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

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

Inductive effects of prostaglandins on alkaline phosphatase in osteoblastic cells, clone MC3T3-E1

The effects of prostaglandins (PGs) on the induction of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were investigated in osteoblastic clone MC3T3-E1 cells cultured in serum-free medium. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) stimulated ALP activity in the cells in a dose-dependent fashion with a maximal effect which was about twice that in the control cells at concentrations of 100-500 ng/ml. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide inhibited the stimulative effect of PGE2 on ALP activity in the cells. PGE2-induced and native ALPs in the cells were of the same type as that in adult mouse calvaria, being heat-labile, L-homoarginine- and levamisole-sensitive, and L-phenylalanine-insensitive. Isobutyl methylxanthine (IBMX), a cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, stimulated the inductive effect of PGE2 on ALP activity at 0.1 mM, at which concentration IBMX alone had little effect on the activity. PGE2 also increased the intracellular cAMP content in a dose-dependent fashion with a maximal effect at 100 ng/ml. PGE1, PGF1 alpha, and PGF2 alpha (primary PGs like PGE2) increased the activity. Our present results suggest that PGs stimulate the differentiation of osteoblasts and are involved in bone formation in vivo, as well as in bone resorption.     

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF ORAL CELLS IN VITRO : II. Subsurface and Intracytoplasmic Confronting Cisternae in Strain KB Cells

Two special areas involving membranous components in strain KB cells were studied by electron microscopy. The first area described is that of the subsurface regions of two apposing cells in which flattened cisternae (one cisternae in each subsurface region) with membranes spaced 110–230 A apart were found in a confrontation alignment. The long dimension of the profiles of these cisternae ranges from 0.5 to 2 µ. At these intercellular contact areas, each cisterna is closely applied to the adjacent plasma membrane; the intervening space is 60–100 A. We have named the cisternae in these roughly symmetrical areas of cell contact the subsurface confronting cisternae. Communications between these cisternae and those of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum also were observed. The second area described is that of the intracytoplasmic confronting cisternae. These cisternae were observed as oval or round images about 0.3–1.4 µ in diameter, each image being composed of a pair of concentrically arranged confronting cisternae with membranes spaced 200–400 A apart. The apposing membranes of the two confronting cisternae are electron opaque, smooth, and free of ribosomes, whereas the unapposed membranes are less dense, scalloped, and associated with ribosomes. The spacing between the two intracytoplasmic confronting cisternae is 70–110 A.     

1 alpha, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and analogues of vitamin D3 induce alkaline phosphatase activity in osteoblastic cells derived from newborn mouse calvaria

In order to study the effects of vitamin D metabolites on bone metabolism, clone MC3T3-E1 cells, which have retained osteoblastic activity, were cultured with various concentrations of the hormone, 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha, 25 (OH)2D3]. A physiological concentration of 1 alpha, 25 (OH)2D3 stimulated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the cells. Other metabolites--1 alpha, 24-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha, 24 (OH)2D3], 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha (OH)D3], and 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24R,25 (OH)2D3]--also induced increases in ALP activity in a dose-dependent fashion. However, their effective concentrations were 100 or 1,000 times greater than that of 1 alpha, 25 (OH)2D3. Hormone-induced and native ALP activities in the cells were of the same type as that found in newborn mouse calvaria; that is, they were heat-labile, L-homoarginine- and levamisole-sensitive, and L-phenylalanine-insensitive (liver-bone-kidney type). These results show that vitamin D metabolites stimulate bone formation in vitro and that they may be involved in bone formation in vivo as well.     

Histochemical study on the localization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase induced by androgen or thyroxine in the convoluted tubules of mouse submandibular gland

Summary The effects of 5-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and thyroxine (T₄) on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) activity in mouse submandibular gland were investigated histochemically. A strong positive histochemical reaction for G-6-PDH was observed in the excretory ducts of untreated male and female mice, with a slight reaction in the basal portion of the convoluted tubules (striated ducts) of males. Administraition of DHT to female mice increased G-6-PDH activity specifically in the convoluted tubules. T₄ increased the enzyme activity in the tubules more than DHT. The induction of G-6-PDH activity by T₄ in adrenalectomized mice suggests that T₄ has a direct effect on the submandibular gland.     

Congenital osteoclast deficiency in osteopetrotic (op/op) mice is improved by ovariectomy and orchiectomy.

We examined the changes in the appearance of osteoclasts in the femora of ovariectomized (OVX) or orchiectomized (ORX) op/op mice. Osteoclasts on the trabecular bone surface of the OVX or ORX op/op mice significantly increased in number seven or eight times in comparison with sham-operated op/op mice. Furthermore, TRAP-positive cells increased about four times in 100-week-old females and males, compared with sham-operated groups. These results have indicated that a sex hormone reduction due to OVX or ORX induces prominent recruitment of osteoclasts in op/op mice.     

Intact insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) associates with bone matrix and the soluble fragments of IGFBP-5 accumulated in culture medium of neonatal mouse calvariae by parathyroid hormone and prostaglandin E2-treatment

We examined the distribution of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) in cultured neonatal mouse calvariae. IGFBP-3 and -4 were predominantly found in the conditioned medium. IGFBP-2 was partitioned between conditioned medium and bone and extracellular matrix (BECM), while intact (31-kDa) IGFBP-5 was most abundant in BECM extracts. After treatment with parathyroid hormone (PTH, 10⁻⁸ M) or prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂, 10⁻⁶ M), immunoreactive IGFBP-5 accumulated in the conditioned medium in a 21-kDa form which did not bind IGF-I on Western ligand blots. PTH and PGE₂ did not alter the level of steady-state IGFBP-5 mRNA, nor markedly stimulate IGFBP-5 synthesis in the calvariae, and thus accumulation of 21-kDa IGFBP-5 was largely due to release from BECM. This accumulation of truncated IGFBP-5 in the conditioned medium was not dependent on osteoclastic bone resorption, since it was not blocked by calcitonin or a bisphosphonate which inhibited PTH- and PGE₂-stimulated ⁴⁵Ca-release. The conditioned medium from PTH- or PGE₂-treated cultures degraded recombinant human IGFBP-5 into lower molecular weight fragments. Addition of IGF-I at 10⁻⁸ M into the culture resulted in accumulation of native 31-kDa IGFBP-5. However, even in the presence of IGF-I, the native IGFBP-5 was degraded and the 21-kDa product accumulated in the culture medium. These results suggested a possible proteolytic mechanism for 21-kDa IGFBP-5 accumulation, responsive to PTH and PGE₂. Aprotinin, leupeptin, cystatin, and bestatin did not inhibit the effects of PTH and PGE₂ in the cultures. The localization of IGFBP-5 in BECM and its release and proteolysis induced by PTH and PGE₂ could play a role in the local regulation of bone metabolism. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Regulation of trypsin-like esteroprotease synthesis by 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and triiodothyronine in mouse submandibular gland.

The hormonal regulation of trypsin-like esteroprotease synthesis in mouse submandibular gland was studied at the isozyme level. Antiserum to a mixture of two purified esteroproteases precipitated all the esteroproteases in a crude extract of this gland. Measurement of incorporation of [3H]leucine showed that total esteroprotease synthesis was stimulated by both 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and triiodothyronine and that the two hormones had synergistic effects. The observed correlation between the increases of synthetic rate and specific activity of this enzyme suggests that the enzyme level is regulated mainly by the rate of enzyme synthesis. Newly synthesized esteroprotease-antibody complexes gave four peaks of radioactivity with esteroprotease activity and one peak without enzyme activity on isoelectric focusing in acrylamide gel containing 8 M urea. The radioactivities of these five peaks were increased similarly by the two hormones separately or in a combination. These results suggest that the actions of androgens and thyroid homrones in esteroprotease synthesis are indistinguishable at the isozyme level.     

Binding protein for 5α-dihydrotestosterone in mouse submandibular gland

The changes in the levels of the binding protein for 5α-dihydrotestosterone in cytoplasmic extract of the submandibular glands during development were compared in male and female mice using a DEAE-cellulose filter assay. The binding protein was first detectable 5 days after birth in both sexes, at a time coincident with androgen-independent cytodifferentiation of the convoluted tubular cells in the submandibular gland. The level of the binding protein in female mice was maintained at 5 pmol/mg protein after birth, whereas in males it began to decrease from 3 weeks after birth with increase in serum testosterone, becoming much less than a quarter of the level in females or immature mice by 4 weeks after birth. However, after castration, the level of detectable binding protein in mature male mice increased within 7 days to the same level as that in females or immature mice. This suggests that the low binding capacity for exogenous hormone in mature male mice is due to occupancy of the binding sites by endogenous hormone.     

Developmental changes in the activities of prolinase and prolidase in rat salivary glands,and the effect of thyroxine administration

Summary As the salivary glands are interesting tissues to study proliferation, we studied the activities of prolinase and prolidase using Pro-Ala and Pro-Hyp as substrates, respectively, in developing rat salivary glands between day 1 and week 10 after birth. Developmental changes of prolinase activity in the submandibular and sublingual glands were similar to those in the parotid gland, which steadily increased and reached the adult level by 20–25 days after birth. However, the changes in the activity of prolidase in the submandibular and sublingual glands were different from those in the parotid gland: the activity in the parotid gland slowly increased with maturation and reached a maximum level on day 30, but the activity in the submandibular and sublingual glands continuously increased with maturation. When thyroxine was injected every two days from day 1 to day 19, both enzyme activities were induced precociously in the parotid gland but not in the submandibular and sublingual glands. On the study of regional distribution in rat tissues, the correlation coefficient between prolinase and prolidase activities was high in the peripheral but not high in the brain regions.These results indicate that the physiological roles of prolinase and prolidase are very similar but not the same.