Renal tubular epithelial cells express osteonectin in vivo and in vitro.

Osteonectin (SPARC, culture shock protein, BM-40) is a widely distributed glycoprotein which binds calcium and several extracellular matrix proteins, including interstitial collagens and thrombospondin, but whose physiologic role remains undefined. In the present studies, we have demonstrated that immunoreactive osteonectin is present in the distal cortical tubule and medullary tubules of murine kidney. We surveyed the renal epithelial cell lines LLC-PK1, MDCK, and OK for the expression of mRNA encoding osteonectin. We found that osteonectin mRNA is expressed by LLC-PK1 and OK cells but not by MDCK cells, as well as by adult kidney from several species. Calcitonin and vasopressin, agents which increase cAMP in these cells, were found to decrease steady-state osteonectin mRNA concentrations. We found that LLC-PK1 cells produced osteonectin protein, that the protein was localized to intracellular granules, and that the protein bound hydroxyapatite in vitro. Pulse-chase analysis revealed that osteonectin was secreted from the cell layer to the medium after a lag time of four to six hours and was secreted preferentially from the basolateral domain of the cell. The preferential secretion of the calcium-binding protein osteonectin from the renal epithelial cell is consistent with several possible functions, including a structural extracellular matrix protein, a participant in transepithelial ion transport, and an inhibitor of extracellular calcification.     

Gene therapy: adenovirus-mediated human bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene transfer induces mesenchymal progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro and bone formation in vivo.

This study reports that recombinant adenovirus-mediated human bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene transfer can induce mesenchymal progenitor cell differentiation and bone formation. The recombinant adenovirus with the human bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene was constructed, and mature human bone morphogenetic protein-2 expression mediated by adenovirus gene transfer was detected by specific antibody. Under adenovirus-mediated bone morphogenetic-protein gene transfer, mesenchymal progenitor cell line C3H/10T 1/2 showed cell proliferation dependent on adenovirus bone morphogenetic-protein dose. The C3H/10T 1/2 cells transduced by adenovirus bone morphogenetic protein also exhibited differentiation to osteoblast phenotype, which indicates alkaline phosphatase activity. Injection of the C3H/10T 1/2 cells into the thigh muscles of nude mice led to ossicle development detectable on radiographs. Histological analysis indicated that the new ossicles that developed in the thigh muscles of the mice had different osseous components including bone trabeculae, bone marrow, and chondrified tissue. The results of this study demonstrate the potential for gene therapy by adenovirus-mediated bone morphogenetic-protein gene transfer.     

Stimulation of bone formation in osteoporosis patients treated with fluoride associated with increased DNA synthesis by osteoblastic cells in vitro.

In this study we evaluated whether the fluoride-induced increased bone formation in osteoporosis is mediated by stimulation of bone cell proliferation and/or differentiation. We analyzed the kinetics of DNA synthesis and the phenotypic features of osteoblastic cells isolated from the trabecular bone surface in relationship to histomorphometric indices of bone formation evaluated on the same bone biopsy in 12 osteoporotic patients treated with fluoride. Osteoblastic cells isolated from patients with a higher than normal bone formation rate, increased mean wall thickness of trabecular bone packets, and high trabecular bone volume after fluoride therapy displayed a higher than normal rate of DNA synthesis in vitro. The peak of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, the maximal DNA synthesis, and the area under the growth curve of osteoblastic cells isolated from these patients were higher than the values in normal bone cells obtained from age-matched controls. By contrast, in vitro parameters of osteoblastic cell proliferation were not different from normal in fluoride-treated osteoporosis patients in whom bone formation was not increased, although the duration of treatment and bone fluoride content were not different. Parameters of bone cell proliferation in vitro were increased in correlation with the mean wall thickness, and the latter correlated with the trabecular bone volume, indicating that the augmentation of bone formation and bone volume induced by fluoride was paralleled by an increased proliferation of osteoblastic cells. Basal osteocalcin production (corrected for cell protein) and alkaline phosphatase activity in vitro were comparable, and the response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (10 nmol/liter, 48 h) was not different in normal osteoblastic cells and in cells from fluoride-treated osteoporosis patients whether they had high or normal bone formation. The results show that the fluoride-induced increased bone formation in osteoporotic patients is associated with an increased in vitro proliferative capacity of osteoblastic cells lining the trabecular bone surface, whereas parameters of osteoblast differentiation are not affected. The data also suggest that induction of a higher than normal bone cell proliferation is prerequisite for the stimulation of bone formation by fluoride.     

Effect of type I collagen on the adhesion, proliferation, and osteoblastic gene expression of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

tificially synthesizedpolymericproductssuchaspolylactide (PLA ) ,polyglycolide (PGA ) ,andtheircopolymersarefrequently usedtissueengineeringmatrixsubstitutivematerials .Unfortunately ,theirapplicationisseriouslyrestrictedfortheirpoorhydrophilicproperty ,weakcelladsorptionforces ,anddifficultyininteractionwithcells .1,2 ThisstudyintendstoevaluatethecapacityofcollagenIinpromotingadhesion ,proliferation ,anddifferentiationofMSCs ,tolayanexperimentalbasisforbonytissueengineering .METHODSPrep…     

脂肪干细胞/Ⅰ型胶原凝胶复合体的构建及其体内外成骨分化研究

目的探讨利用脂肪干细胞与Ⅰ型胶原凝胶复合构建新型骨组织工程复合体的可行性并对其体内外成骨分化情况进行分析。方法取3月龄日本大耳白兔肩胛部皮下脂肪，Ⅰ型胶原酶消化获得细胞，于体外依次进行骨、软骨、脂肪多向诱导分化鉴定；取第3代细胞与Ⅰ型胶原凝胶复合，于成骨诱导条件下体外培养，相差显微镜、扫描电镜观察复合情况并对其碱性磷酸酶、细胞外基质矿化程度进行检测，同时设立单层贴壁培养细胞作为对照（n=4）；两周后移植于裸鼠皮下，12周后处死动物，依次行放射学、组织学检测观察成骨情况（n=3）。结果（1）所获细胞具备骨、软骨、脂肪多向分化潜能，为多能干细胞。（2）形态学观察显示脂肪干细胞呈三维立体生长状态，均匀、高密度悬浮于Ⅰ型胶原凝胶中。在体外成骨诱导条件下，其碱性磷酸酶活性以及外基质矿化程度均显著高于单层贴壁培养细胞（P〈0．01，n=4）。（3）于裸鼠皮下移植12周后，放射学、组织学检测显示脂肪干细胞．Ⅰ型胶原凝胶复合体成骨明显（n=3）。结论（1）IⅠ型胶原凝胶可显著促进脂肪干细胞的成骨分化。（2）作为一种新型的骨组织工程复合物，脂肪干细胞-Ⅰ型胶原凝胶复合体可应用于骨组织工程，特别是腔隙性骨缺损的修复过程。     

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

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

Relationship between the location of osteoblastic alkaline phosphatase activity and bone formation in human iliac crest bone.

It is not feasible to use in vivo tetracycline double labeling to study bone formation in biopsies taken during the emergency fixation of fractures. We therefore compared the trabecular localization and extent of osteoblastic alkaline phosphatase (AP) perimeters with tetracycline and osteoid perimeters in iliac crest biopsies from 7 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and 13 women without metabolic bone disease. Fresh biopsies were chilled to -70 degrees C, and triplicate serial unfixed undecalcified cryostat sections were cut and reacted for AP, stained for osteoid, or mounted unstained. At individual remodeling sites, the mineralizing perimeter (M.Pm) was measured as the extent of a double or single label accompanied by greater than or equal to 1 lamella of osteoid and greater than or equal to 1 lamella of mineralized matrix between the mineralization front and the adjacent label. Osteoid perimeters (O.Pm) and AP perimeters (AP.Pm) were also measured. In each biopsy there was good agreement between the location of AP and bone formation (kappa statistic, range 0.71-1.0). The overall sensitivity and specificity of AP as an indicator of the location of bone formation were 0.963 and 0.902, respectively. At the level of the basic multicellular unit, in those samples in which greater than 3 active BMUs were found, there was (1) significant positive correlation between the M.Pm and both AP.Pm and AP-positive O.Pm (except 1 patient) and (2) no significant difference between the M.Pm and AP-positive O.Pm (17 of 18 patients and 18 of 18 patients at the tissue level).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

生物力学信号对骨髓间充质干细胞体内外成骨分化的影响

具有多向分化潜能的骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSC)已成为组织工程学种子细胞的重要来源,用以促进受损组织的修复。以往大量研究表明BMSC所处生物化学微环境对其分化具有重要的调节作用,进一步研究表明除细胞因子等生物化学信号外,生物力学信号也可影响BMSC的分化.这方面的研究已日益引起关注。为模拟组织体内受力情况,对生物力学的研究主要包括流体剪切力、流体静压力、压应力、张应力、冲击波等。该文着眼于生物力学信号对BMSC成骨方向分化的影响,简要介绍几种研究较多的生物力概念和模型,并对近年各种力学作用影响BMSC体内外成骨分化的研究进展作一综述。     

ApoE gene deficiency enhances the reduction of bone formation induced by a high-fat diet through the stimulation of p53-mediated apoptosis in osteoblastic cells.

Osteoblast apoptosis increased in the tibias of apoE(-/-) mice fed with a high-fat diet, decreasing bone formation. The expression of p53 mRNA in marrow adherent cells increased. LDL or oxidized LDL increased apoptosis in the calvarial cells of apoE(-/-) mice. The increase in p53-mediated apoptosis is apparently related to a high-fat diet-induced osteopenia in apoE(-/-) mice. INTRODUCTION: The effects of high-fat loading and the apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene on bones have not been elucidated. We hypothesized that apoE gene deficiency (apoE(-/-)) modulates the effects of high-fat loading on bones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed this hypothesis using wildtype (WT) and apoE(-/-) mice fed a standard (WTS and ApoES groups) or a high-fat diet (WTHf and ApoEHf groups). The concentration of serum lipid levels and bone chemical markers were measured. Histomorphometry of the femurs was performed using microCT and a microscope. Bone marrow adherent cells from the femurs were used for colony-forming unit (CFU)-fibroblastic (CFU-f) assay and mRNA expressions analysis. The apoptotic cells in the tibias were counted. TUNEL fluorescein assay and Western analysis were performed in cultures of calvarial cells by the addition of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or oxidized LDL. RESULTS: In the ApoEHf group, the values of cortical bone volume and trabecular and endocortical bone formation of the femurs decreased, and urinary deoxypyridinoline increased. Subsequent analysis revealed that the number of apoptotic cells in the tibias of the ApoES group increased, and more so in the ApoEHf group. The ratio of alkaline phosphatase-positive CFU-f to total CFU-f was decreased in the ApoEHf group. p53 mRNA expression in adherent cells of the apoE(-/-) mice increased and had a significantly strong positive correlation with serum LDL. TUNEL fluorescein assay of osteoblastic cells revealed an increase of apoptotic cells in the apoE(-/-) mice. The number of apoptotic cells in the apoE(-/-) mice increased with the addition of 100 microg/ml LDL or oxidized LDL. The p53 protein expression in apoE(-/-) cells exposed to 100 microg/ml LDL or oxidized LDL increased. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that apoE gene deficiency enhances the reduction of bone formation induced by a high-fat diet through the stimulation of p53-mediated apoptosis in osteoblastic cells.     

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation regulates in vitro bone formation and bone mass

Adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a regulator of energy homeostasis, has a central role in mediating the appetite-modulating and metabolic effects of many hormones and antidiabetic drugs metformin and glitazones. The objective of this study was to determine if AMPK can be activated in osteoblasts by known AMPK modulators and if AMPK activity is involved in osteoblast function in vitro and regulation of bone mass in vivo. ROS 17/2.8 rat osteoblast-like cells were cultured in the presence of AMPK activators (AICAR and metformin), AMPK inhibitor (compound C), the gastric peptide hormone ghrelin and the beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol. AMPK activity was measured in cell lysates by a functional kinase assay and AMPK protein phosphorylation was studied by Western Blotting using an antibody recognizing AMPK Thr-172 residue. We demonstrated that treatment of ROS 17/2.8 cells with AICAR and metformin stimulates Thr-172 phosphorylation of AMPK and dose-dependently increases its activity. In contrast, treatment of ROS 17/2.8 cells with compound C inhibited AMPK phosphorylation. Ghrelin and propranolol dose-dependently increased AMPK phosphorylation and activity. Cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity were not affected by metformin treatment while AICAR significantly inhibited ROS 17/2.8 cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity at high concentrations. To study the effect of AMPK activation on bone formation in vitro, primary osteoblasts obtained from rat calvaria were cultured for 14–17 days in the presence of AICAR, metformin and compound C. Formation of ‘trabecular-shaped’ bone nodules was evaluated following alizarin red staining. We demonstrated that both AICAR and metformin dose-dependently increase trabecular bone nodule formation, while compound C inhibits bone formation. When primary osteoblasts were co-treated with AICAR and compound C, compound C suppressed the stimulatory effect of AICAR on bone nodule formation. AMPK is a αβγ heterotrimer, where α is the catalytic subunit. RT-PCR analysis of AMPK subunits in ROS17/2.8 osteoblastic cells and in mouse tibia showed that the AMPKα1 subunit is the dominant isoform expressed in bone. We analysed the bone phenotype of 4 month-old male wild type (WT) and AMPKα1?/? KO mice using micro-CT. Both cortical and trabecular bone compartments were smaller in the AMPK α1-deficient mice compared to the WT mice. Altogether, our data support a role for AMPK signalling in skeletal physiology.     

Smooth muscle cells from human urinary bladder express connexin 43 in vivo and in vitro

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) of the human urinary bladder are believed to be electrically coupled. However, it has not been successfully demonstrated the nature of the underlying cell-cell communication. Here, we used Western blot technique to demonstrate the gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx 43) in human bladder musculature and in smooth muscle cell cultures. We found expression of Cx 43 in all samples of the detrusor (Mdv, n=6) and in five of six samples of the internal sphincter (Mv). Cx 43 expression was less in cell cultures, 60% showing Cx 43 expression. Iontophoretic application of the gap junction permeable fluorescent dye lucifer yellow revealed a mean of 2.6+/-2.2 (mean+/-SD, n=8) coupled cells in cultured smooth muscle cells. Our findings support the notion that Cx 43 is constitutively expressed in human bladder SMC in vivo. Thus, the function of the bladder is likely to be influenced by the organisation of smooth muscle cells into functional syncytia.