Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) Induces the c-fos and c-jun Expressions via the EP1 Subtype of PGE Receptor in Mouse Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells

This study examined which subtype(s) of PGE receptors is involved in the induction of c-fos and c-jun by PGE₂ in MC3T3-E1 cells. We also investigated the possibility that the induction of these genes is involved in the growth and differentiation of this cell line. PGE₂ dose-dependently induced c-fos and c-jun mRNA expressions in MC3T3-E1 cells. Of the PGE analogs, 17-phenyl-ω-trinor PGE₂ (EP₁ agonist) and sulprostone (EP₁/EP₃ agonist) were far more potent than butaprost (EP₂ agonist) and 11-deoxy PGE₁ (EP₂/EP₄ agonist) in inducing c-fos and c-jun mRNA expressions. Since MC3T3-E1 cells do not express the EP₃ subtype, these results suggest that PGE₂ induces c-fos and c-jun mRNA expressions through the EP₁ subtype of its receptor. In order to study the functional relevance of these protooncogenes, we then studied the effect of inhibition of their synthesis by the use of antisense oligonucleotide. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) suppression by 17-phenyl-ω-trinor PGE₂ was reversed by antisense oligonucleotide for either c-fos or c-jun. These results suggest that PGE₂, via the EP₁ subtype of the PGE receptor, negatively modulates the transition from proliferation to the matrix maturation stage through the induction of c-fos and c-jun. However, antisense oligonucleotide for c-fos or c-jun did not alter the prostaglandin G/H synthase-2 mRNA expression induced by EP₁. Thus, it is possible that c-fos and c-jun inductions do not account for all the EP₁-mediated PGE₂ actions in MC3T3-E1 cells. Received: 7 October 1998 / Accepted: 30 September 1999     

Inhibitory Effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on Membrane-Associated and Cytosolic Casein Kinase Activity in MC3T3-E1 Osteoblast-like Cells

The secretion of phosphorylated matrix proteins is high in osteoblasts. Phosphorylation of these proteins may be catalyzed by casein kinases (CK), and CK may play an important role in the site of bone mineralization. In this study, we examined the effects of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ on CK activities in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells. Different concentrations (ranging from 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻¹¹M) of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ were included in a culture medium. After incubation for various lengths of time, MC3T3-E1 cells were homogenized and segregated into cytosolic (c) and microsomal (m) fractions. To measure CK activity, each fraction was used as an enzyme source to phosphorylate casein. MC3T3-E1 cells showed the highest cCK activity after incubation for 21 days, and showed the highest mCK activity after incubation for 14 days. 1,25(OH)₂D₃ inhibited mCK activity at the early stage of culture, but inhibited cCK activity at the late stage of culture. In contrast, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ had a slight stimulatory effect on CK activity in the culture medium of MC3T3-E1 cells. Our data suggest that cCK and mCK may play different roles in the function of osteoblasts, and 1,25(OH)₂D₃ regulates intracellular and extracellular casein kinase activities related to the function of osteoblasts. Received: 26 June 1997 / Accepted: 23 March 1998     

Triiodothyronine, a Regulator of Osteoblastic Differentiation: Depression of Histone H4, Attenuation of c-fos/c-jun, and Induction of Osteocalcin Expression

Thyroid hormones influence growth and differentiation of bone cells. In vivo and in vitro data indicate their importance for development and maintenance of the skeleton. Triiodothyronine (T3) inhibits proliferation and accelerates differentiation of osteoblasts. We studied the regulatory effect of T3 on markers of proliferation as well as on specific markers of the osteoblastic phenotype in cultured MC3T3-E1 cells at different time points. In parallel to the inhibitory effect on proliferation, T3 down-regulated histone H4 mRNA expression. Early genes (c-fos/c-jun) are highly expressed in proliferating cells and are down-regulated when the cells switch to differentiation. When MC3T3-E1 cells are cultured under serum-free conditions, basal c-fos/c-jun expressions are nearly undetectable. Under these conditions, c-fos/c-jun mRNAs can be stimulated by EGF, the effect of which is attenuated to about 46% by T3. In addition, T3 stimulated the expression at the mRNA and protein level of osteocalcin, a marker of mature osteoblasts and alkaline phosphatase activity. All these effects were more pronounced when cells were cultured for more than 6 days. These data indicate that T3 acts as a differentiation factor in osteoblasts by influencing the expression of cell cycle–regulated, of cell growth–regulated, and of phenotypic genes. Received: 10 May 1996 / Accepted: 5 June 1997     

续苓健骨汤含药血清对MC3T3-E1细胞分化及增殖的影响

目的探讨续苓健骨汤含药血清对MC3T3-E1成骨细胞分化及增殖的影响。方法制备续苓健骨汤含药血清,实验分为空白对照组、含药血清低剂量组、中剂量组和高剂量组。采用CCK-8法和流式细胞术检测续苓健骨汤含药血清对MC3T3-E1细胞增殖和细胞周期的影响;碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性测定MC3T3-E1细胞的成骨分化能力;茜素红染色检测MC3T3-E1细胞的矿化能力;实时荧光定量PCR检测成骨分化基因Runx2、OC、Bmp2、Col1a1mRNA水平。结果与空白对照组比较,中、高剂量续苓健骨汤含药血清能促进MC3T3-E1细胞增殖、S期细胞比率和细胞增殖指数,并且呈现一定的剂量依赖性;同时中高剂量续苓健骨汤含药血清组能明显提高MC3T3-E1细胞ALP活性(P0.01)和钙化能力(P0.01),促进Runx2、OC、Bmp2、Col1a1 mRNA的表达(P0.05)。结论续苓健骨汤含药血清能促进成骨细胞MC3T3-E1的增殖,并通过上调骨形成相关基因Runx2、OC、BMP2、Col1a1的表达水平,提高MC3T3-E1细胞的成骨能力。     

健骨胶囊对成骨样细胞MC3T3-E1增殖及分化作用机制

目的 探讨国医大师刘柏龄“健骨胶囊”对MC3T3-E1成骨细胞分化及增殖的影响。方法 制备健骨胶囊水提物,采用CCK-8法和细胞迁移实验检测健骨胶囊提取物对MC3T3-E1细胞增殖和细胞迁移的影响;茜素红染色检测MC3T3-E1细胞的矿化能力;实时荧光定量PCR检测成骨分化基因Runx2、OCN、OPN、Col1a1、ALP、Bcl2、RASSF1A等mRNA表达水平;蛋白质印迹法Western blot检测Col1a1、Bcl2的蛋白表达水平。结果 通过实验结果比对得出,健骨胶囊提取物能促进MC3T3-E1细胞增殖、使细胞迁移率提高;同时健骨胶囊提取物组能明显提高MC3T3-E1细胞钙化能力(P＜0.01),促进Runx2、OCN、OPN、Col1a1、ALP、Bcl2的mRNA表达(P＜0.05),上调Col1a1、Bcl2蛋白量的表达。结论 健骨胶囊能促进成骨细胞MC3T3-E1的增殖及细胞迁移能力,并通过上调成骨基因的表达水平如Runx2、OCN、OPN、Col1a1、ALP、Bcl2等,提高MC3T3-E1细胞的成骨能力。     

Microcarriers facilitate mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells

Summary MC3T3-E1 cells showed mineral deposits after about 1 week of culture when incubated in the presence of microcarrier beads. These deposits appeared as white spots on the dish surface, and under light microscopy the cells showed multiple cell layers and mineralization around the microcarriers. The deposits stained positive with calcium-specific Von Kossa's method. Using conventional assay, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and parathyroid hormone-stimulated intracellular cAMP production were lower in the microcarrier cultures than in the control, but using cytochemical methods, high alkaline phosphatase activity was found around the microcarriers. These results indicate that microcarriers facilitated the formation of multiple cell layers and provided a culture environment for mineralization.     

黄瓜籽总皂苷对MC3T3-E1细胞分化及SPARC、OPG/RANKL表达的影响

目的观察黄瓜籽总皂苷提取物(cucumber seed saponins,CSS)对小鼠成骨细胞MC3T3-E1增殖、分化和矿化的影响,以及与骨质疏松相关的SPARC、OPG/RANKL/RANK信号通路的作用。方法通过MTT实验、碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphatase,ALP)活性检测、茜素红染色,考察不同浓度CSS对MC3T3-E1细胞增殖、分化及矿化的影响;采用RT-PCR方法检测SPARC、OPG/RANKL mRNA表达水平; Western blot检测SPARC、OPG/RANKL的蛋白表达量。结果与阳性对照组相比,CSS能明显促进MC3T3-E1细胞增殖(P0.05),CSS高、中剂量组能明显提高MC3T3-E1细胞ALP活性及钙化结节数量(P0.05);与空白组相比,CSS不同剂量组均明显上调SPARC、OPG/RANKL mRNA及蛋白表达水平(P0.05)。结论黄瓜籽总皂苷能够促进成骨细胞MC3T3-E1的增殖、分化及矿化能力,并通过上调SPARC、OPG/RANKL的表达水平提高MC3T3-E1细胞的成骨能力。     

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) Autoamplifies its Production Through EP1 Subtype of PGE Receptor in Mouse Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells

Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) is known to autoamplify its production in the osteoblasts through the induction of prostaglandin G/H synthase-2 (PGHS-2), which is the inducible form of the rate-limiting enzyme in PG synthesis, PGHS. To elucidate the cellular mechanism mediating this process, we have employed the PGE₂ analogs, which are specific agonists for four subtypes of PGE receptor, and studied the potency of these analogs to induce PGHS-2 mRNA in mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. The induction was mainly observed by 17-phenyl-ω-trinor PGE₂ (EP₁ agonist) and sulprostone (EP₃/EP₁ agonist), but not by butaprost (EP₂ agonist) or 11-deoxy PGE₁ (EP₄/EP₂ agonist). Since EP₃ subtype was undetectable in MC3T3-E1 cells, these data indicate that PGHS-2 mRNA induction is mediated through EP₁ subtype of PGE receptor in MC3T3-E1 cells. PGE₂ production determined by radioimmunoassay was also increased by 17-phenyl-ω-trinor PGE₂ and sulprostone. The autoamplification of PGE₂ production is considered to be important in elongating the otherwise short-lived PGE₂ action in certain physiological conditions such as mechanical stress and fracture healing, as well as the pathological inflammatory bone loss. The observations in the present study provide us with the better understanding of these processes. Received: 29 April 1997 / Accepted: 22 August 1997     

Triiodothyronine Stimulates the Release of Membrane-Bound Alkaline Phosphatase in Osteoblastic Cells

Thyroid hormone deficient osteoblastic cells in cell culture released a significantly higher amount of alkaline phosphate (ALP) activity following T3 replacement. T3 increased the release of total and membrane-bound ALP activity in these cells significantly more than T4 or inactive thyroid hormone metabolite, DIT. The effect of T3 on the membrane-bound ALP fraction was dose and time dependent; higher concentrations of T3 and longer incubation time with T3 proportionally increased the enzyme activity. T3 had no effect on the release of soluble fraction of ALP. Our results indicate that in ``hypothyroid' osteoblastic cells the total release of ALP is decreased and that the secreted fraction of ALP is predominantly in soluble form, whereas the addition of T3 stimulates ALP release and mainly increases the membrane-bound fraction. T3 also increased formation of actin cytoskeleton in hypothyroid osteoblastic cells. Cytochalasin treatment, through its inhibition of actin polymerization, produced a significant decrease of membrane-bound ALP release induced by T3. These data suggest that the regulatory role of T3 in skeletal development can partly be due to its stimulatory effect on the release of membrane-bound ALP by osteoblastic cells which is thought to be an important factor in the initiation of biological calcification. Received: 20 April 1998 / Accepted: 28 July 2000 / Online publication: 2 November 2000     

Bone Morphogenetic Protein-6-loaded Chitosan Scaffolds Enhance the Osteoblastic Characteristics of MC3T3-E1 Cells

The purpose of this study is to investigate the convenience of bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6)-loaded chitosan scaffolds with preosteoblastic cells for bone tissue engineering. MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded into three different groups: chitosan scaffolds, BMP-6-loaded chitosan scaffolds, and chitosan scaffolds with free BMP-6 in culture medium. Tissue-engineered constructs were characterized by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mineralization assay (von Kossa), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and osteocalcin (OCN) assays. BMP-6-loaded chitosan scaffolds supported proliferation of the MC3T3-E1 mouse osteogenic cells in a similar pattern as the unloaded chitosan scaffolds group and as the chitosan scaffolds with free BMP-6 group. SEM images of the cell-seeded scaffolds revealed significant acceleration of extracellular matrix synthesis in BMP-6-loaded chitosan scaffolds. Both levels of ALP and OCN were higher in BMP-6-loaded chitosan scaffold group compared with the other two groups. In addition, BMP-6-loaded scaffolds showed strong staining in mineralization assays. These findings suggest that BMP-6-loaded chitosan scaffold supports cellular functions of the osteoblastic cells; therefore, this scaffold is considered as a new promising vehicle for bone tissue engineering applications.     

MicroRNA-196a靶向调节HDAC9对MC3T3-E1细胞成骨分化的影响

目的 探究微小RNA（miR）-196a靶向调节组蛋白去乙酰化酶9（HDAC9）对MC3T3-E1细胞成骨分化的影响。方法 将MC3T3-E1细胞分为对照组（Cont）组、诱导组、miR-196a-mimics-NC组、miR-196a-mimics组、miR-196a-inhibitor-NC组、miR-196a-inhibitor组、miR-196a-mimics+pCMV-HDAC9-NC组、miR-196a-mimics+pCMV-HDAC9组,根据分组转染后进行成骨诱导。定量荧光PCR检测MC3T3-E1细胞中miR-196a、HDAC9表达量;试剂盒检测碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活性;茜素红染色观察矿化程度;Western blot检测HDAC9、ALP、Runt相关转录因子2（Runx2）、胶原蛋白I（COL1）、骨桥蛋白（OPN）、Histone H3、Histone H3（acetyl K9、K14和K23）表达量。结果 与Cont组相比,诱导组MC3T3-E1细胞中miR-196a表达、ALP、Runx2、COL1、OPN蛋白表达、ALP活性、矿化程度及Histone H3 K9、K14、K23位点乙酰化水平增高（P＜0.05）,HDAC9 mRNA和蛋白表达降低（P＜0.05）。转染miR-196a-mimics可明显增加miR-196a表达,降低HDAC9表达,并增加ALP、Runx2、COL1、OPN蛋白表达、ALP活性、矿化程度及Histone H3乙酰化,转染miR-196a-inhibitor则作用相反。miR-196a可靶向下调HDAC9表达,过表达HDAC9可部分逆转miR-196a mimics对MC3T3-E1细胞成骨分化的促进效应。结论 miR-196a可靶向下调HDAC9表达,增加组蛋白乙酰化水平,促进MC3T3-E1细胞成骨分化。     

Skeletal Response to Dietary Zinc in Adult Female Mice

The current studies were intended to assess dose- and time-dependent effects of dietary zinc (Zn) on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity in adult female mice. In the first study, mice were given 0, 1×, 2×, 3×, or 4× normal dietary Zn for 2 weeks, 4 weeks, or 6 weeks. In the second study, mice were given 0, 1×, 2×, 3×, 4×, and 5× normal dietary Zn for 4 weeks. Sera were collected for measurements of ALP and (in the second study) osteocalcin. Tibiae and calvaria were extracted for measurements of ALP, protein, and TRAP. The first study showed positive correlations between dietary Zn and serum ALP (4 and 6 weeks, P < 0.001), Zn and tibial ALP (2, 4, and 6 weeks, P < 0.03), and Zn and tibial protein (2, 4, and 6 weeks, P < 0.001), as well as a negative correlation between dietary Zn and tibial TRAP (2, 4, and 6 weeks, P < 0.001). Covariant analyses showed that serum ALP, tibial ALP, tibial protein, and tibial TRAP were affected by the dose of Zn (P < 0.005) and by the treatment time (P < 0.03). Supplemental studies showed that (1) the dose-dependent effect of dietary Zn on serum ALP (at 6 weeks) was proportional to the effects on tibial ALP and calvarial ALP, but not to the effects of Zn on renal, hepatic, or intestinal ALP; (2) 6 weeks of dietary Zn caused dose-dependent increases in ALP specific activity in the tibia, calvaria, and liver, but not kidneys or intestines; and (3) Zn increased ALP activity and cell layer protein and decreased TRAP activity in monolayer cultures of the murine osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1. The second dietary study confirmed the results of the first: 4 weeks of treatment with Zn caused significant increases in serum ALP, calvarial ALP, and tibial ALP activities, and a significant decrease in tibial TRAP (P < 0.05–0.005 for each). This study also revealed an effect of Zn to increase serum osteocalcin (P < 0.03 at 2× normal Zn). Together, these data indicate that incremental increases in dietary Zn are associated with increases in ALP activity in serum and in bone. The effect of Zn to decrease TRAP activity in osteoblast-line cells precludes the interpretation of a Zn-dependent decrease in tibial TRAP activity as evidence of decreased bone resorption.     

Down-Regulation of Osteoblastic Cell Differentiation by Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

The role of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-R) in osteogenic cell differentiation was investigated using preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 (MC3T3) cells and osteoblast-like ROS 17/2.8 (ROS) cells. When cultured in the presence of β-glycerophosphate (GP) and ascorbic acid (AA), MC3T3 cells underwent spontaneous differentiation into osteoblasts which was confirmed as they expressed osteoblast markers such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OC). Interestingly, the number of EGF-binding sites decreased during their differentiation into osteoblasts, and the osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) treatment, which accelerated their differentiation, lowered the number of EGF-binding sites even further. On the other hand, ROS cells with high expression levels of osteoblast markers and no EGF-R, after being transfected with human EGF-R cDNA (EROS cells), expressed numerous EGF-binding sites as well as EGF-R mRNA and protein; in the process, they ceased to express osteoblast markers, indicating their dedifferentiation into osteoprogenitor cells. Both MC3T3 and EROS cells showed increased cell growth in response to EGF, whereas ROS cells did not. These results imply that the EGF/EGF-R system in osteogenic cells has a crucial function in osteoblast phenotype suppression and osteogenic cell proliferation.     

黄芩素通过BMP-2/Smad通路促进MC3T3-E1成骨作用的实验研究

目的 探讨黄芩素（BAI）对小鼠胚胎成骨细胞前体细胞（MC3T3-E1）成骨分化的作用及其分子机制。方法 将MC3T3-E1分为对照组（正常培养）和BAI组（以Baicalein处理）,在成骨分化条件培养下采用CCK-8检测BAI对MC3T3-E1细胞增殖的影响;分别以碱性磷酸酶染色（ALP）、茜素红染色（ARS）检测MC3T3-E1细胞成骨分化水平与矿化能力,实时荧光定量PCR检测成骨标志基因ALP、COL1A1、RUNX2、OSX的mRNA表达水平,通过免疫印迹法（Western-blot）检测MC3T3-E1细胞中BMP-2、Smad1、p-Smad1蛋白表达水平,通过免疫荧光技术（IF）检测RUNX2、COL1A1表达水平。结果 与对照组比较,BAI干预1 d后发现,BAI组COL1A1（P<0.001）、RUNX2（P <0.05）、OSX（P <0.05） mRNA表达水平在成骨分化中表达上升;干预3 d后发现,与对照组比较,BAI组ALP（P <0.05）、RUNX2（P <0.001）mRNA表达上升;干预7 d后发现,与对照组比较,BAI组COL1A1（P <0.05）mRNA表达水平较对照组上升,BMP-2、p-Smad1/Smad1蛋白表达水平上升（P <0.05）。免疫荧光中成骨标志蛋白RUNX2、COL1A1表达增多（P <0.05）。结论 BAI可通过激活BMP-2/Smad通路促进MC3T3-E1成骨分化。     

Stimulation by bone sialoprotein of calcification in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells

Bone sialoprotein (BSP) containing an Arg-Gly-Asp cell-binding sequence was purified from bovine bone 4 M guanidine-HCl extract after HCl demineralization by a series of chromatographic procedures. When this protein was coated on culture dishes in the presence of type I collagen, it increased both DNA content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells, and stimulated calcification in the cells, whereas fibronectin, another cell-binding protein, showed a marked increase in the DNA content but had little effect on the ALP activity. These findings suggest that BSP is mitogenic for preosteoblasts and differentiating the cells into osteoblasts, thereby stimulating bone calcification     

Inhibition ofin vitro mineralization by aluminum in a clonal osteoblastlike cell line,MC3T3-E1

Summary The direct effect of aluminum on mineralization was examined using an osteoblastlike cell line, MC3T3-E1. The mineralization process was quantitated by measuring⁴⁵Ca accumulation into the cell and matrix layer of MC3T3-E1 cells in culture. The accumulation of⁴⁵Ca into the cell and matrix layer increased dramatically after 13 days of culture without a parallel change in the DNA content of these cells. Because nodular clusters of cells appear around the same period in which a massive mineralization occurs, the marked increase in⁴⁵Ca accumulation after the 13th day of culture appears to represent deposition of⁴⁵Ca into the extracellular matrix. Thus, this culture system offers a useful model for making a quantitative estimation of osteoblast-mediated mineralizationin vitro. When aluminum was added to this system, the accumulation of⁴⁵Ca into the cell matrix layer was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner: 10⁻⁶ M aluminum reduced⁴⁵Ca accumulation to 40.8±2.7% of that in nontreated cells without affecting alkaline phosphatase activity or the DNA content of these cells. Because the concentration of aluminum used in this study is well within the range of serum aluminum levels seen in chronic dialysis patients, the direct effects of aluminum on osteoblast-mediated mineralization shown in the present study may underlie the development of so-called aluminum-induced “osteomalacia” in certain dialysis patients.     

Parathyroid Hormone Modulates the Response of Osteoblast-Like Cells to Mechanical Stimulation

Mechanical loading stimulates many responses in bone and osteoblasts associated with osteogenesis. Since loading and parathyroid hormone (PTH) activate similar signaling pathways in osteoblasts, we postulate that PTH can potentiate the effects of mechanical stimulation. Using an in vitro four-point bending device, we found that expression of COX-2, the inducible isoform of cyclooxygenase, was dependent on fluid forces generated across the culture plate, but not physiologic levels of strain in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells. Addition of 50 nM PTH during loading increased COX-2 expression at both subthreshold and threshold levels of fluid forces compared with either stimuli alone. We also demonstrated that application of fluid shear to MC3T3-E1 cells induced a rapid increase in [Ca²⁺]_i. Although PTH did not significantly change [Ca²⁺]_i levels, flow and PTH did produce a significantly greater [Ca²⁺]_i response and increased the number of responding cells than is found in fluid shear alone. The [Ca²⁺]_i response to these stimuli was significantly decreased when the mechanosensitive channel inhibitor, gadolinium, was present. These studies indicate that PTH increases the cellular responses of osteoblasts to mechanical loading. Furthermore, this response may be mediated by alterations in [Ca²⁺]_i by modulating the mechanosensitive channel. Received: 5 October 1999 / Accepted: 15 February 2000     

Zinc Enhancement of 17β-Estradiol's Anabolic Effect in Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells

The anabolic effect of 17β-estradiol in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells was investigated. The cells were cultured for 3 days in the medium containing either vehicle or 17β-estradiol (10⁻¹¹–10⁻⁹ M). 17β-Estradiol significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity and protein concentration in the cells. The steroid (10⁻⁹ M) also significantly elevated the cell numbers and the cellular DNA content. The anabolic effect by 17β-estradiol was blocked by the presence of dipicolinate (10⁻³ M), a chelator of zinc ion, suggesting a role of cellular zinc in osteoblastic cell function. The presence of zinc sulfate (10⁻⁵ M) or β-alanyl-L-histidinato zinc (AHZ) (10⁻⁵ M) significantly enhanced the 17β-estradiol (10⁻¹⁰ or 10⁻⁹ M)-induced increase of alkaline phosphatase activity and protein concentration in the cells; the effect of AHZ was greater than that of zinc sulfate. The enhancement by zinc compounds was not based on the augmentation of osteoblastic cell numbers. The co-addition of cycloheximide (10⁻⁶ M), an inhibitor of protein synthesis, completely blocked the zinc compound (10⁻⁵ M)-induced enhancement of 17β-estradiol's (10⁻⁹ M) effect to increase alkaline phosphatase activity and protein concentration in the cells. Moreover, the anabolic effect of 17β-estradiol together with or without zinc compounds was abolished by the presence of staurosporine (10⁻⁸ M), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, or of okadaic acid (10⁻⁷ M), an inhibitor of protein phosphatase. The present study demonstrates that the anabolic effect of 17β-estradiol is enhanced by zinc-chelating dipeptide in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, and that the enhancing effect may involve protein synthesis and protein kinase activity. Received: 25 September 1995 / Accepted: 21 August 1996