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PubMed2004

RANK signaling is not required for TNFalpha-mediated increase in CD11(hi) osteoclast precursors but is essential for mature osteoclast formation in TNFalpha-mediated inflammatory arthritis.

UNLABELLED: To address the controversy of whether TNFalpha can compensate for RANKL in osteoclastogenesis in vivo, we used a TNFalpha-induced animal model of inflammatory arthritis and blocked RANKL/RANK signaling. TNFalpha increased osteoclast precursors available for RANK-dependent osteoclastogenesis. RANK signaling is not required for the TNFalpha-stimulated increase in CD11b(hi) osteoclast precursors but is essential for mature osteoclast formation. INTRODUCTION: Although critical roles of TNFalpha in inflammatory arthritis and RANKL in bone resorption have been firmly established, a central controversy remains about the extent to which TNFalpha can compensate for RANKL during osteoclastogenesis and the stage at which RANK signaling is required for osteoclastogenesis. Here, we used the human TNFalpha transgenic mouse model (TNF-Tg) of erosive arthritis to determine if there are both RANK-dependent and -independent stages of osteoclastogenesis in TNFalpha-induced erosive arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast precursor (OCP) frequency were analyzed using histology, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and cell culture from (1) TNF-Tg mice treated with the RANKL antagonist, RANK:Fc, or (2) TNF-Tg X RANK -/- mice generated by crossing TNF-Tg mice with RANK-/- mice. RESULTS: Treatment of TNF-Tg mice, which have increased OCPs in their spleens, with RANK:Fc dramatically reduced osteoclast numbers on the surface of their arthritic joints and within their bones, but did not decrease CD11b(hi) OCP numbers in their spleens. Long-term RANK:Fc administration alleviated joint erosion. Furthermore, TNF-Tg x RANK -/- mice had severe osteopetrosis, no osteoclasts, and no joint erosion, but increased CD11b(hi) precursor numbers that failed to form mature osteoclasts in vitro. CONCLUSION: RANK signaling is essential for mature osteoclast formation in TNFalpha-mediated inflammatory arthritis but not for the TNFalpha-induced increase in CD11b(hi) OCP that subsequently can differentiate into osteoclasts in inflamed joints.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide evidence that a unique osteoclastic protein-tyrosine phosphatase is essential for osteoclastic resorption.

This study tested the hypothesis that a unique osteoclastic transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP-oc) is involved in osteoclastic resorption by determining whether suppression of PTP-oc expression with a specific phosphorothioated 20-mer PTP-oc antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (oligo) would inhibit basal, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]-stimulated, and PTH-stimulated osteoclastic resorption. Treatment of rabbit osteoclasts with 1 microM of the antisense oligo for up to 4 days showed a time-dependent reduction in PTP-oc protein level, indicating that this PTP-oc antisense oligo was effective. To assess the effect of PTP-oc antisense oligo on osteoclastic resorption, rabbit osteoclasts were pretreated for 3 days with 1 microM of the antisense, a scramble oligo, or vehicle, respectively, followed by a 3-day treatment with vehicle, 10 nM of 1,25(OH)2D3, or 10 nM of parathyroid hormone (PTH). 1,25(OH)2D3 and PTH each alone increased PTP-oc cellular level and stimulated resorptive activity of rabbit osteoclasts. The antisense oligo treatment, but not the scramble oligo, decreased the basal and the stimulated resorption activity and reduced the PTP-oc protein level. Treatment with the PTP-oc antisense oligo, but not the scramble oligo, also markedly increased the Y527 phosphorylation level of c-src in rabbit osteoclasts. In conclusion, these results provide the first antisense oligo evidence that PTP-oc plays an essential role in osteoclastic resorption.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Activation of osteoclasts by interleukin-1: divergent responsiveness in osteoclasts formed in vivo and in vitro.

Recently, it has been found that osteoclasts are induced and activated by osteoblastic cells through expression of receptor activator NF-kB ligand (RANKL), and that soluble recombinant RANKL, with M-CSF, can replace the need for osteoblastic cells in osteoclast formation. We exploited this opportunity to compare the responsiveness of osteoclast-like cells (OCL) formed in vitro in the absence of osteoblasts, with that of osteoclasts ex vivo. We found that while OCL responded to several hormones and cytokines like ex vivo osteoclasts, their responsiveness to interleukin-1 (IL-1) was fundamentally different: IL1 directly stimulated actin ring formation in OCL, but had no effect on actin rings or survival in osteoclasts ex vivo unless osteoblastic cells were present. This difference could not be attributed to the use of plastic culture substrates for OCL formation, nor to osteoblastic contamination, and did not seem to be mediated by the macrophages that form in OCL cultures. To understand the mechanisms by which IL-1 induces bone loss, it will need to be determined whether or not IL-1-responsive OCLs have a counterpart in vivo. Whichever is the case, our data suggest that the behavior of osteoclasts formed in culture will not always predict that of osteoclasts in vivo.

Actins↗
PubMed1994

Influence of osteoclasts and osteoclast-like cells on osteoblast alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen synthesis.

Osteoblasts have been shown to modulate osteoclast activity, but the reverse process has not been investigated. In the current study conditioned medium (CM) was collected from osteoclasts and osteoclast-like cells and its effects on osteoblast alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity and collagen synthesis ([3H]proline hydroxylation) were determined. In primary chick osteoblasts, cultured chick embryo frontal bones, and UMR-106-01 cells, collagen synthesis and ALPase activity, but not [3H]thymidine incorporation, were inhibited by CM from chick marrow-derived giant cells, which possess some of the phenotypic characteristics of osteoclasts. However, collagen synthesis in chick embryo fibroblasts was not affected by giant cell CM. CM collected from cultures of chicken osteoclasts and human osteoclastoma cells and marrow-derived giant cells inhibited collagen synthesis in UMR-106-01 cells, but the effects of ALPase activity varied with the cell type. In contrast, mononuclear cell and fibroblast CM did not alter collagen synthesis. Initial characterization studies demonstrate that the inhibitor is a heat-labile factor with a molecular weight greater than 3500. In summary, authentic osteoclasts, tumor osteoclast-like cells, and chicken and human multinucleated giant cells produce a soluble factor that alters osteoblast collagen synthesis, suggesting that osteoclasts play a role in the modulation of osteoblast activity.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1987

Osteoclast generation from human fetal bone marrow in cocultures with murine fetal long bones. A model for in vitro study of human osteoclast formation and function.

Osteoclast formation in vitro from human progenitor cells was studied in cocultures of periosteum-free murine long-bone rudiments and human fetal tissues. No osteoclasts were generated from chorionic villi or from fetal liver, but bone marrow and purified bone-marrow fractions gave rise to multinucleated cells that resorbed calcified cartilage matrix. These polykarya react very strongly for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TrAP) and upon ultrastructural examination show large ruffled borders in areas of resorption. Resorption of murine calcified cartilage matrix by human osteoclasts was less than resorption. by osteoclasts formed from murine fetal bone-marrow cells. Our results show that the murine long-bone rudiment can be used to generate osteoclasts from human sources of progenitor cells and to assess the biological activity of the formed osteoclasts. This coculture system thereby offers possibilities to study human osteoclast pathology in vitro. The use of TrAP as marker for osteoclasts in cell cultures is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Zinc compounds inhibit osteoclast-like cell formation at the earlier stage of rat marrow culture but not osteoclast function.

The effect of zinc compounds on osteoclast-like cell formation in rat marrow culture in vitro was investigated. The bone marrow cells were cultured for 7 days in alpha-minimal essential medium containing a well-known bone resorbing hormone (1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone [1-34]). Osteoclast-like cell formation was estimated by staining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP), a marker enzyme of osteoclasts. The presence of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (10(-8) M) or parathyroid hormone (PTH; 10(-8) M) induced a remarkable increase in osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (MNC). These increases were clearly inhibited by the presence of zinc sulfate or zinc-chelating dipeptide (beta-alanyl-L-histidinato zinc; AHZ) in the concentration range of 10(-7) to 10(-5) M. The inhibitory effect was seen at the earlier stage of osteoclast-like MNC formation. However, zinc compounds (10(-6) M) did not have an effect on PTH (10(-8) M)-induced osteoclast-like cell formation in the presence of EGTA (5 x 10(-4) M), dibucaine (10(-5) M) or staurosporine (10(-9) M). Moreover, when osteoclasts isolated from rat femoral-diaphyseal tissues were cultured for 24 h in the presence of zinc compounds (10(-7) to 10(-5) M), the compounds did not have an effect on cell numbers or lysosomal enzymes activity (acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase) in the cells. The present study clearly demonstrates that zinc compounds inhibit osteoclast-like cell formation at the earlier stage with differentiation of marrow cells.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed2006

Differences in osteoclast formation between proximal and distal tibial osteoporosis in rats with adjuvant arthritis: inhibitory effects of bisphosphonates on osteoclasts.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis commonly suffer both systemic and periarticular osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are inhibitors of bone resorption, and several derivatives have been developed for treatment of enhanced bone resorption. We aimed to characterize osteoclast formation in two different sites, the proximal tibial and distal tibial areas, in rats with adjuvant arthritis, and to investigate the impact of amino or non-amino types of bisphosphonate. Adjuvant arthritis was initiated in rats while administering daily injections of either etidronate, a non-amino BP, or alendronate, an amino BP, for 3 weeks. On the day following the last injection, bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the proximal tibia to assess systemic osteoporosis and in the distal tibia for periarticular osteoporosis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Subsequently, bone marrow cells from either end of the tibia were collected and incubated for 7 days before staining and counting tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive cells. In the rats with adjuvant arthritis, BMD of either end of the tibia was lower than in normal rats. Although etidronate prevented bone mineral loss at both ends, distal loss was significantly less than proximal. In contrast, alendronate significantly inhibited mineral loss primarily in the proximal area. Large osteoclasts, defined as having five or more nuclei, formed preferentially in the proximal tibia, while small osteoclasts with fewer than four nuclei were found mainly distally. The suppressive effect of alendronate was greater on the large osteoclasts, while etidronate had a greater effect on the small osteoclasts. These results show that the size and multinuclearity of osteoclasts and the number of osteoclasts formed are different in the distal and proximal areas of the tibia, and that alendronate and etidronate may suppress different types of osteoclasts as discriminated by the number of nuclei.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1995

Retinoic acid induces osteoclast-like cell formation by directly acting on hemopoietic blast cells and stimulates osteopontin mRNA expression in isolated osteoclasts.

Although retinoic acid (RA) has been considered to be a bone-resorbing agent both in vivo and in vitro, its mechanism remains still unclear. The present study was performed to examine the effect of RA on osteoclast-like cell formation in the presence or absence of osteoblasts and to study whether RA would affect osteopontin mRNA expression in isolated rabbit osteoclasts. RA (10(-8) and 10(-6) M) significantly stimulated the formation of osteoclast-like cell in osteoblast-containing mouse bone cell cultures. Also, RA caused a stimulation of osteoclast-like cell formation from hemopoietic blast cells supported by granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in mouse spleen cell cultures. However, RA did not affect blast cell number in these cultures and significantly inhibited GM-CSF-stimulated proliferation of hemopoietic blast cells. On the other hand, RA stimulated the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts in mouse bone cell cultures. Moreover, RA caused a stimulation of osteopontin mRNA expression in isolated rabbit osteoclasts. The present study demonstrated for the first time that RA stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation, presumably through directly acting on the hemopoietic blast cells, and that RA stimulated osteopontin mRNA expression in isolated rabbit osteoclasts.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Osteoclastic bone resorption: in vitro analysis of the rate of resorption and migration of individual osteoclasts.

Osteoclasts isolated from the long bones of newborn rabbits were cultured on translucent devitalized bone slices and observed by phase-contrast time-lapse cinemicrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This has allowed us to measure the rate of resorption and the rate of migration of individual osteoclasts. Our films show that osteoclasts do not resorb while migrating. When the osteoclastic resorption areas, which are easily recognizable with phase-contrast microscopy as areas delineated by refractile lines, were observed by SEM, such areas appeared as excavated areas lined with a network of collagen fibrils. The rate of migration was calculated using time lapse recordings, and varied from 30 micron/hr to 248 micron/hr, with a mean +/- SEM of 105 +/- 10 micron/hr. The rate of resorption by individual osteoclasts was calculated using both time lapse and SEM data, and varied from 43 micron 3/hr to 1225 micron 3/hr with a mean +/- SEM of 390 +/- 109 micron 3/hr. Additional observations indicated not only that the same osteoclast can resorb at a different rate at different times without any definable alteration of the culture conditions, but also that the same osteoclast can simultaneously resorb two lacunae at different rates. These observations provide, for the first time, data on the rate of resorption and the rate of migration of individual osteoclasts on a bone substratum.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Hypoxic stress enhances osteoclast differentiation via increasing IGF2 production by non-osteoclastic cells.

Development of bone depends on a continuous supply of bone-degrading osteoclasts. Although several factors such as cytokines and integrins have been shown to be important for osteoclast recruitment, their mechanism of action is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated the enhancement of osteoclast formation by hypoxia and investigated the molecular mechanisms involved. Primary mouse bone marrow cells were cultured in normoxic and hypoxic conditions, and RNA was prepared from each group of cells. Total RNAs were applied to a DNA microarray analysis and then RT-PCR was performed to confirm the microarray data. The most interesting finding of our microarray analysis was upregulation of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1) under hypoxic conditions. RT-PCR analysis revealed that IGF2 expression was markedly upregulated in the non-osteoclastic cells. The addition of exogenous IGF2 increased the number of osteoclastic TRAP-positive multinuclear cells formed under normoxic conditions, whereas the addition of exogenous SDF1 did not change osteoclast formation. These results suggest that the upregulation of IGF2 derived from non-osteoclastic cells might be a crucial factor for osteoclast differentiation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

MCP-1 is induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-{kappa}B ligand, promotes human osteoclast fusion, and rescues granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor suppression of osteoclast formation.

Human osteoclast formation from monocyte precursors under the action of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) was suppressed by granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), with down-regulation of critical osteoclast-related nuclear factors. GM-CSF in the presence of RANKL and macrophage colony-stimulating factor resulted in mononuclear cells that were negative for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and negative for bone resorption. CD1a, a dendritic cell marker, was expressed in GM-CSF, RANKL, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor-treated cells and absent in osteoclasts. Microarray showed that the CC chemokine, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), was profoundly repressed by GM-CSF. Addition of MCP-1 reversed GM-CSF suppression of osteoclast formation, recovering the bone resorption phenotype. MCP-1 and chemokine RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) permitted formation of TRAP-positive multinuclear cells in the absence of RANKL. However, these cells were negative for bone resorption. In the presence of RANKL, MCP-1 significantly increased the number of TRAP-positive multinuclear bone-resorbing osteoclasts (p = 0.008). When RANKL signaling through NFATc1 was blocked with cyclosporin A, both MCP-1 and RANTES expression was down-regulated. Furthermore, addition of MCP-1 and RANTES reversed the effects of cyclosporin A and recovered the TRAP-positive multinuclear cell phenotype. Our model suggests that RANKL-induced chemokines are involved in osteoclast differentiation at the stage of multinucleation of osteoclast precursors and provides a rationale for increased osteoclast activity in inflammatory conditions where chemokines are abundant.

Carrier Proteins↗
PubMed1998

Mode of action of interleukin-6 on mature osteoclasts. Novel interactions with extracellular Ca2+ sensing in the regulation of osteoclastic bone resorption.

We describe a physiologically significant mechanism through which interleukin-6 (IL-6) and a rising ambient Ca2+ interact to regulate osteoclastic bone resorption. VOXEL-based confocal microscopy of nonpermeabilized osteoclasts incubated with anti- IL-6 receptor antibodies revealed intense, strictly peripheral plasma membrane fluorescence. IL-6 receptor expression in single osteoclasts was confirmed by in situ reverse transcriptase PCR histochemistry. IL-6 (5 ng/l to 10 microg/l), but not IL-11 (10 and 100 microg/l), reversed the inhibition of osteoclastic bone resorption induced by high extracellular Ca2+ (15 mM). The IL-6 effect was abrogated by excess soluble IL-6 receptor (500 microg/l). Additionally, IL-6 (5 pg/l to 10 microg/l) inhibited cytosolic Ca2+ signals triggered by high Ca2+ or Ni2+. In separate experiments, osteoclasts incubated in 10 mM Ca2+ or on bone released more IL-6 than those in 1.25 mM Ca2+. Furthermore, IL-6 mRNA histostaining was more intense in osteoclasts in 10 or 20 mM Ca2+ than cells in 1.25 mM Ca2+. Similarly, IL-6 receptor mRNA histostaining was increased in osteoclasts incubated in 5 or 10 mM Ca2+. Thus, while high Ca2+ enhances IL-6 secretion, the released IL-6 attenuates Ca2+ sensing and reverses inhibition of resorption by Ca2+. Such an autocrine-paracrine loop may sustain osteoclastic activity in the face of an inhibitory Ca2+ level generated locally during resorption.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Constitutive c-fos expression in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells stimulates osteoclast maturation and osteoclastic bone resorption.

The effect of culture supernatants of c-fos-transfected MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells on osteoclastic bone resorption was studied. Human c-fos cDNA was integrated in the expression vector pH8, and the cells were transfected using the calcium phosphate precipitation technique. Osteoclastic bone resorption was quantified by the pit formation assay, and the osteoclast maturation from precursor was assessed by the generation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells (MNC). The culture supernatants of MC3T3-E1 transfectants constitutively expressing c-fos gene enhanced osteoclast-like MNC formation from haematopoietic blast cells compared with those of control transfectants (P < 0.01). The culture supernatants also promoted osteoclastic bone resorption: the pit number, 118.7 +/- 38.5, was significantly higher than 19.0 +/- 10.1 of the control (P < 0.05). The absorption area, 12,394 +/- 3145 mm2, was significantly larger than 1646 +/- 314 mm2 of the control (P < 0.05). The culture supernatants also promoted bone resorption by purified chick osteoclasts (P < 0.05). The results show that constitutive expression of c-fos gene in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells stimulates osteoclast maturation and osteoclastic bone resorption by releasing humoral mediator(s).

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Bone marrow-derived osteoclast-like cells from a patient with craniometaphyseal dysplasia lack expression of osteoclast-reactive vacuolar proton pump.

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD) is a rare craniotubular bone dysplasia transmitted in autosomal dominant or recessive form. This disease is characterized by cranial bone hyperostosis and deformity of the metaphyses of the long bones. Using osteoclast-like cells formed from patient bone marrow cells, we investigated the pathophysiology of CMD in a 3-yr-old patient. Untreated bone marrow cells from the patient differentiated into osteoclast-like cells in vitro. These cells were shown to have vitronectin beta-receptors using a specific monoclonal antibody, i.e., 23C6 (CD51), which reacts with osteoclasts in human bone biopsy samples. However, the number of these osteoclast-like cells formed from the patient's bone marrow was only 40% of the normal controls. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3, bovine 1-34 parathyroid hormone, recombinant human interleukin-1 beta, recombinant human interleukin-6, or recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor significantly increased, while salmon calcitonin significantly inhibited, the number of osteoclast-like cells. However, these cells could not resorb sperm whale dentin slices and lacked the osteoclast-reactive vacuolar proton pump as evidenced by a monoclonal antibody (E11). Western blot analysis using a monoclonal antibody to pp60c-src (327) revealed that protooncogene c-src expression by the platelets of the CMD patient was comparable to the normal control. These data suggest that: (a) the hyperostosis and the metaphyseal long bone deformity in the present CMD patient might be explained by osteoclast dysfunction due to impaired expression of the osteoclast-reactive vacuolar proton pump; and (b) a protooncogene c-src was not associated with the pathogenesis of the present CMD patient.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed2003

Expression and role of mannose receptor/terminal high-mannose type oligosaccharide on osteoclast precursors during osteoclast formation.

Osteoclasts are formed from hematopoietic precursors via cell-cell fusion. We have previously reported that mannose residues are expressed on the outer membranes of monocytes during osteoclast differentiation. In the present study, we have attempted to demonstrate the pattern of expression levels of terminal high-mannose type oligosaccharide and to show that the mannose receptor is expressed on osteoclast precursor cells. Osteoclasts were formed using three different systems, namely mouse bone marrow cell culture, co-culture of mouse spleen cells with stromal cells, and RAW264.7 cell cultures. During osteoclast differentiation, the expression of terminal high-mannose type oligosaccharide gradually increased and then peaked at the stage of fusion in all three systems. Expression of the mannose receptor gradually increased during osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow cells and the co-culture system. In contrast, that in RAW264.7 cells had already been detected in the absence of the soluble receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand and did not change during osteoclast differentiation. To ascertain whether expression of high-mannose type oligosaccharide is involved in tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cell (MNC) formation, glycosidase inhibitors were used on RAW264.7 cell culture. Castanospermine, an inhibitor of glucosidase I, inhibited the TRAP-positive MNCs, and deoxymannojirimycin, an inhibitor of alpha-mannosidase I, increased the TRAP-positive MNC formation. These results indicate that the binding of terminal high-mannose and mannose receptor is important for the process of cellular fusion in osteoclast formation.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗
PubMed1999

Osteoclast differentiation factor acts as a multifunctional regulator in murine osteoclast differentiation and function.

Osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF), a novel member of the TNF ligand family, is expressed as a membrane-associated protein by osteoblasts/stromal cells. The soluble form of ODF (sODF) induces the differentiation of osteoclast precursors into osteoclasts in the presence of M-CSF. Here, the effects of sODF on the survival, multinucleation, and pit-forming activity of murine osteoclasts were examined in comparison with those of M-CSF and IL-1. Osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) formed in cocultures of murine osteoblasts and bone marrow cells expressed mRNA of RANK (receptor activator of NF-kappaB), a receptor of ODF. The survival of OCLs was enhanced by the addition of each of sODF, M-CSF, and IL-1. sODF, as well as IL-1, activated NF-kappaB and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) in OCLs. Like M-CSF and IL-1, sODF stimulated the survival and multinucleation of prefusion osteoclasts (pOCs) isolated from the coculture. When pOCs were cultured on dentine slices, resorption pits were formed on the slices in the presence of either sODF or IL-1 but not in that of M-CSF. A soluble form of RANK as well as osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor, a decoy receptor of ODF, blocked OCL formation and prevented the survival, multinucleation, and pit-forming activity of pOCs induced by sODF. These results suggest that ODF regulates not only osteoclast differentiation but also osteoclast function in mice through the receptor RANK.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1989

Osteoclast-like cells formed in long-term human bone marrow cultures express a similar surface phenotype as authentic osteoclasts.

Long-term cultures of human bone marrow form multinucleated cells (MNC) with many functional characteristics of osteoclasts including: expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, appropriate responses to osteotropic hormones, calcitonin-induced contraction and formation of resorption lacunae on calcified matrices. However, it is unclear if these cells express similar surface antigens as expressed by authentic osteoclasts, since they form on plastic surfaces in the absence of bone. Bone may be required to complete the differentiation process for osteoclasts. Therefore, we have examined the surface phenotype of MNC and compared it with that of osteoclasts freshly isolated from bone, to determine if MNC express similar surface antigens, and if MNC express antigens which identify their cellular origin. Similar to bone-derived osteoclasts, MNC formed in long-term human bone marrow culture expressed osteoclast-specific antigens (detected by monoclonal antibodies 13c2 and 23c6) and did not express Fc receptors, T cell specific antigens, most myeloid antigens or mature macrophage antigens. In contrast to authentic osteoclasts, MNC reacted with a monoclonal antibody (Mol) which identifies an antigen present on myeloblasts, monocytes, granulocytes, and null cells from human peripheral blood and bone marrow. MNC also reacted with the monoclonal antibody My11, which is present on CFU-GM, the granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cell, the probable precursor for MNC. These data demonstrate that MNC formed in long-term human marrow cultures express a similar surface phenotype to osteoclasts. This phenotype is different from that expressed by macrophage polykaryons. In addition, MNC also expressed monocyte-related antigens (My11, Mol), suggesting that are derived from or related to the monocytic lineage.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Kinetics of osteoclast formation: the significance of blood monocytes as osteoclast precursors during 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol-stimulated bone resorption in the mouse.

The significance of blood monocytes as a source of osteoclast precursors was investigated during 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol-stimulated bone resorption in mice. Animals were given three injections of tritiated thymidine at 8 hourly intervals in order to label blood monocytes. The proportion of labelled monocytes was then compared with the proportion of labelled nuclei in osteoclasts, the formation of which was provoked by daily injections of 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol, beginning 48 hours after the first injection of isotope. Although more than 60% of blood monocytes were labelled during the period of peak osteoclast formation, labelling of osteoclast nuclei in the metaphyseal endosteum of the femur never exceeded 8%. These results suggest strongly that the majority of osteoclast nuclei were derived from a source of unlabelled precursors, and that very few osteoclasts were derived directly from blood monocytes. Although few labelled osteoclasts were found, the proportion of labelled spindle shaped cells in the metaphyseal endosteum rose gradually to 16%. It is likely, therefore, that labelled mononuclear cells, possibly blood monocytes, were attracted to the endosteum where they formed a population of tissue macrophages. At this site they may participate in bone resorption, either individually or by providing a local pool of osteoclast precursors.

Animals↗