Characterization of calcium efflux by osteoblasts derived from long bone periosteum

Phylogeny and chemistry of biological mineral transport

Three physiologically mineralizing tissues - teeth, cartilage and bone - have critical common elements and important evolutionary relationships. Phylogenetically the most ancient densely mineralized tissue is teeth. In jawless fishes without skeletons, tooth formation included epithelial transport of phosphates, a process echoed later in bone physiology. Cartilage and mineralized cartilage are skeletal elements separate from bone, but with metabolic features common to bone. Cartilage mineralization is coordinated with high expression of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase and PHOSPHO1 to harvest available phosphate esters and support mineralization of collagen secreted locally. Mineralization in true bone results from stochastic nucleation of hydroxyapatite crystals within the cross-linked collagen fibrils. Mineral accumulation in dense collagen is, at least in major part, mediated by amorphous aggregates - often called Posner clusters - of calcium and phosphate that are small enough to diffuse into collagen fibrils. Mineral accumulation in membrane vesicles is widely suggested, but does not correlate with a definitive stage of mineralization. Conversely mineral deposition at non-physiologic sites where calcium and phosphate are adequate has been shown to be regulated in large part by pyrophosphate. All of these elements are present in vertebrate bone metabolism. A key biological element of bone formation is an epithelial-like cellular organization which allows control of phosphate, calcium and pH during mineralization.

Inserted rest period resensitizes MC3T3-E1 cells to fluid shear stress in a time-dependent manner via F-actin-regulated mechanosensitive channel(s)

The underlying cellular mechanism of anabolic effect recovered by inserting rest is not fully understood. In this work, we studied the role of F-actin regulated mechanosensitive channel(s) re-activation in mechanosensitivity modulation in vitro. Results showed that steady fluid shear stress (sFSS) stimulation with 30-min rest period was more potential in increasing alkalinephosphatase (ALP) activity than 10 and 0-min rest periods, and insertion of 30 min, but not 0 or 10 min, recovered the [Ca(2+)]i transient and contribution of the mechanosensitive channel(s). During the rest period, F-actin experienced polymerization (0-10 min), followed by depolymerization (10-30 min); inhibition of F-actin polymerization/depolymerization significantly increased/decreased the [Ca(2+)]i transient, as well as the contribution of the mechanosensitive channel(s) in subsequent sFSS stimulation. Our results demonstrated that the long rest period between sFSS loadings recruited [Ca(2+)]i transient via F-actin depolymerization-induced reactivation of mechanosensitive channel(s), suggesting that F-actin-regulated cellular stiffness could account for the decreased anabolic response during continuous mechanical loading in bone cells.

Calcium and bone disease

Calcium transport and calcium signaling are of basic importance in bone cells. Bone is the major store of calcium and a key regulatory organ for calcium homeostasis. Bone, in major part, responds to calcium-dependent signals from the parathyroids and via vitamin D metabolites, although bone retains direct response to extracellular calcium if parathyroid regulation is lost. Improved understanding of calcium transporters and calcium-regulated cellular processes has resulted from analysis of genetic defects, including several defects with low or high bone mass. Osteoblasts deposit calcium by mechanisms including phosphate and calcium transport with alkalinization to absorb acid created by mineral deposition; cartilage calcium mineralization occurs by passive diffusion and phosphate production. Calcium mobilization by osteoclasts is mediated by acid secretion. Both bone forming and bone resorbing cells use calcium signals as regulators of differentiation and activity. This has been studied in more detail in osteoclasts, where both osteoclast differentiation and motility are regulated by calcium.

Calcium signalling and calcium transport in bone disease

Calcium transport and calcium signalling mechanisms in bone cells have, in many cases, been discovered by study of diseases with disordered bone metabolism. Calcium matrix deposition is driven primarily by phosphate production, and disorders in bone deposition include abnormalities in membrane phosphate transport such as in chondrocalcinosis, and defects in phosphate-producing enzymes such as in hypophosphatasia. Matrix removal is driven by acidification, which dissolves the mineral. Disorders in calcium removal from bone matrix by osteoclasts cause osteopetrosis. On the other hand, although bone is central to management of extracellular calcium, bone is not a major calcium sensing organ, although calcium sensing proteins are expressed in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Intracellular calcium signals are involved in secondary control including cellular motility and survival, but the relationship of these findings to specific diseases is not clear. Intracellular calcium signals may regulate the balance of cell survival versus proliferation or anabolic functional response as part of signalling cascades that integrate the response to primary signals via cell stretch, estrogen, tyrosine kinase, and tumor necrosis factor receptors.

Phosphate and calcium uptake by rat odontoblast-like MRPC-1 cells concomitant with mineralization

It has been suggested that odontoblasts are instrumental in translocating Ca2+ and inorganic phosphate (Pi) ions during the mineralization of dentin. The aim of this study was to characterize cellular Pi and Ca2+ uptake in the novel rat odontoblast-like cell line mineralizing rat pulpal cell line (MRPC) 1 during mineralization to see if changes in the ion transport activity would occur as the cultures develop and begin forming a mineralized matrix. MRPC-1 cells were cultured in chemically defined medium containing ascorbate and Pi, and cultures were specifically analyzed for cellular P, and Ca2+ uptake activities and expression of type II high-capacity Na+-Pi cotransporters. The odontoblast-like phenotype of the cell line was ascertained by monitoring the expression of collagen type I and dentin phosphopoprotein (DPP). Mineralized nodule formation started at day 9 after confluency and then rapidly increased. Ca2+ uptake by the cells showed a maximum during the end of the proliferative phase (days 5-7). Pi uptake declined to a basal level during proliferation and then was up-regulated simultaneously with the onset of mineralization to a level fourfold of the basal uptake, suggesting an initiating and regulatory role for cellular Pi uptake in mineral formation. This up-regulation coincided with a conspicuously increased glycosylation of NaPi-2a, indicating an activation of this Na+-Pi cotransporter. The study showed that MRPC-1 cells express an odontoblast-like phenotype already at the onset of culture, but that to mineralize the collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM) that formed, a further differentiation involving their ion transporters is necessary.

Regulation of the 1b isoform of the plasma membrane calcium pump by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in rat osteoblast-like cells

The first isogene of the plasma membrane calcium pump (PMCA1) is expressed on the apical plasma membrane of osteoblasts, but its regulation by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] has not been studied in this cell type. We studied 1,25(OH)2D3 effects on PMCA1 function, protein, messenger RNA (mRNA), and isoform expression in osteoblasts. Of seven rat and human immortalized osteoblast-like cell lines studied, PMCA1 mRNA expression was confirmed in all. Only ROS 17/2.8 cells expressed measurable PMCA1 protein by Western analysis. Immunocytochemistry indicated that PMCA1 was expressed predominantly on the plasma membrane of ROS 17/2.8 cells. The 1,25(OH)2D3 but not 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24,25(OH)2D3] treatment of confluent ROS 17/2.8 cells resulted in an approximate 3- to 5-fold dose-dependent increase in PMCA1 expression of message and protein as assessed by Western and Northern analysis and vesicular 45Ca uptake of membrane vesicles. 1,25(OH)2D3 had no effect on PMCA1 posttranscriptional splicing. The 1b isoform of PMCA was expressed under all experimental conditions. 1,25(OH)2D3 favored increased expression of the 5.5 kilobases (kb) over the 7.5-kb PMCA1b transcript, with a 2-fold proportional increase in the smaller transcript relative to the larger transcript evident at the highest dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 studied. The resultant proportional increase in the smaller 5.5-kb transcript may increase mRNA stability and account for the increase in PMCA1b protein and function with 1,25(OH)2D3. These data provide evidence for the role of 1,25(OH)2D3 and PMCA1b in the regulation of calcium transport in bone cells.

Perspectives on osteoblast and osteoclast function

We present evidence that the polar, matrix-forming osteoblasts are connected laterally to form an impervious layer of cells. Next, the possible mechanisms by which calcium ions are translocated across the layer of cells into sites of mineralization are analyzed. Finally, mechanisms of attachment of bone-resorbing osteoclasts are considered. Osteoclasts adhere to matrix, in part, though an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-dependent mechanism. Adherence is under control of parathyroid hormone and 17beta-estradiol.

Asymmetric distribution of functional sodium-calcium exchanger in primary osteoblasts

To understand calcium translocation in osteoblasts, we have determined the location of sodium-calcium (Na-Ca) exchanger (NCX) in relation to actin and alpha-tubulin in primary cultures of avian osteoblasts. Osteoblasts derived from the periosteal surface of tibias from growing chickens were cultured for 8 days in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Lysates immunoblotted with antibodies raised against the canine cardiac Na-Ca antibodies revealed a 70 kDa exchanger protein. Cross-reactivity of the anti-NCX antibody was confirmed by enriching for NCX in protein samples derived from plasma membrane vesicles by affinity chromatography using the exchanger inhibitory peptide. Fractions enriched for the exchanger were eluted from the column and subjected to immunoblotting with the anti-NCX antibody, revealing an intense single band at 70 kDa. Examination of live cells loaded with Calcium Green-1 AM ester by confocal microscopy demonstrated sodium-dependent calcium uptake, confirming the presence of functional NCX in intact cells. Immunolocalization studies of osteoblasts stained with anti-NCX antibodies revealed asymmetric localization of the exchanger in cultured osteoblasts, residing almost entirely within two 0.5-microm optical sections along the substrate adherent side of the cells. Since NCX is known to be a low-affinity, high-capacity calcium translocating molecule and also appears to be asymmetrically positioned, it is likely to play a key role in bone formation.

Detection of endogenous biotin-containing proteins in bone and cartilage cells with streptavidin systems

When utilizing streptavidin systems with Western blots of chondrocyte, osteoblast and osteoclast lysates, proteins of the molecular weights 116 kDa, 75 kDa and 67 kDa were observed to be bound by streptavidin alone. Streptavidin binding could not be blocked by pre-incubation with an RGD containing peptide. The same proteins were bound by ExtrAvidin which lacks the RGD sequence present in streptavidin. Pre-incubation with free biotin completely abolished the binding of both streptavidin and ExtrAvidin. The three proteins observed are believed to be the biotin containing carboxylases: pyruvate carboxylase, 3-methylcrotonyl carboxylase, and propionyl carboxylase. The findings of this study underscore the need to apply vigorous controls to distinguish between endogenous biotinylated proteins and biotin used as a means to amplify avidin detection systems since a wide variety of proteins with relevance to bone and cartilage biology have molecular weights similar to the biotin carboxylases.

Characterization of calcium translocation across the plasma membrane of primary osteoblasts using a lipophilic calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye, calcium green C18

The synthesis of Calcium Green C18, a lipophilic fluorescent calcium-sensitive dye, and its use as a monitor of Ca2+ efflux from cells is described. This indicator consists of a Calcium Green-1 molecule conjugated to a lipophilic 18-carbon alkyl chain which will intercalate into cell membranes. The Kd of the indicator for Ca2+ in aqueous solution (pH 7.2, 22 degrees C, ionic strength 0.1 M) is 0.23 +/- 0.04 microM and in the presence of liposomes is 0.062 +/- 0.007 microM. Due to its high negativity, the calcium chelating fluorophore faces the cell exterior, when loaded under a defined set of conditions. The dye was found largely on the surface of the cells when loaded at a concentration of 5 microM for 10 min at 37 degrees C. Five minutes after introduction of EGTA, 83-95% fluorescence disappeared, indicating that most of the fluorophore was on the cell surface. Photobleaching was minimal (3-13%). A confocal laser scanning microscope was used to detect and quantify fluorescence. Internalized dye was apparent in cells loaded for longer times (30-60 min) and in membrane-impaired cells, as shown by uptake of propidium iodide. Under defined confocal laser scanning microscope settings, a transient fluorescence at the periphery of approximately 30% of the cells was observed following 10(-8) M parathyroid hormone treatment, indicating the presence of outwardly directed calcium transport across the plasma membrane. Calcium efflux usually lasted 7-10 min, peaking at around 2-3 min. Changes in cell shape were also observed. Calcium efflux was shown to be sensitive to (a) 10 microM quercetin and 10 microM vanadate, partially specific inhibitors of plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase, to (b) 0.1 mM trifluoperazine, an agent which renders calmodulin ineffective, and to (c) 10 mM neomycin sulfate, which blocks release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Thapsigargin (5 microM), an inhibitor of Ca(2+)-ATPase of the endoplasmic reticulum, prolonged fluorescence. These observations indicate that cell surface fluorescence was due to the capture of Ca2+ by Calcium Green C18 after Ca2+ had been translocated across osteoblast plasma membranes. Involvement of the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase, known to be present in osteoblasts in substantial amounts, is implicated.