Fetal Rat Calvarial Cells Research Articles

Modifications of protein-DNA interactions in the proximal promoter of a cell-growth-regulated histone gene during onset and progression of osteoblast differentiation.

A temporal sequence of interrelated cellular, biochemical, and molecular events which occurs during the progressive expression of the differentiated osteoblast phenotype in primary cultures of fetal rat calvarial cells results in the development of a bone-tissue-like organization. This ordered developmental sequence encompasses three periods: proliferation, matrix maturation, and mineralization. Initially, the cells actively proliferate and synthesize type I collagen. This is followed by a period of matrix organization and maturation and then by a period of extracellular matrix mineralization. At the completion of proliferation, when expression of osteoblast phenotype markers such as alkaline phosphatase is observed, the cell-cycle-related histone genes are down-regulated transcriptionally, suggesting that a key signaling mechanism at this transition point involves modifications of protein-DNA interactions in the regulatory elements of these growth-regulated genes. Our results demonstrate that there is a selective loss of interaction of the promoter binding factor HiNF-D with the site II region of an H4 histone gene proximal promoter that regulates the specificity and level of transcription only when the down-regulation of proliferation is accompanied by modifications in the extracellular matrix that contribute to progression of osteoblast differentiation. Thus, this specific loss of protein-DNA interaction serves as a marker for a key transition point in the osteoblast developmental sequence, where the down-regulation of proliferation is functionally coupled to the appearance of osteoblast phenotypic properties associated with the organization and maturation of an extracellular matrix that becomes competent to mineralize.

Transforming Growth Factor-β Regulation of Collagenase, 72Kda-Progelatinase, Timp and Pai-1 Expression in Rat Bone Cell Populations and Human Fibroblasts

Quiescent cultures of normal fetal rat calvarial bone cell populations (RC I and RC IV) and human fibroblasts were incubated with 1.0 ng/ml TGF-beta and the conditioned culture media were processed individually to separate collagenase and 72 kDa-progelatinase from TIMP, the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloendoproteinases, using mini-columns of heparin- and gelatin-Sepharose. Collagenase synthesis was decreased progressively by TGF-beta in fibroblasts despite a 1.6-fold increase in secreted protein levels and a approximately 1.8-fold increase in 72 kDa-progelatinase synthesis. The human fibroblasts and the osteoblast-enriched RC IV cells showed a greater TGF-beta-induced stimulation in 72 kDa-progelatinase levels over controls compared with the RC I cells. In contrast to RC IV cells, in which TIMP mRNA levels were increased 2.9-fold by TGF-beta, the constitutive level of TIMP transcripts in the RC I cells was greater than 20-fold over that of the RC IV cells, but was not elevated by TGF-beta. TGF-beta also increased TIMP expression in fibroblasts approximately 1.7-fold and PAI-1 levels approximately 5-fold in RC IV cells, and greater than 10-fold in fibroblasts.

Regenerating bone marrow produces a potent growth-promoting activity to osteogenic cells.

It is well documented that injury to bone marrow is followed by an osteogenic phase that precedes the complete tissue regeneration. We have recently shown that postablation healing of bone marrow in rat tibiae is associated with a systemic increase in osteogenesis. It was hypothesized that a growth factor(s) with an effect on osteogenic cells is produced in the healing limb, is transferred to the blood circulation, and enhances osteogenesis systemically. To test growth factor production, healing bone marrow-conditioned medium was prepared with tissue separated from rat tibias during the osteogenic phase and assayed for enhancement of mitogenic activity in culture of osteogenic rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2). Partial purification of healing bone marrow-conditioned medium-derived growth factor(s) consisted of gel filtration on Sephadex G-25, boiling, chromatography on heparin-Sepharose, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. Mitogenic activity eluted in the void volume of the Sephadex G-25 column (mol wt greater than 5,000). Potent activity resolved from heparin-Sepharose with PBS, and on filtration by Sephadex G-75 this activity recovered in 3 peaks with mol wt estimates of 35,000, 19,000, and less than 10,000. The partially purified factor also showed considerable stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis in osteoblastic fetal rat calvarial cells and on in vitro elongation of fetal long bone; it had only a small effect on nonosteoblastic ROS and fetal rat calvarial cells. These data indicate that healing bone marrow produces growth factor activity with a preferential effect on osteogenic cells. It is suggested that local growth factors have a role as mediators in the sequence of events whereby bone marrow expresses its osteogenic potential. During postablation healing of bone marrow these factors may also function as systemic promoters to osteogenic cells.

Response of cultured bone cells to a capacitively coupled electric field: inhibition of cAMP response to parathyroid hormone.

Fetal rat calvarial bone cells grown in monolayers were exposed to a capacitively coupled electrical field of 2.62 mV/cm for 2.5-30 min. There was a 59% increase in cAMP concentration after electrical stimulation, compared with a 3615% increase after parathyroid hormone (PTH) administration. PTH administration after electrical stimulation resulted in less cAMP synthesis than following either electrical stimulation alone or PTH administration alone. When PTH administration was delayed for 30 min following cessation of the electrical stimulation, there was an inhibition in the cAMP response. This suggests that one possible mechanism of electrically induced osteogenesis is the desensitization of the bone cell to PTH. Since the effect of PTH is to increase bone resorption, desensitizing or blocking the effects of PTH at the bone cell level would result in a net increase in bone formation.

Differential effects of transforming growth factor-beta on the synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins by normal fetal rat calvarial bone cell populations.

To determine the effects of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on the different cell types that exist in bone, cell populations (I-IV), progressively enriched in osteoblastic cells relative to fibroblastic cells, were prepared from fetal rat calvaria using timed collagenase digestions. TGF-beta did not induce anchorage-independent growth of these cells, nor was anchorage-dependent growth stimulated in most populations studied, despite a two- to threefold increase in the synthesis of cellular proteins. In all populations the synthesis of secreted proteins increased 2-3.5-fold. In particular, collagen, fibronectin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor synthesis was stimulated. However, different degrees of stimulation of individual proteins were observed both within and between cell populations. A marked preferential stimulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor was observed in each population, together with a slight preferential stimulation of collagen; the effect on collagen expression being directed primarily at type I collagen. In contrast, the synthesis of SPARC (secreted protein acidic rich in cysteine/osteonectin was stimulated approximately two-fold by TGF-beta, but only in fibroblastic populations. Collectively, these results demonstrate that TGF-beta stimulates matrix production by bone cells and, through differential effects on individual matrix components, may also influence the nature of the matrix formed by different bone cell populations. In the presence of TGF-beta, osteoblastic cells lost their polygonal morphology and alkaline phosphatase activity was decreased, reflecting a suppression of osteoblastic features. The differential effects of TGF-beta on bone cell populations are likely to be important in bone remodeling and fracture repair.

Effects of human prostatic mitogens on rat bone cells and fibroblasts

We examined several characteristics of the mitogenic activity of extracts of human prostatic adenocarcinoma and human benign prostatic hyperplasia in fetal rat calvarial cells, cloned rat osteosarcoma cells and rat skin fibroblasts. Prostatic moieties produced maximal stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation at 24 h, were mitogenic in the absence or presence of various concentrations of serum, and were active in calvarial cells enriched with osteoblasts, skin fibroblasts and the cloned rat osteosarcoma cell line UMR 108. The known growth-promoting agents insulin, insulin-like growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, interleukin-1 alpha and beta and transforming growth factor beta were also mitogenic in the indicator systems employed; however, maximally stimulating effects of these peptides in cells of the osteoblast phenotype were further enhanced with prostatic material. Prostatic activity was acid-stable and could be enriched with respect to osteoblast stimulation by hydrophobic and carboxymethyl ion-exchange chromatography. The results demonstrate the presence of potent mitogenic activity in hyperplastic and malignant prostatic tissue which appears to include unique osteoblast-stimulating activity.