Development of parathyroid hormone- and calcitonin-activated adenylate cyclases in embryonic chicken limb and in cultured cells from embryonic chicken limb

Effects of bone-seeking hormones on DNA synthesis, cyclic AMP level, and alkaline phosphatase activity in cultured cells from human posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine

In a study of the osteogenesis capability of the human posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine, ligament cells were isolated and cultured. The effect of bone-seeking hormones, such as parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25-(OH)2D3], on the ligament cells was investigated with respect to DNA synthesis, adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and acid phosphatase (ACP) activity. Cell lines obtained from nonossified sites in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine (OPLL) were found to have several different phenotypic characteristics for osteoblasts: high ALP activity, PTH- and PGE2-stimulated increases in cAMP, and responses to both CT and 1,25-(OH)2D3. It is clear that proliferation and differentiation in such ligament cells are controlled by various types of bone-seeking hormones, and it was suggested that many cells with osteoblast-like characteristics are present. These results are considered important with respect to the etiology of OPLL, and an experimental system using cultured ligament cells appears to be useful in research on OPLL.

Mesenchymal stem cells

Bone and cartilage formation in the embryo and repair and turnover in the adult involve the progeny of a small number of cells called mesenchymal stem cells. These cells divide, and their progeny become committed to a specific and distinctive phenotypic pathway, a lineage with discrete steps and, finally, end-stage cells involved with fabrication of a unique tissue type, e.g., cartilage or bone. Local cuing (extrinsic factors) and the genomic potential (intrinsic factors) interact at each lineage step to control the rate and characteristic phenotype of the cells in the emerging tissue. The study of these mesenchymal stem cells, whether isolated from embryos or adults, provides the basis for the emergence of a new therapeutic technology of self-cell repair. The isolation, mitotic expansion, and site-directed delivery of autologous stem cells can govern the rapid and specific repair of skeletal tissues.

Development of PTH-responsive adenylate cyclase activity during chondrogenesis in cultured mesenchyme from chick limb buds

The present study investigated the development of parathyroid hormone (PTH)-responsive adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in chondrogenic cells differentiating from chick limb mesenchyme in culture. Mesenchyme from stage 25 chick embryos was removed from the distal tip (0.3 mm) of limb buds and cultured for a 6 day period in high density micromass cultures. Under these conditions, initial appearance of cartilage matrix and chondroblasts occurred on day 3 of culture and rapidly progressed over the next 3 days to produce, by day 6, a highly confluent and homogeneous layer of cartilage matrix and chondrocytes. Cells initially dissociated from limb mesenchyme on day 0 were essentially unresponsive to PTH, but development of AC-coupled, PTH receptors occurred rapidly during the initial 24 hours of culture. Based on data from dose-response experiments, prechondrogenic cells on day 1 of culture had synthesized their full complement of these receptors relative to fully differentiated chondrocytes in cultures at day 6. Inhibition of chondrocyte differentiation by retinoic acid did not significantly affect the initial development of AC-coupled, PTH receptors but it almost completely prevented synthesis of cartilage matrix. The results indicate that development of AC-coupled PTH receptors during chondrogenesis precedes, by at least 48 hours, overt differentiation of chondrocytes and the accumulation of cartilage-specific extracellular matrix and appears to represent one of the earliest reported events in chondrocyte differentiation. The lack of effect of retinoids on development of these receptors indicates that the inhibitory effects of retinoids on differentiating cartilage are at least somewhat specific for genes regulating synthesis of extracellular matrix molecules.

Rat epiphyseal cells in culture: responsiveness to bone-seeking hormones

Cell cultures derived from young rat epiphyseal cartilage were grown for approximately 2 wk in BGJb medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum to reach confluence. These cells were identified as chondrocytes as checked by morphology, the presence of alkaline phosphatase, and a positive type II collagen antibody reaction. The cells also responded to different hormonal treatment. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increased cyclic AMP production by 50% within 15 min of treatment, whereas prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) caused an increase of 160%. Calcitonin (CT) did not affect cAMP production in these cells. DNA synthesis 24 h after hormonal treatment was increased by PTH (2.5-fold) and PGE2 (2-fold), but not by CT. Among the vitamin D metabolites, 24,25(OH)2D3 increased significantly the [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, whereas 1,25(OH)2D3 effect was minimal. These results provide evidence for the use of these cell cultures as a model for cartilage in vitro when studying biological and hormonal responsiveness.

Effects of ascorbic acid on alkaline phosphatase activity and hormone responsiveness in the osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell line UMR-106

L-ascorbic acid at physiological concentrations (10 micrograms/ml) increased alkaline phosphatase activity in the osteoblastlike rat osteosarcoma cell line, UMR-106. The increase was dose-dependent and detectable at 6 hours after the addition of 100 micrograms/ml ascorbic acid to the medium. Treatment of the cells with 100 micrograms/ml ascorbic acid potentiated the response of cAMP to both PTH and PGE1, while cell growth was inhibited. Furthermore, the number of colonies formed by the cells grown in the soft agar was significantly reduced by increasing concentrations of ascorbic acid. These results indicate that ascorbic acid might play some role in the differentiation of osteoblasts.

Isolation and characterization of osteogenic cells derived from first bone of the embryonic tibia

Osteogenesis in the embryonic long bone rudiment occurs initially within an outer periosteal membrane and subsequently inside the cartilaginous core as a consequence of the endochondral ossification process. In order to investigate the development of these two different mechanisms of bone formation, embryonic chick tibial cell isolates were prepared from sites of first periosteal bone formation and from the immediately underlying hypertrophic cartilaginous core region. Mid-diaphyseal periosteal collars and the corresponding cartilage core were microdissected free from Hamburger-Hamilton stage 35 (Day 9) chick tibias and separately digested with a trypsin-collagenase enzyme mixture. The released cell populations were cultivated in vitro and characterized by morphological analysis, histochemical localization of alkaline phosphatase, alizarin red S staining for mineral deposition, growth rate [( 3H]thymidine uptake), and proteoglycan content. Results of these studies showed that periosteal collar cell cultures form nodule-like structures that stain positive with alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red S. Light and electron microscopic observation revealed cell and matrix morphologies similar to that of intact periosteum. The nodules were composed of plump cell types embedded within a mineralized matrix surrounded by a fibroblastic cell layer. Core cartilage cell cultures displayed typical characteristics of the hypertrophic state in their visual appearance and proteoglycan composition. The formation of osseous-like structures in periosteal collar cell cultures but not in core chondrocyte cell cultures demonstrates the relatively autonomous nature of intramembranous ossification while emphasizing the dependence of the endochondral ossification process upon an intact vascularized environment present in the developing tibia.

The morphology and hormonal responsiveness of developing skeletal elements in chick limb buds

While parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT), and certain prostaglandins (PGs) are known to regulate the metabolism of both osteogenic and osteolytic cells of the adult skeleton through an adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate-dependent mechanism, little is known about the development of this hormonally mediated response in embryonic skeletal tissues. In the present study, the responsiveness of embryonic skeletal elements to PTH and PGE2 was examined during various stages of development utilizing cAMP concentrations as an indicator of hormone-receptor interaction. The cytology of the limb skeletal system was examined also at each stage tested in order to compare the differentiated cellular phenotypes with their hormonal responsiveness. Prior to differentiation of cartilaginous elements in developing limb buds (stage 20-21), cells were responsive to PGE2 and epinephrine (EPI) but not to PTH. The first consistent response to PTH occurred coincident with the initial differentiation of the cartilage phenotype in limb buds (stage 24-25). A responsiveness to both PTH and PGE2 was progressively increased as maturation of cartilaginous and osteogenic elements occurred (stage 26-35). The initial response to CT was detected within cartilage rods in which osteogenic cells had differentiated (stage 33-35). The results of this study indicate that PGE2-sensitive cells exist within the developing limb prior to cytodifferentiation. The development of PTH responsiveness within embryonic chick limb buds is correlated with the onset of both chondrogenesis and osteogenesis in vivo.

Development of the cyclic AMP response to parathyroid hormone and prostaglandin E2 in the embryonic chick limb

The developing chick limb was studied to determine the ability of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to increase intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) during various stages of development. All developmental stages examined (stages 20-21, 24-25, and 26-28) responded to PGE2 when the cells were assayed immediately following the removal of the limbs from the embryos. In contrast, only stage 26-28 limb cells responded to PTH when assayed in a similar manner. The response to PTH was temporally correlated with the appearance of cartilage matrix in vivo. Undifferentiated limb cells were also cultured and assayed at various times for hormone responsiveness. Stage 24-25 high-density cell cultures responded initially to PGE2 but not to PTH. However, by 36 h and in all subsequent time intervals tested, the response to PTH was significantly greater than that to PGE2. The PTH receptor, in contrast to that of PGE2, was shown to be sensitive to trypsin treatment, but could be generated during subsequent cell culture. The majority of the hormone-responsive cells were found in cartilaginous regions of the limb, and were shown to respond to both hormones in a dose-dependent manner. The PTH-induced cAMP response was affected by low cell density and mouse serum, both of which significantly inhibit the chondrogenic potential of cultured limb cells. These findings are consistent with a temporal correlation between the development of the PTH response and chondrogenesis in vivo.

Polyamine and differentiation: induction of ornithine decarboxylase by parathyroid hormone is a good marker of differentiated chondrocytes

The activity of ornithine decarboxylase (OD-Case:L-ornithine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.17) in rabbit costal chondrocytes in culture increased markedly after addition of parathyroid hormone (PTH), reaching a maximum 4 to 5 hr after PTH addition. The increase in ODCase activity was followed by increase in the intracellular concentrations of polyamines, especially putrescine, which increased in 6 hr to about 3-fold that of untreated cultures. The induction of ODCase by PTH was not observed in L, 3T3, HeLa, buffalo rat liver, or BHK cells. Retinyl acetate and retinoic acid both inhibited expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes by rabbit costal chondrocytes in culture within 3 days after their addition, as judged by morphological change and decrease in sulfate incorporation into glycosaminoglycans but did not inhibit cell proliferation. PTH could not induce an increase in ODCase in de-differentiated cells that had been pretreated with retinyl acetate or retinoic acid for 3 days. but 4 days after removal of the retinoids, these de-differentiated cells regained the ability to synthesize ODCase in response to PTH. These facts suggest that the induction of ODCase and the formation of putrescine by PTH are good markers of the differentiated phenotype of cultured chondrocytes.

An attempt at localizing adenylate cyclase in rat calvaria. Influence of sodium fluoride and parathyroid hormone

To show adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in rat calvaria, it is necessary first to decalcify the specimen. In hard tissues, several enzymes (adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), alkaline phosphatase (APase), adenylate cyclase (AC) and perhaps pyrophosphatase (PPiase) are able to degrade adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The presence of sodium fluoride (NaF) in the incubation medium reduces the quantity of precipitate formed, compared to that observed using a NaF-free incubation medium. Levamisole, used under the same conditions, gives similar results. Possibly NaF inhibits pyrophosphohydrolase and/or phosphatases which mask the AC activity. Adenylylimidophosphate (AMP-PNP), which is a specific AC substrate, confirms the results obtained with ATP. AC activity is demonstrated cytochemically in the osteoblast and preosteoblast membranes, at the junction between two osteoblasts and along the cytoplasmic processes of the osteoblast which penetrate into the osteoid matrix. The osteocytes never show a precipitate, except those which present some osteoblastic features and then only on the membrane facing the osteogenic layer. An intracellular reaction is also evident and is discussed. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) does not reveal new sites of AC activity but increases the quantity of precipitate observed.

Calcification of differentiating skeletal mesenchyme in vitro

Embryonic limb-bud mesenchyme was induced to calcify in culture by the addition of 3 mM inorganic phosphate to the medium. Phosphate enhanced calcification of the matrix produced by mesenchymal or fibroblast-like cells, whereas no calcification was evident in areas where cartilage had developed. However, calcification was induced throughout the cell layer by altering the cartilage matrix properties with certain enzymes or by changing the phenotypic expression of the cells with vitamin A.