Calcitonin and parathyroid-hormone stimulation of acid mucopolysaccharide synthesis in cultured chondrocytes isolated from growth cartilage

Studies on chondrocytes from mandibular condylar cartilage, nasal septal cartilage, and spheno-occipital synchondrosis in culture. I. Morphology, growth, glycosaminoglycan synthesis, and responsiveness to bovine parathyroid hormone (1-34)

Methods for isolating chondrocytes from the craniofacial complex and culturing them in vitro were established. Chondrocytes which were isolated by collagenase digestion from mandibular condylar cartilage, nasal septal cartilage, and spheno-occipital synchondrosis grew well in vitro. All three types of chondrocytes actively synthesized glycosaminoglycans, a differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes, and responded well to parathyroid hormone. However, some different characteristics were noted among the three types of chondrocytes in culture.

Ultrastructure of the effects of calcitonin on the development of mouse tooth germs in vitro

Mandibular first molars, from 17-day-old embryos, were cultivated in control medium or medium containing 0.1, 0.01 or 0.001 unit/ml of calcitonin (CT) for periods up to 10 days. In untreated tooth germs, cells of the dental papilla differentiated into pre-odontoblasts up to 4 days and predentine was seen on day 6. Cells treated with 0.1 unit/ml of CT differentiated into pre-odontoblasts up to 4 days, but no predentine was formed even after 10 days in culture. With 0.01 unit/ml, cells differentiated into odontoblasts, and had already secreted predentine a few days earlier than the untreated group. With 0.001 unit/ml, the developing germs were similar to the control explants during the entire 10-day cultivation period. The proportional area of rough endoplasmic reticulum to cytoplasm of the odontoblasts was low at 0.1 unit/ml of CT and high at 0.01 unit/ml compared to the untreated explants.

Restoration by parathyroid hormone and dibutyryl cyclic AMP of expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes inhibited by a tumor promoter, 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate

12-0-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) inhibited expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes in rabbit costal chondrocytes in culture. TPA transformed typical polygonal chondrocytes into multilayered, fibroblastic cells and also inhibited the rate of [35S]sulfate incorporation into glycosaminoglycan (GAG), a differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes. These changes were apparent within 24 h and reached a plateau at 48 h after the addition of TPA. Phorbol didecanoate and phorbol dibenzoate also inhibited sulfation of GAG, even though the effect was weaker than that of TPA. Phorbol diacetate and 4-0-methyl TPA did not inhibit sulfation of GAG. Addition of parathyroid hormone (PTH) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP simultaneously with TPA overcame the inhibition caused by TPA. PTH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP also reversed the inhibition and stimulated expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes even in de-differentiated cells which had been pretreated for 3 days with TPA. These findings suggest that cyclic AMP plays an important role in the restoration of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes in TPA-treated chondrocytes, and that the TPA-treated cells retain some of the differentiated phenotype of the original cells, such as responsiveness to PTH.

The effect of serum on biosynthesis of proteoglycans by bovine articular cartilage in culture

Proteoglycan synthesis by slices of adult bovine articular cartilage is stimulated two-to threefold when tissue is cultured in the presence of fetal calf serum for 5-6 days. After this, essentially steady-state conditions are achieved for up to 14 days in which the high synthetic rates are maintained and the amount of proteoglycan in the tissue remains nearly constant. In the absence of fetal calf serum, synthesis declines to a lower level and there is a gradual, net loss of proteoglycan from the tissue. Tissue maintained without serum for several days rapidly increases synthetic rates to the higher levels over 2-3 days after transferring into medium with serum, and vice versa, indicating that the response of the chondrocytes to serum factors is reversible. The structures of the proteoglycans synthesized under all medium conditions were typical for cartilage. Only small differences in glycosaminoglycan chain sizes and a consistent decrease in the relative amount of keratan sulfate to chondroitin sulfate during the first days in the culture were observed. The net capacity of the cells for chondroitin sulfate synthesis, as estimated by incubation in the presence of exogenous beta-xyloside acceptor, increased (or decreased) in parallel with the changes in endogenous proteoglycan synthesis when cultures were transferred from medium without to medium with serum (or vice versa), suggesting that changes in the net amounts of the enzymes for chondroitin sulfate synthesis are closely coordinated with changes in the amount of core protein being processed to proteoglycans. The responses of calf articular cartilage in the same system were somewhat different. Serum in the medium was required to maintain initial high levels of synthesis. The proteoglycans synthesized contained a lower proportion of keratan sulfate than those initially synthesized in the adult tissue, and there was no change in this proportion with time in culture. The maintenance of steady-state conditions for proteoglycan metabolism by either adult or calf tissue in the presence of serum in these cultures should provide a useful model for studying the regulation of synthesis and catabolism of proteoglycans by chondrocytes residing in a nearly normal extracellular matrix for long periods of time.

Prostaglandin stimulation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate accumulation in cultured chondrocytes in the presence or absence of parathyroid hormone

The effect of prostaglandin analogues on the cyclic AMP level in cultured chondrocytes were examined. Prostaglandin E1 at 0.4 to 30 microM, increased the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP in chondrocytes. Its effect was rapid, being evident within 1 min and reaching a maximum in 10 to 20 min. The maximum level was sustained until 30 min after its addition and then decreased gradually. Prostaglandin D2 and E2 also increased the cyclic AMP level in chondrocytes, but they had less effect than prostaglandin E1. Prostaglandin A1 had no effect on the nucleotide level in chondrocytes, although they markedly increased the level in fibroblasts. The time course of stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in chondrocytes by prostaglandin E1, D2 or E2 was quite different from that by parathyroid hormone (PTH): the effect of prostaglandin was slower and more sustained than that of PTH. PTH potentiated the effect of prostaglandin E1, E2, or D2 on the cyclic AMP level in chondrocytes and that the combined effects of prostaglandin and PTH were more than additive. Addition of an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase with prostaglandin, PTH or both produced a synergistic effect on the accumulation of cyclic AMP in the chondrocytes. These findings suggest that prostaglandin E1, E2, and D2 increase the synthesis of cyclic AMP and that the combined effect of the prostaglandins and PTH on the cyclic AMP level in chondrocytes is partly attributed to the synergistic synthesis of cyclic AMP in the cells.

Triiodothyronine stimulates maturation of porcine growth-plate cartilage in vitro

We studied the effect of triiodothyronine (T3) on mammalian growth-plate cartilage in vitro. Growth-plate cartilages from fetal pigs scapulae were incubated for 3 to 7 d in serum-free medium alone or medium containing T3. Alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker of hypertrophied chondrocytes, was increased in T3 (10 nM)-treated growth-plate cartilage 152 +/- 36% above that of cartilage incubated in medium alone after 3 d of incubation, and 324 +/- 47% after 7 d of incubation. There was a dose-response increase in alkaline phosphatase activity to T3 over the range of 0.01-10 nM. The rise in alkaline phosphatase activity was specific for T3 since growth-plate cartilage alkaline phosphatase activity was not increased by cortisol, insulin, parathyroid hormone, or 5% fetal calf serum. Histological studies of growth-plate cartilage showed that T3 in a concentration-dependent manner increased the width of the zone of maturation (hypertrophied chondrocytes). Histochemical staining for alkaline phosphatase activity demonstrated that T3 caused the recruitment of new cells into the zone of maturation. T3 also stimulated incorporation of L-[3H]leucine into protein and 35SO4 into proteoglycan in growth-plate cartilage. In contrast, T3 did not increase alkaline phosphatase activity or radiolabeled precursor incorporation into nongrowth-plate scapular cartilage. These studies demonstrate that T3 directly stimulates maturation and, to a lesser degree, growth-related processes in fetal mammalian growth-plate cartilage.

Effect of bone-derived growth factor on DNA, RNA, and proteoglycan synthesis in cultures of rabbit costal chondrocytes

Calvariae and chondrocytes in culture have been reported to release growth factors which stimulate bone and cartilage growth respectively. In the present studies, we examined the effects of bone-derived growth factor (BDGF) on DNA, RNA and proteoglycan synthesis in cultured rabbit chondrocytes. Two partially purified fractions of BDGF were tested, one with an approximate molecular weight (MW) of 20-30,000 and with greater activity on calvarial DNA labeling (BDGF I) and another with an approximate MW 6-13,000 and greater activity on bone collagen labeling (BDGF II). Both fractions had a similar effect and increased the incorporation of -3H-uridine into acid insoluble residues in chondrocytes and the incorporation of 35SO4(2-), 3H-glucosamine and 3H-serine into proteoglycans. However, BDGF II had a greater stimulatory effect on the incorporation of 3H-thymidine than BDGF I. These findings suggest that factor(s) released by bone cells are capable of stimulating cartilage metabolism and growth.

Effect of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and growth hormone on cAMP content of growth cartilage in experimental uraemia

The response of proximal tibial growth cartilage cAMP content to different hormonal stimuli, i.e. parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and somatotropic hormone was evaluated in rats with bilateral or subtotal nephrectomy. In uraemic rats, basal cAMP content of growth cartilage was unchanged. Administration of 1-34 PTH in vivo or incubation of growth cartilage with 1-34 PTH in vitro caused a significantly smaller increment of cAMP in uraemic rats (40 IU PTH in vivo: 11.4 +/- 1.01 pmol cAMP/mg protein; controls 24.0 +/- 2.55; P less than 0.001). This finding implies PTH resistance. Diminished cAMP response in uraemic animals was not changed by pretreatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 or parathyroidectomy. The increment of cAMP content of growth cartilage of uraemic animals was significantly (P less than 0.01) greater after in vivo administration of 10 IU calcitonin (46.1 +/- 4.89 pmol/mg protein; control: 29.0 +/- 3.99) or incubation of cartilage with calcitonin in vitro. This finding implies overresponsiveness to calcitonin. Neither in acute nor in chronic uraemia, STH caused a significant change of cartilage cAMP or cGMP content, but STH stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation into chondrocytes of rats with 5 days uraemia (solvent 2.98 +/- 0.51 x 10(3) cpm per cartilage; STH 5.08 +/- 0.34; P less than 0.05) and caused significant improvement of longitudinal growth of rats with 20 days uraemia.

Restoration by cyclic AMP of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes from de-differentiated cells pretreated with retinoids

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases the cyclic AMP level in rabbit costal chondrocytes in culture. PTH, dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DBcAMP), and 8-bromo cyclic AMP (8-Br cAMP)induce ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes in this cell system. On the other hand, retinoids inhibit expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes. In the present study, the effects of PTH, DBcAMP, and 8-Br cAMP on rabbit costal chondrocytes pretreated with retinoids were examined. PTH did not increase the cellular cyclic AMP level in de-differentiated cells that had been pretreated with retinyl acetate or retinoic acid for three days, but it did increase the cyclic AMP level four days after removal of retinoids. PTH did not stimulate ODC activity or expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes in the de-differentiated state. On the other hand, DBcAMP or 8-Br cAMP stimulated expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes even in de-differentiated cells, as judged by morphological and histological changes of the cells and increase in glycosaminoglycan synthesis. Cyclic AMP analogues also induced ODC in these cells.

Somatomedin-like peptide(s) isolated from fetal bovine cartilage (cartilage-derived factor): isolation and some properties

Fetal bovine cartilage contains a polypeptide(s) that has somatomedin-like effects on rat and rabbit costal chondrocytes in culture. This factor, named the cartilage-derived factor, was extracted from fetal bovine cartilage, fractionated with acetone, and purified by gel filtration on Toyopearl HW 55-F in 4 M guanidine hydrochloride, preparative isoelectric focusing, and subsequent gel filtration on Toyopearl HW 55-F in 1 M formic acid. The resulting preparation, which focused in the neutral pH region and eluted from a Toyopearl column in a fraction with apparent Mr 10,000--11,000, appeared homogenous by NaDodSO4 gel electrophoresis. The purified preparation markedly enhanced not only proteoglycan synthesis but also DNA synthesis in rabbit costal chondrocytes and, on a protein basis, it was 1000 times more active than insulin and 1,000,000 times more active than fetal calf serum in stimulating proteoglycan synthesis.

Simulation of the initial stage of endochondral ossification: in vitro sequential culture of growth cartilage cells and bone marrow cells

Growth cartilage cells were isolated from the ribs of young rats and cultured at high cell density in Ham's F-12 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. During 7 days, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans were actively synthesized and secreted, forming a metachromatic matrix. When cultured together with growth cartilage cells precultured and biosynthetically prelabeled with 35SO4(2-) in their glycosaminoglycans, bone marrow cells caused release of 35S-labeled material into the culture medium. Glycosaminoglycan was also released by addition of conditioned medium obtained from cultures of bone marrow cells or peritoneal macrophages to the growth cartilage cell cultures. Electron microscopic studies of the extracellular matrix of growth cartilage cells cocultured with bone marrow cells showed that needles of apatite mineral were deposited within and in close apposition to the surfaces of matrix vesicles. These findings suggest that enzymes released from bone marrow cells or macrophages removed glycosaminoglycan or proteoglycans, which may be inhibitors of mineral growth, and consequently mineralization was initiated. From these findings, sequential culture of growth cartilage cells and bone marrow cells is promising as an experimental system for investigating the mechanism of the initial stage of endochondral ossification.

Effects of parathyroid hormone and cyclic AMP analogues on the activity of ornithine decarboxylase and expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes in culture

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) greatly increased the level of adenosine 3', 5' cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in rabbit costal chondrocytes in culture 2 minutes after its addition. PTH, as well as N6 O2' dibutyryl adenosine 3', 5' cyclic monophosphate (DBcAMP) and 8 Bromo adenosine 3', 5' cyclic monophosphate (8 Br-cAMP) induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC; L-ornithine carboxylyase; EC 4.1.1.17), which reached a maximum 4 hours after their addition. Neither cAMP, N6 O2' dibutyryl guanosine 3', 5' cyclic monophosphate (DBcGMP), nor sodium butyrate increased the activity of the enzyme. PTH had no effect on DNA synthesis, while DBcAMP and 8 Br-cAMP decreased DNA synthesis. Expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes in culture was also induced by PTH, DBcAMP, and 8 Br-cAMP, but not by cAMP, DBcGMP, or sodium butyrate, as judged by morphological change. Glycosaminoglycan synthesis, a characteristic of the cartilage phenotype, began to increase 8 hours after addition of PTH or DBcAMP, reaching a plateau 32 hours after their addition. These findings suggest that PTH induces increase of ODC activity and expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes through increase of cAMP and that induction of OCD is closely related to expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes.

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.

The aortic content of glycosaminoglycans and hydroxyproline in experimental uraemia

The effect of experimental renal failure in rats on the various glycosaminoglycan fractions and on the hydroxyproline content of the aorta was studied with special reference to the influence of parathyroidectomy. Renal failure increased those fractions which are known to contain chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate. Parathyroidectomy did not modify these changes. Parathyroidectomy in rats with intact renal function produced an increase of the same fractions. It is concluded that accumulation of sulphated glycosaminoglycans is an early event in the development of uraemic arterial disease. The significance of such accumulation for subsequent development of arterial calcification is discussed. The available data do not permit evaluation of the significance of secondary hyperparathyroidism in the genesis of the observed changes of the glycosaminoglycans.