization using osteocalcin, beta-actin, and alkaline phosphatase cDNA indicated that the cells had not lost their osteoblastic phenotype. These experiments demonstrate that coral crystallized in the aragonite or calcite form present a similar degree of specific cytocompatibility.

Animals↗

In vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells into mineralized osteoblasts.

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of mouse blastocysts that have been shown to differentiate spontaneously into cell types representing all three germ layers. This study shows that ES cells were induced to differentiate in vitro into mineralized osteoblasts under the influence of ascorbic acid, beta-glycerophosphate and 1alpha,25-OH vitamin D3. The activity of alkaline phosphatase, an early osteoblast marker, was found to be increased around day 12 of culture. Mineralized cells were clearly identified by histochemical staining, which detects mineralized calcium. The major noncollagenous component of bone matrix, osteocalcin, was localized to the mineralized cells by immunofluorescence. The expression of bone-specific genes was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR. Osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein (BSP) were identified as early as in the fourth week of embryonic stem cell culture, both being characteristic for late stages of osteoblastic differentiation, indicating that at this time of culture the identified cells represent "mature" osteoblasts. The osteoblast-specific transcription factor Cbfa1 was induced a few days earlier. The expression of osteopontin and osteonectin, both being involved in binding calcium ions and hydroxyapatite during mineralization processes, as well as of collagen type I, representing by far the most predominant collagen in vertebrate organisms, is enhanced at the beginning of the second culture week upon addition of supplements. In the third week of culture, treated cells showed a second peak of osteopontin, osteonectin and collagen type I expression, osteopontin and osteonectin being stimulated 3-4-fold and collagen type I being induced 6-fold over control values. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression was enhanced at the beginning of the third week of culture and was found to be increased again at later stages of culture at days 27-34. The in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into osteoblasts may provide a suitable model for studying the molecular processes of osteoblastic development in vivo.

Animals↗

Expression of the gene encoding the matrix gla protein by mature osteoblasts in human fracture non-unions.

BACKGROUND: Osteoblast phenotypic abnormality, namely the expression of collagen type III, has been shown previously in fracture non-union woven bone. AIMS: To investigate osteoblasts from fracture non-unions for evidence of gene expression of non-collagenous bone matrix proteins that have been implicated in mineralisation, namely matrix gla protein (MGP), osteonectin, osteopontin, and osteocalcin. MGP is a consistent component of bone matrix, but there are no reports of osteoblasts in the skeleton expressing the gene for MGP, and the site of synthesis of skeletal MGP (perhaps the liver) has yet to be determined. METHODS: Biopsies from normally healing human fractures and non-unions were examined by means of in situ hybridisation, using 35S labelled probes and autoradiography to disclose levels of gene expression. RESULTS: In normally healing fractures, mature osteoblasts on woven bone were negative for MGP mRNA, but positive for osteonectin, osteopontin, and osteocalcin mRNA molecules. In non-unions, osteoblasts displayed a novel phenotype: they were positive for MGP mRNA, in addition to osteonectin, osteopontin, and osteocalcin mRNA molecules. CONCLUSIONS: Mature osteoblasts in slowly healing fractures have an unusual phenotype: they express the gene encoding MGP, which indicates that control of osteoblast gene expression in non-unions is likely to be abnormal. This might be of importance in the pathogenesis of non-uniting human fractures, and is of current interest given the emerging status of MGP as an inhibitor of mineralisation.

1-Carboxyglutamic Acid↗

A study of bone formation in osteoma cutis employing biochemical, histochemical and in situ hybridization techniques.

A female presenting multiple osteoma cutis lesions without underlying endocrinological disturbance was studied. Histologically, lesions revealed true bone formation with multiple osteoblastic cells. This was confirmed by demonstrating high alkaline phosphatase activity and osteonectin expression in osteoma cutis lesions. Interestingly, tenascin and type III procollagen were in close association to bony lesions, indicating that these matrix proteins may be somehow involved in bone formation. In situ hybridization revealed fibroblastic cells around bony lesions, which actively deposited type I collagen and osteonectin. One of the activators of bone formation, TGF beta, was also present in some osteoblastic cells. The results thus indicate that in osteoma cutis, fibroblasts have the ability to differentiate into osteoblastic cells, which have some properties of osteoblasts, such as high alkaline phosphatase activity and a high expression of osteonectin.

Adult↗

Gene expression in mineralizing chick epiphyseal cartilage.

To map transcriptional events associated with mineralization in developing long bones, we have established protocols for preparing RNA from regions of chick epiphyseal cartilage. Using these RNA preparations, we have probed for appearance of mRNA coding for type I, II, and X collagen, as well as osteonectin and calmodulin. Type II collagen mRNA was found in proliferating cartilage and, in lower amounts, in hypertrophic/calcifying cartilage. Type X mRNA was absent from proliferating cartilage and present in hypertrophic/calcifying cartilage at steady state levels slightly lower than that of type II mRNA. Type I mRNA was the major collagen mRNA species in endochondral bone; however, significant amounts of type X mRNA were also found. Examination of type X/type II ratios suggest that the cells producing type X mRNA in bone are different from those in the hypertrophic/calcifying cartilage region. Osteonectin mRNA was present in endochondral bone; however, significant amounts were also detected in precalcified cartilage. Indeed, the level of osteonectin mRNA was significantly higher in the resting/proliferating region than in the hypertrophic/calcifying region of the cartilage. No correlation was observed between calmodulin mRNA and the development of mineralization; levels of this message were slightly lower in endochondral bone, embryonic sterna, and calvaria than they were in chick liver and considerably lower than the calmodulin mRNA levels in chick brain.

Animals↗

Histomorphometric and molecular biologic comparison of bioactive glass granules and autogenous bone grafts in augmentation of bone defect healing.

The applicability of bioactive glass (BG) granules as a substitute for bone grafts was tested by comparing the histologic, histomorphometric, and molecular biologic healing patterns to those of bone autografts and ungrafted bone defects in a rat model. The cellular response in defects filled with BG granules was characterized by continuous overexpression of type III collagen. Osteogenic mesenchymal cells, prior to their differentiation to osteoblasts, organized as a dense periosteumlike layer on the surface of the BG granules. By day 14 new bone formation was more extensive in autografted defects than in BG filled defects (p = 0.039). No cartilage-specific type II collagen mRNA was detectable, confirming the uniformity of intramembranous bone formation. The difference in the initiation of new bone formation was further confirmed by the mRNA analyses of the de novo production of TGF-beta 1 and type I collagen. Autografted defects demonstrated the highest levels of TGF-beta 1 and type I collagen mRNAs during the first 2 weeks of healing, whereas BG-filled defects showed biphasic expression patterns of the same genes. Spontaneous new bone formation in ungrafted bone defects was also characterized by biphasic expression of type I collagen gene. Osteonectin mRNA declined gradually over time in autografted and BG filled defects, whereas unfilled defects showed a gradual increase of osteonectin mRNA during healing. By 8 weeks, about 70% of the BG surface showed evidence of direct new bone contact. Energy-dispersing X-ray analyses confirmed the presence of silica-rich and CaP-rich zones at the bonding interface. In conclusion, the osteoconductive surface of bioactive glass granules efficiently bonds to ongrowing new bone but the material does not reach the capacity of autogenous bone graft in promotion of osteogenesis.

Animals↗

Expression patterns of bone-related proteins during osteoblastic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells.

Bone formation involves several tightly regulated gene expression patterns of bone-related proteins. To determine the expression patterns of bone-related proteins during the MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cell differentiation, we used Northern blotting, enzymatic assay, and histochemistry. We found that the expression patterns of bone-related proteins were regulated in a temporal manner during the successive developmental stages including proliferation (days 4-10), bone matrix formation/maturation (days 10-16), and mineralization stages (days 16-30). During the proliferation period (days 4-10), the expression of cell-cycle related genes such as histone H3 and H4, and ribosomal protein S6 was high. During the bone matrix formation/maturation period (days 10-16), type I collagen expression and biosynthesis, fibronectin, TGF-beta 1 and osteonectin expressions were high and maximal around day 16. During this maturation period, we found that the expression patterns of bone matrix proteins were two types: one is the expression pattern of type I collagen and TGF-beta 1, which was higher in the maturation period than that in both the proliferation and mineralization periods. The other is the expression pattern of fibronectin and osteonectin, which was higher in the maturation and mineralization periods than in the proliferation period. Alkaline phosphatase activity was high during the early matrix formation/maturation period (day 10) and was followed by a decrease to a level still significantly above the baseline level seen at day 4. During the mineralization period (days 16-30), the number of nodules and the expression of osteocalcin were high. Osteocalcin gene expression was increased up to 28 days. Our results show that the expression patterns of bone-related proteins are temporally regulated during the MC3T3-E1 cell differentiation and their regulations are unique compared with other systems. Thus, this cell line provides a useful in vitro system to study the developmental regulation of bone-related proteins in relation to the different stages during the osteoblast differentiation.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Tissue responses around polymethylmethacrylate particles implanted into bone: analysis of expression of bone matrix protein mRNAs by in situ hybridization.

Tissue responses around implanted polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles were analyzed by in situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labeled procollagen alpha1(I) (COL), osteonectin, osteocalcin, and osteopontin (OPN) mRNA probes. PMMA particles (150-300 microm in diameter) were implanted into rat tibiae, and specimens were collected at 3, 5, 7, and 10 days after operation. New bone was formed centripetally, and bone-forming osteoblasts expressed all four kinds of mRNAs. A COL signal was expressed most strongly and widely. In the early stage, COL-positive cells were detected on and among particles sporadically. A COL signal was rarely detected in cells on the surfaces of the particles, suggesting that PMMA particles may suppress osteoblast differentiation. Osteonectin and osteocalcin mRNAs were expressed in bone-forming osteoblasts in a similar pattern by day 7. By contrast, an OPN signal was detected mainly on the particles, not only in COL-positive osteoblasts but also in COL-negative round cells. The latter cells had acid phosphatase activity, suggesting that they might be macrophages responding to a foreign body. At day 10, an OPN signal was detected continuously in multinucleated cells on PMMA particles, whereas new bone was formed away from particles. Our approach helped us to understand the initial cellular reaction to materials, which may determine their biocompatibility.

Animals↗

Modulation of osteosarcoma cell growth and differentiation by silane-modified surfaces.

The effects of growing the Saos-2 human osteosarcoma cell line onto surfaces containing -CH(3), -OH, -COOH, -NH(2), and C6H5 groups obtained by silane modification were examined. These cells were used because of the great importance of bone cells in many aspects of biomaterials research. Silane-modified surfaces were characterized by contact angle measurements and, subsequently, surface energies were calculated. Cells grown on clean glass, as well as those grown on glass surfaces containing the functional groups cited above, were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy and assessed for their growth characteristics (i.e., determination of cell number and Ki67 antigen expression). The data presented seemed to indicate that if Saos-2 cells are grown on silane-modifed surfaces containing the methyl (CH(3)), hydroxyl (OH), and phenyl (C6H5) functional groups, their proliferation is slowed down while growth of these cells on glass surfaces modified with amino (NH(2)) and carboxyl (COOH) groups did not significantly affect growth. Once it was demonstrated that these three functional groups induce significant variations in proliferation, cells grown on these surfaces were also tested for apoptosis and expression of important markers of bone cell differentiation (i.e., osteonectin and osteopontin) by flow cytometry and eventual rearrangement of these markers by fluorescence microscopy. The data suggested that growth of Saos-2 cells on CH(3) induces the most evident morphological changes while growth of these cells on OH and C6H5 brings about the greater variations in osteonectin and osteopontin. We hypothesized that these changes are indicative of an increase in differentiation of Saos-2 cells when grown on the OH and C6H5 groups.

Apoptosis↗

Optimization of bone engineering by means of growth factors in a three-dimensional matrix.

The direction and acceleration of differentiation by administering growth factors is one of the ways of optimizing bone engineering. The present study considered the influence of the growth factors factor XIII, TGF-beta 1, and b-FGF on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of porcine periosteal cells in a three-dimensional carrier matrix (bead), consisting of a fibrin-alginate-hydroxyapatite composite. F XIII, TGF-beta 1, and b-FGF were added to the culture medium of monolayer culture and fibrin beads in different concentrations. The monolayer culture was assessed on the basis of cell counts, while DNA, osteocalcin, osteonectin, and collagen content and alkaline phosphatase activity were determined, and microscopic and immunohistologic evaluations were performed for the beads. In the monolayer, the addition of b-FGF led to a significantly shorter time up to the confluence of the cells. In the bead, cell proliferation was accelerated by b-FGF and TGF-beta 1. With regard to alkaline phosphatase activity, factor XIII led to significantly higher values, while b-FGF and TGF-beta 1 resulted in lower activities. Osteocalcin content was significantly increased by the application of b-FGF. For the osteonectin content the addition of growth factors did not produce any changes. The application of TGF-beta 1 during the monolayer culture significantly increased the primary collagen content of the beads. The administration of different growth factors opens up new ways of optimizing cell growth in vitro and of directing the osteogenic differentiation of periosteal cells, without one universally applicable factor having been demonstrated. It will be the task of further studies to analyze the interaction of individual factors and the chronologic dependency of the action, on the way to in vitro bone generation.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗