Sodium fluoride does not increase human bone cell proliferation or protein synthesis in vitro

Production and action of transforming growth factor-beta in human osteoblast cultures: dependence on cell differentiation and modulation by calcitriol

BACKGROUND

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) plays an important role in skeletal remodelling. However, few studies have examined its effects on cultured human osteoblasts. Our aim is to characterise the biological effects of TGF-beta1 on human osteoblasts and to examine the interaction between TGF-beta1 and calcitriol.

DESIGN

In vitro study employing two models of normal human osteoblasts: human bone marrow stromal cells [hMS/(OB)] containing osteoprogenitor cells and trabecular bone osteoblasts (hOB), which are mature osteoblasts. A reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction assay was employed to measure steady state mRNA levels of TGF-beta(s) isoforms and receptors. Effects of short-term treatment of TGF-beta1 on osteoblast proliferation and differentiation markers were assessed. The effect of cotreatment of calcitriol (10-8 M) and TGF-beta1 on osteoblast differentiation was also determined.

RESULTS

Both hMS(OB) and hOB cells expressed mRNA transcripts of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta 3, TGF-beta type I and type II receptors. TGF-beta 1 stimulated osteoblast proliferation in hMS(OB) and in hOB cultures. In hOB cultures, TGF-beta1 stimulated AP production and cotreatment with calcitriol induced a synergistic increase in AP levels to 250 +/- 61% of calcitriol-treated controls. Effects of TGF-beta1 and calcitriol were less pronounced in hMS(OB) cultures. TGF-beta1 inhibited collagen type I production in hMS(OB) cells and these effects were abolished in presence of calcitriol. In presence of calcitriol, TGF-beta1 increased collagen type I production in hOB cells. In both hOB and hMS(OB) cultures, TGF-beta1 inhibited osteocalcin production.

CONCLUSIONS

TGF-beta increases osteoblastic cell proliferation irrespective of the differentiation state. In presence of calcitriol, it initiates osteoblast cell differentiation and matrix formation. As TGF-beta inhibits osteocalcin production, other factors are necessary for inducing terminal differentiation of osteoblasts. The observed effects of TGF-beta on human osteoblasts in vitro may represent important regulatory steps in controlling osteoblast cell proliferation and differentiation in vivo.

Differential effects of fluoride and insulin-like growth factor I on sodium-dependent alanine and phosphate transport in a human osteoblast-like cell line

The effects of fluoride and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I on sodium-dependent (Na(d)) alanine and phosphate (Pi) transport were compared in a human osteosarcoma cell line, SAOS-2/B-10. Fluoride stimulated Na(d) alanine but not Pi uptake in a dose-dependent manner, whereas IGF-I stimulated both alanine and Na(d)Pi transport. IGF-I and low concentrations of fluoride stimulated Na(d) alanine transport rapidly. Genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase blocked IGF-I- but not fluoride-stimulated Na(d) alanine transport. The effects of fluoride and IGF-I were additive and not associated with corresponding changes in cell number or protein content. In conclusion, low concentrations of fluoride rapidly and selectively stimulate Na(d) alanine transport in SAOS-2 cells.

Dexamethasone enhances the osteogenic effects of fluoride in human TE85 osteosarcoma cells in vitro

The in vitro osteogenic effects of fluoride have not always been consistently observed in human bone cells. The present study sought to test if dexamethasone (Dex) could potentiate the action of fluoride to increase the detectability of the stimulatory effects of fluoride on [3H]thymidine incorporation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) specific activity, collagen synthesis, and osteocalcin secretion in human TE85 osteosarcoma cells. Neither Dex at 10(-10)-10(-6) M or fluoride at a mitogenic dose (100 microM) had any consistent stimulatory effects on thymidine incorporation. When the cells were treated with both agents simultaneously, significant and highly reproducible stimulations were observed. The mitogenic effects of the two agents were confirmed with cell number counting. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant interaction (P < 0.001) between fluoride and Dex on cell proliferation. The enhancing effect of Dex on [3H]thymidine incorporation was not due to a shift of the optimal dose response of fluoride. Though fluoride alone or Dex alone also had no consistent effect on ALP specific activity, the co-treatment with fluoride and Dex for 24 hours produced significant (P < 0.001, ANOVA) stimulation in ALP specific activity. Fluoride alone had no consistent effect on collagen synthesis and on 1, 25(OH)2D3-dependent osteocalcin secretion, whereas Dex treatment consistently inhibited these two osteoblastic parameters in a dose-dependent manner. However, both the collagen synthesis and osteocalcin secretion rates were significantly higher (P < 0.001 ANOVA for each) when the cells were co-treated with Dex and fluoride (100 microM) than when they were treated with Dex alone. Thus, these data indicate that the response in collagen synthesis and osteocalcin secretion to fluoride stimulation was more readily observed in the presence of Dex than in its absence. ANOVA analysis revealed that the interaction between fluoride and Dex on collagen synthesis, but not the 1,25(OH)2D3-dependent osteocalcin secretion, was significant (P < 0.02). In summary, we have demonstrated for the first time that in TE85 cells (1) Dex potentiated the effects of fluoride on cell proliferation, ALP specific activity, and collagen synthesis; (2) while Dex at 10(-7)-10(-6) M alone inhibited the collagen synthesis and at 10(-9)-10(-6) M reduced osteocalcin secretion, Dex at 10(-8)-10(-6) M significantly stimulated the proliferation of TE85 cells; and (3) Dex interacted with fluoride to increase the percentage of experiments showing an osteogenic action of fluoride. In conclusion, the in vitro osteogenic actions of fluoride in human TE85 cells are more consistently observed in the presence than in the absence of Dex.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 potentiates fluoride-stimulated collagen type I production in cultures of human bone marrow stromal osteoblast-like cells

In this study we tested the effects of sodium fluoride (NaF) in serum-free cultures of human marrow stromal osteoblast-like [hMS(OB)] cells. NaF (10(-5) M) stimulated hMS(OB) cell proliferation up to 220% of control cultures. NaF alone did not increase type I collagen production, but in the presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] (10(-9) M), NaF enhanced type I collagen production in a dose-dependent way to 300% of 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated control cultures. The production of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (bone gla protein, BGP) was also enhanced in the presence of 1,25-(OH)2D3 to 170 and 200%, respectively, of 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated controls. Our results suggest that 1,25-(OH)2D3 potentiates fluoride-mediated anabolism in hMS(OB) cell cultures and suggest that osteoblast precursors in bone marrow are targets for fluoride action.