Insulin-like growth factor-I stimulates in vitro migration of preosteoclasts across bone endothelial cells

Osteocytes: master orchestrators of bone

Osteocytes comprise the overwhelming majority of cells in bone and are its only true "permanent" resident cell population. In recent years, conceptual and technological advances on many fronts have helped to clarify the role osteocytes play in skeletal metabolism and the mechanisms they use to perform them. The osteocyte is now recognized as a major orchestrator of skeletal activity, capable of sensing and integrating mechanical and chemical signals from their environment to regulate both bone formation and resorption. Recent studies have established that the mechanisms osteocytes use to sense stimuli and regulate effector cells (e.g., osteoblasts and osteoclasts) are directly coupled to the environment they inhabit-entombed within the mineralized matrix of bone and connected to each other in multicellular networks. Communication within these networks is both direct (via cell-cell contacts at gap junctions) and indirect (via paracrine signaling by secreted signals). Moreover, the movement of paracrine signals is dependent on the movement of both solutes and fluid through the space immediately surrounding the osteocytes (i.e., the lacunar-canalicular system). Finally, recent studies have also shown that the regulatory capabilities of osteocytes extend beyond bone to include a role in the endocrine control of systemic phosphate metabolism. This review will discuss how a highly productive combination of experimental and theoretical approaches has managed to unearth these unique features of osteocytes and bring to light novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms operating in bone.

Osteocyte apoptosis is mechanically regulated and induces angiogenesis in vitro

Osteocyte apoptosis, associated with reduced interstitial fluid flow, precedes osteoclast precursor recruitment and may aid in the delivery of osteoclast precursors to the remodeling site by promoting angiogenesis. To test the association between fluid flow and osteocyte apoptosis, osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells were subjected to either oscillatory fluid flow (10 dynes/cm², 1 Hz) or no flow conditions with or without TNF-α treatment to induce osteocyte apoptosis chemically. Flow protected osteocytes from apoptosis regardless of whether they were treated with TNF-α (p < 0.001) or not (p < 0.05). TNF-α-induced apoptotic and nonapoptotic osteocyte conditioned media were used to study the effect of osteocyte apoptosis on angiogenesis. Apoptotic osteocyte conditioned media caused more endothelial cell proliferation (p < 0.05) and migration (p < 0.05), and tubule networks with longer (p < 0.01) and more (p < 0.001) branches than nonapoptotic osteocyte conditioned media. Apoptotic osteocyte conditioned media contained more vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) than nonapoptotic osteocyte conditioned media (p < 0.05). VEGF concentrations found in apoptotic osteocyte conditioned media formed endothelial tubule networks with longer (p < 0.05) and more (p < 0.02) branches than VEGF concentrations in nonapoptotic osteocyte conditioned media. Blocking VEGF in apoptotic osteocyte conditioned media abolished tubule formation effects (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that osteocyte apoptosis is flow-regulated and promotes angiogenesis in a VEGF-mediated manner.

Insulin-like growth factors control cell migration in health and disease

Insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II) have an ancient origin and play essential roles in fundamental biological processes. Although IGFs are principally known for their roles in regulating cell growth and survival, their ability to influence cell motility is just as significant. In the past 20 years, research has provided indisputable evidence for the regulatory role of IGFs in the migration of various cell types. Cell migration is crucial for reproduction, development, and tissue regeneration; IGFs play an important role in coordinating these processes. Moreover, studies continue to uncover the IGFs' role in stimulating cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. This review surveys current knowledge on the cell migration-modulating properties of IGFs and the biochemical pathways by which these peptides regulate cell movement in both physiological and pathological conditions.

Postnatal growth and bone mass in mice with IGF-I haploinsufficiency

We examined the influence of IGF-I haploinsufficiency on growth, bone mass and osteoblast differentiation in Igf1 heterozygous knockout (HET) mice. Cohorts of male and female wild type (WT) and HET mice in the outbred CD-1 background were analyzed at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 15 and 18 months of age for body weight, serum IGF-I and bone morphometry. Compared to WT mice, HET mice had 20-30% lower serum IGF-I levels in both genders and in all age groups. Female HET mice showed significant reductions in body weight (10-20%), femur length (4-6%) and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) (7-12%) before 15 months of age. Male HET mice showed significant differences in all parameters at 2 months and thereafter. At 8 and 12 months, WT mice also showed a significant gender effect: despite their lower body weight, female mice had higher femoral BMD and femur length compared to males. Microcomputed tomography showed a significant reduction in cortical bone area (7-20%) and periosteal circumference (5-13%) with no consistent pattern of change in trabecular bone measurements in 2- and 8-month old HET mice in both genders. HET primary osteoblast cultures showed a 40% reduction in IGF-I protein expression and a 50% decrease in IGF-I mRNA expression. Cell growth and proliferation were decreased in HET cultures. Thus, IGF-I haploinsufficiency in outbred male and female mice resulted in reduced body weight, femur length and areal BMD at most ages. Serum IGF-I levels showed a high level of positive correlation with body weight and skeletal morphometry. These studies show that IGF-I is a determinant of bone size and mass in postnatal life. We speculate that impaired osteoblast proliferation may contribute to the skeletal phenotype of mice with IGF-I haploinsufficiency.

Insulin-like growth factor I induces migration and invasion of human multiple myeloma cells

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable form of cancer characterized by accumulation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. During the course of this disease, tumor cells cross endothelial barriers and home to the bone marrow. In latter stages, myeloma cells extravasate through blood vessels and may seed a variety of organs. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is one of several growth factors shown to promote the growth of MM cells. In the current study, we have assessed the ability of IGF-I to serve additionally as a chemotactic factor affecting the mobility and invasive properties of these cells. Results indicate that IGF-I promotes transmigration through vascular endothelial cells and bone marrow stromal cell lines. Analysis of endogenous signaling pathways revealed that protein kinase D/protein kinase Cmicro (PKD/PKCmicro) and RhoA were both activated in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K)-dependent manner. Inhibition of PI-3K, PKCs, or Rho-associated kinase by pharmacologic inhibitors abrogated migration, whereas mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Akt, and p70S6 kinase inhibitors had no effect. These results suggest that IGF-I promotes myeloma cell migration by activation of PI-3K/PKCmicro and PI-3K/RhoA pathways independent of Akt. The identification of IGF-I as both a proliferative and migratory factor provides a rational basis for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies directed at IGF-I in the treatment of MM.

Effects of insulin-like growth factor-I on the expression of osteoclasts and osteoblasts in the nasopremaxillary suture under different masticatory loading conditions in growing mice

It is well accepted that mechanical loading inhibits bone resorption and increases in vivo bone formation. It is also known that cyclic mechanical loading, in particular, can enhance bone formation significantly. These findings suggest a significant role for mechanical stimuli in bone remodelling mediated by various local growth factors including insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Earlier studies showed that the nasal bone length and premaxillary bone width were significantly greater in mice fed a solid diet rather than a granulated diet, and that these dimensions increased significantly in a solid-diet group treated with IGF-I. The present study sought to examine the effect of IGF-I on the expression of osteoclasts and osteoblasts in the nasopremaxillary suture subjected to different masticatory loadings. For the solid-diet groups, the numbers of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclastic cells and osteoblasts were significantly greater in the group injected with IGF-I than in the animals injected with physiological saline. In the groups fed a granulated diet, no significant differences in the numbers of TRAP-positive osteoclastic cells and osteoblasts were found over the entire experimental period between mice injected with either IGF-I or physiological saline. It is shown that IGF-I significantly induces the expression of osteoclasts and osteoblasts and the subsequent bone remodelling, and that the effect may be additive as compared to that of mechanical masticatory loading, which seems to be more important in bone remodelling in terms of the numbers of osteoclasts and osteoblasts.

Cellular actions of the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins

In addition to their roles in IGF transport, the six IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) regulate cell activity in various ways. By sequestering IGFs away from the type I IGF receptor, they may inhibit mitogenesis, differentiation, survival, and other IGF-stimulated events. IGFBP proteolysis can reverse this inhibition or generate IGFBP fragments with novel bioactivity. Alternatively, IGFBP interaction with cell or matrix components may concentrate IGFs near their receptor, enhancing IGF activity. IGF receptor-independent IGFBP actions are also increasingly recognized. IGFBP-1 interacts with alpha(5)beta(1) integrin, influencing cell adhesion and migration. IGFBP-2, -3, -5, and -6 have heparin-binding domains and can bind glycosaminoglycans. IGFBP-3 and -5 have carboxyl-terminal basic motifs incorporating heparin-binding and additional basic residues that interact with the cell surface and matrix, the nuclear transporter importin-beta, and other proteins. Serine/threonine kinase receptors are proposed for IGFBP-3 and -5, but their signaling functions are poorly understood. Other cell surface IGFBP-interacting proteins are uncharacterized as functional receptors. However, IGFBP-3 binds and modulates the retinoid X receptor-alpha, interacts with TGFbeta signaling through Smad proteins, and influences other signaling pathways. These interactions can modulate cell cycle and apoptosis. Because IGFBPs regulate cell functions by diverse mechanisms, manipulation of IGFBP-regulated pathways is speculated to offer therapeutic opportunities in cancer and other diseases.

Effect of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on femoral bone modeling in growing mice

The time-dependent effects of daily dosing of IGF-I (1.21 mg/g) on the linear growth of the femur were investigated in mice. The femoral length and volume and the number of osteoclasts were significantly greater after IGF-I injection as compared to the non-injected control, suggesting that the IGF-I imbalance might cause a quick turnover cycle of the bone resulting in the altered femoral modeling.

Immunohistochemical localization of components of the insulin-like growth factor-system in human deciduous teeth

To investigate the occurrence of components of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system during the resorption process of shedding human deciduous teeth, we investigated sections of 13 decalcified and paraffin-embedded deciduous teeth immunohistochemically with antibodies against IGF-I and -II, six IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs 1-6) and the IGF receptors IGF1R and IGF2R. The teeth were in different stages of resorption and all showed reparative cementum formation. It was found that acellular extrinsic fiber cementum, reversal lines and reparative cellular intrinsic fiber cementum were immunoreactive for both IGFs and various IGFBPs. Therefore, in human deciduous teeth, all subgroups of cementum, but not dentine, may represent sources of components of the IGF system. Odontoclasts did not carry IGFs or the IGF1R, but IGFBPs and the IGF2R. Therefore, these cells, in contrast to osteoclasts, may not respond to IGFs, but may be involved in the release and sequestration of IGFs from cementum during the resorption process. In contrast to odontoclasts, cementoblasts and periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts carried IGF1R. The influence of the IGF system on the function of these cells with respect to periodontal matrix turnover and cementogenesis is discussed. On the behalf of the IGFBP immunoreactivities found, the PDL extracellular matrix can be considered to be a reservoir for IGF system components, where binding proteins may regulate IGF distribution and activity.

Tissue culture models for studies of hormone and vitamin action in bone cells

Osteoporosis is a major health care concern and levies a serious financial burden on the world health care system. For this reason, many physicians and scientists are engaged in research to better understand and treat this disease. To this end, numerous in vitro bone cell models have been developed to explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms of skeletal biology and for the identification and characterization of new drug targets and therapies. In this chapter, we review many of these cellular models as tools to study the hormonal regulation of bone metabolism. In particular, we pay special attention to new human bone cell models, since these have the greatest relevance to osteoporosis research and drug discovery. These new models include (1) the use of peripheral blood mononuclear cells as progenitors of osteoclasts and primary cultures of mesenchymal stem cells as precursors of osteoblasts; (2) the development of conditionally immortalized preosteoclastic and osteoblastic cell lines using temperature-sensitive large T-antigens; and (3) the establishment of the first osteocytic cell lines. Thus, we now have at our disposal many good in vitro models to investigate the regulation of bone resorption and formation by hormones, vitamins and drugs. These models should accelerate our understanding of bone physiology and pathophysiology as well as our ability to develop important new therapies to prevent and treat skeletal diseases.

Effects of insulin-like growth factor-I on nasopremaxillary growth under different masticatory loadings in growing mice

It is well accepted that reduced masticatory function induced by a diet with soft physical consistency causes alterations in the craniofacial morphology in growing animals. It is assumed that these alterations are associated with reduced proliferative activity of osteoblasts on the bone surface, indicating a significant role for mechanical stimuli mediated by various local growth factors including insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Here, the effects of IGF-I on the linear growth of nasal and premaxillary bones subjected to different masticatory loadings were examined. The length of the nasal bone and the width of the premaxilla were measured. These dimensions were significantly greater in mice fed a solid diet than in mice fed a granulated diet. In animals treated with IGF-I, the nasal bone length and premaxillary width increased significantly in a subgroup receiving a solid diet, but these changes were not found in a similar group fed a granulated diet. No statistically significant differences in these dimensions were found between solid-diet mice injected with saline and granulated-diet group injected with IGF-I. It is concluded that IGF-I induces nasal and premaxillary growth, and that its effect is enhanced or accelerated by increased mechanical masticatory loading.

Effect of human endothelial cells on human bone marrow stromal cell phenotype: role of VEGF?

Angiogenesis is a tightly regulated process involved in growth, repair, and bone remodeling. Several studies have shown that there is a reciprocal regulation and functional relationship between endothelial cells and osteoblast-like cells during osteogenesis, where systemic hormones and paracrine growth factors play an active role. Angiogenesis is induced by a variety of growth factors; among them vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may be an important mediator for the angiogenic process involved in bone physiology. We studied the VEGF effect on osteoblast progenitor cells (Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells: HBMSE) cultured alone or associated with endothelial cells (Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells: HUVEC) in different co-culture models (co-culture with or without direct contact, conditioned medium), to determine the influence of VEGF on these cells and on their relationship. In agreement with other studies, we show that HBMSC express and synthesize VEGF, HUVEC conditioned medium has a proliferative effect on them, and early osteoblastic marker (Alkaline phosphatase activity) levels increase when these cells are co-cultured with HUVEC only in direct contact. However, unlike previous studies, we did not find that VEGF increased these processes. These results suggest that the intercommunication between endothelial cells and osteoblastic-like cells requires not only diffusible factors, but also involving cell membrane proteins.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Acts as a Chemoattractant Factor for 5T2 Multiple Myeloma Cells

The chemotactic and growth-stimulatory effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was investigated in the experimental mouse 5T2 multiple myeloma (MM) model. Chemotaxis was analyzed by classical checkerboard analysis. Bone marrow fibroblasts–conditioned medium exhibited a chemotactic effect on 5T2 MM cells that could be neutralized by adding a blocking antibody to IGF-1. On the other hand, exogenously added IGF-1 also had a chemotactic effect on the 5T2 MM cells. Moreover, in vitro analysis demonstrated that transmigrated 5T2 MM cells have a higher expression of IGF-1 receptor, both in bone marrow–conditioned medium and in IGF-1–induced chemotaxis, in comparison to cells before migration. When analyzed in vivo, 18 hours after injection of the heterogeneous 5T2 MM population, 5T2 MM cells present in the bone marrow show a higher expression of the IGF-1 receptor than their counterparts before injection. When the proliferative effect of IGF-1 was analyzed, no stimulation was observed, which is in contrast to the influence of bone marrow–conditioned medium and interleukin-6. Our results suggest a causal relationship between the presence of IGF-1 in the bone marrow and the chemotaxis of MM cells to and their subsequent presence in the bone marrow.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Acts as a Chemoattractant Factor for 5T2 Multiple Myeloma Cells

The chemotactic and growth-stimulatory effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was investigated in the experimental mouse 5T2 multiple myeloma (MM) model. Chemotaxis was analyzed by classical checkerboard analysis. Bone marrow fibroblasts–conditioned medium exhibited a chemotactic effect on 5T2 MM cells that could be neutralized by adding a blocking antibody to IGF-1. On the other hand, exogenously added IGF-1 also had a chemotactic effect on the 5T2 MM cells. Moreover, in vitro analysis demonstrated that transmigrated 5T2 MM cells have a higher expression of IGF-1 receptor, both in bone marrow–conditioned medium and in IGF-1–induced chemotaxis, in comparison to cells before migration. When analyzed in vivo, 18 hours after injection of the heterogeneous 5T2 MM population, 5T2 MM cells present in the bone marrow show a higher expression of the IGF-1 receptor than their counterparts before injection. When the proliferative effect of IGF-1 was analyzed, no stimulation was observed, which is in contrast to the influence of bone marrow–conditioned medium and interleukin-6. Our results suggest a causal relationship between the presence of IGF-1 in the bone marrow and the chemotaxis of MM cells to and their subsequent presence in the bone marrow.