Receptors for 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 enriched in cloned osteoblast-like rat osteogenic sarcoma cells

The origin of osteoclasts: evidence, clinical implications and investigative challenges of an extra-skeletal source

Recent evidence for an extraskeletal origin of osteoclasts and the historical record of the genesis of osteoclasts are examined critically. Reviews of the structure, function and development of osteoclasts from mononuclear precursors, the local regulation of bone resorption and the coupling of bone formation to preceding resorption are presented as a background for discussing the clinical implications for management of osteolytic bone diseases. The roles of osteoclasts and macrophages as phagocytes are compared and contrasted, and recent evidence for macrophage heterogeneity resulting from site-specific monoblastic precursors is reviewed. The implications of these recent developments in macrophage biology are extrapolated to osteoclasts and the existence of site-specific, extraskeletal osteoclast precursors is proposed. Finally, the investigative challenges inherent in these perspectives are discussed.

Stimulation of DNA synthesis by epidermal growth factor in osteoblast-like cells

Normal and malignant osteoblast-like cells in culture have been shown to possess specific, high affinity receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF). In this study, the mitogenic response to EGF was examined in a clonal line of a rat osteogenic sarcoma (UMR 106) and in osteoblast-rich newborn rat calvarial cells. Twenty-four hour treatment of UMR 106 cells with EGF in doses ranging from 10(-12) M to 2 X 10(-8) M stimulated the incorporation of [3H]thymidine and DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. This short-term stimulatory effect was sustained in long-term culture with a dose-dependent increase in cell proliferation by calvarial cells. A lag period of 8 h occurred before significant stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation was observed. Commitment to increased incorporation of [3H]thymidine required a minimum of 6 h continuous incubation with EGF. These results establish the osteoblast as a target cell for EGF action on bone.

Possible significance of new target tissues for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

A sensitive sucrose gradient procedure provided evidence for specific 3.6S 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] receptor-like binding components with low affinity for 25(OH)D3 in several reproductive target tissues in the rat, including testis, uterus and probably epididymis. Thus, the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptors in non-vitamin D endocrine tissues is not restricted to the hormone secreting glands. Estrogen-stimulated uterine growth paralleled increased levels of the putative 1,25(OH)2D3 receptors, providing in vivo evidence for the concept of a relationship between these phenomena. However, a similar correlation was not observed in the growing testis (prepubertal vs mature rats). Whether this result stems from receptor localization in a cell type prevalent in the adult or a true dissociation between testis growth and receptor levels is unclear. Finally, significant levels (10.3 +/- 1.0% vs intestinal mucosa) of the putative 1,25(OH)2D3 receptors were found in the heart, an organ in which calcium mediates many specialized functions. Taken collectively, these observations on new target tissues of quite different overall function suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 and its receptors may play a role in intracellular calcium homeostasis and possibly in regulating specialized intracellular functions of calcium.

Epidermal growth factor receptors in clonal lines of a rat osteogenic sarcoma and in osteoblast-rich rat bone cells

Studies were carried out to identify and characterize the receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF) in osteoblast-rich newborn rat calvarial cells and in 4 clonal lines derived from a transplantable rat osteogenic sarcoma with a well-characterized osteoblast-like phenotype. The cells were grown in monolayer culture in replicate wells; 40,000-50,000 cpm 125I-labeled mouse EGF with a specific activity of 100-120 microCi/micrograms was added to each well. Binding studies were carried out at 37 degrees C. Binding of 125I-labeled EGF was specific, saturable, reversible, and pH dependent. Maximum binding occurred 2 h after addition of the tracer. Thereafter, cell-bound radioactivity decreased to reach a plateau of 15-20% of maximum binding at 24 h. This observation is consistent with internalization and processing of the receptor-hormone complex as has been shown with other EGF target cells. Scatchard analyses revealed a single class of high-affinity binding sites in the normal and malignant osteoblast-like cells. Dissociation constants (KD) in the clonal lines ranged from 2.3 X 10(-10)M to 4.7 X 10(-10)M with receptor number per cell ranging from 25,000 to 33,000. The calvarial cells had a KD of 2.0 X 10(-10)M with 14,000 receptors per cell. In both the normal and malignant cell strains, EGF was found to increase incorporation of 3H-labeled thymidine into acid-precipitable macromolecules. EGF has been shown to stimulate bone resorption; however, studies in organ cultures have not identified the target cell for EGF. The present results point to an interaction of EGF with osteoblasts.

Cyclo-oxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism in rat osteoblasts in culture

The metabolism of arachidonic acid to its cyclo-oxygenase products was studied in monolayer cultures of osteoblast-rich rat calvarial cells and of clonal cell lines from a rat osteogenic sarcoma, enriched in the osteoblast phenotype. Prostanoids were measured by radioimmunoassay after extraction of media and fractionation by high pressure liquid chromatography. In both normal and malignant osteoblasts the major cyclooxygenase product was 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha, the hydration product of prostacyclin, with lesser amounts of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha. No significant thromboxane B2 was detected. Prostaglandins are thought to have a local role in the regulation of bone resorption. These results point to the possible importance of prostacyclin either in bone resorption or in some other local function, e.g., regulation of bone blood flow.

Chemotactic activity of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid containing protein in bone

We have found that the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (GLA)-containing protein from bone (BGP, osteocalcin) has chemotactic activity in vitro for a number of cells which are found adjacent to endosteal bone surfaces in vivo. Using the Boyden chamber technique for measuring cell chemotaxis in vitro, we have shown that BGP is chemotactic for cultured human breast cancer cells, human and mouse monocytes, and for cultured rat osteosarcoma cells which have the characteristics of osteoblasts. The migration of these cells in response to BGP is undirectional and not due to spontaneous or random migration. A synthetic peptide (Phe-Tyr-Gly-Pro-Val), which is identical to the carboxy-terminal peptide cleaved from BGP when digested by trypsin, is also chemotactic for the same cells. BGP retains its chemotactic activity after conversion of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues to glutamic acid, indicating that this biological effect requires neither gamma-carboxyglutamate nor the ability of BGP to bind calcium. Since BGP is released from bone during states of increased bone turnover, it is possible that this chemotactic effect of the protein may be a mechanism for recruitment of these cells to sites of active bone remodeling.

The hypercalcemia of malignancy: pathogenesis and management

The number of agents and treatment regimens which can be used in the medical treatment of hypercalcemia has increased markedly over the last 5 yr. As this list has increased, clinicians are anxious to know more about the humoral and cellular mechanisms which are responsible for the hypercalcemia of malignancy and to understand how these drugs work. Unfortunately there is no treatment available presently which is uniformally safe and effective, and the potential pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for hypercalcemia are hotly debated. In this review, we plan to summarize current views of the pathogenesis, clinical features and treatment of hypercalcemia associated with malignant disease.

Activation of serum complement inhibits collagen synthesis in fetal rat bone in organ culture

Activation of rabbit serum complement caused a marked reduction in collagen synthesis but a much smaller change in noncollagen protein synthesis in fetal rat calvaria maintained in organ culture. In the periosteum of the fetal rat calvarium, both collagen and noncollagen protein synthesis were reduced, whereas in the central bone, presumably enriched in osteoblasts, only collagen synthesis was inhibited. This large decrease in bone collagen synthesis could not be attributed to enhanced degradation of newly synthesized collagen or its release into the culture medium. Activation of complement also stimulated the production of PGE in fetal rat calvaria. Antagonists of prostaglandin cyclooxygenase decreased prostaglandin synthesis but did not restore collagen synthesis in complement-treated bones, suggesting that complement decreases osteoblast collagen synthesis by a mechanism largely independent of prostaglandin production.

1 alpha,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol and a human myeloid leukaemia cell line (HL-60)

Human promyelocytic leukaemia cells (HL-60) can be induced to differentiate into mature granulocytes in vitro by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1 alpha,25(OH)2D3], the active form of cholecalciferol. The differentiation-associated properties, such as phagocytosis and C3 rosette formation, were induced by as little as 0.12 nM-1 alpha,25(OH)2D3, and, at 12 nM, about half of the cells exhibited differentiation on day 3 of incubation. Concomitantly the viable cell number was decreased to less than half of the control. Among various derivatives of cholecalciferol examined, 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 and 1 alpha,24R-dihydroxycholecalciferol were the most potent in inducing differentiation, followed successively by 1 alpha,24S-dihydroxycholecalciferol, 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and 24R,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. A cytosol protein specifically bound to 1 alpha,25 (OH)2D3 was found in HL-60 cells. Its physical properties closely resembled those found in such target tissues as intestine and parathyroid glands. 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 bound to the cytosol receptor was transferred quantitatively to the chromatin fraction. The specificity of various derivatives of cholecalciferol in inducing differentiation was well correlated with that of their association with the cytosol receptor. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that the active form of cholecalciferol induces differentiation of human myeloid leukaemia cells by a mechanism similar to that proposed for the classical concept of steroid hormone action.

Unidirectional migration of osteosarcoma cells with osteoblast characteristics in response to products of bone resorption

To investigate the mechanisms by which bone-forming cells are attracted to areas of bone resorption during bone remodeling, we have used in vitro methods to look for signals released by resorbing bone, which may be chemotactic for cultured bone cells. We have found that cultured rat osteosarcoma cells, which have characteristics associated with the osteoblastic phenotype, migrate in a unidirectional manner in response to a signal released by resorbing bones. These cells also migrated unidirectionally in response to Type I collagen, which comprises 95% of the bone matrix. This phenomenon of chemotaxis of bone-forming cells to sites of previous resorption may be an important component of the process of bone remodeling and the coupling of bone formation to bone resorption.

Whole-cell uptake and nuclear localization of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol by breast cancer cells (T47 D) in culture

Specific high-affinity receptors for 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)] have been described recently in broken-cell preparations of several cultured human breast cancer cell lines including the T47 D line. It was necessary to determine whether intact breast cancer cells in culture would bind 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) specifically and whether the next step in the proposed scheme of action, i.e. nuclear translocation, occurred. The following results were obtained. (1) Specific uptake of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) by T47 D cells occurs in intact cells in culture. (2) The rate of uptake is proportional to medium 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) concentration but is slow compared with that of other steroid hormones, e.g., oestradiol, under identical conditions. Even at 0.5nm-1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) in the medium, at least 4h are required to reach maximum compared with less than 1h for oestradiol binding. (3) Estimation of binding characteristics by Scatchard analysis indicates a single class of binding sites with K(d) of 68pm and 11800 binding sites/cell, which are similar results to those obtained with broken-cell preparations. (4) Inclusion of various vitamin D metabolites in the incubation medium decreased specific binding of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) by the intact cells in a manner identical with their effects in the broken-cell preparation and with potencies similar to their potency on Ca(2+) transport and bone resorption in vivo. Order of potency was 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)>(24R)-1,24,25-trihydroxycholecalciferol >>25-hydroxycholecalciferol>(25R)-24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol >>(25R)-25,26-dihydroxycholecalciferol. (5) In the 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)-depleted state, 80% of the 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) receptor is found in the cytosol fraction of the cells even when the subcellular fractionation is performed under low-salt conditions. By contrast after incubation with [(3)H]1,25-(OH)(2)D(3), 59% of the specific 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) binding is found in the partially purified nuclei fraction. These data indicate that nuclear translocation of the receptor-hormone complex takes place in the intact T47 D cell. The results also support the hypothesis that the 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) receptor is functional in this cultured breast cancer cell line, which may provide a useful model for further study of the early biochemical events in 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) action.