Selective emergence of differentiated chondrocytes during serum-free culture of cells derived from fetal rat calvaria

Transient chondrogenic phase in the intramembranous pathway during normal skeletal development

Calvarial and facial bones form by intramembranous ossification, in which bone cells arise directly from mesenchyme without an intermediate cartilage anlage. However, a number of studies have reported the emergence of chondrocytes from in vitro calvarial cell or organ cultures and the expression of type II collagen, a cartilage-characteristic marker, in developing calvarial bones. Based on these findings we hypothesized that a covert chondrogenic phase may be an integral part of the normal intramembranous pathway. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the temporal and spatial expression patterns of cartilage characteristic genes in normal membranous bones from chick embryos at various developmental stages (days 12, 15 and 19). Northern and RNAse protection analyses revealed that embryonic frontal bones expressed not only the type I collagen gene but also a subset of cartilage characteristic genes, types IIA and XI collagen and aggrecan, thus resembling a phenotype of prechondrogenic-condensing mesenchyme. The expression of cartilage-characteristic genes decreased with the progression of bone maturation. Immunohistochemical analyses of developing embryonic chick heads indicated that type II collagen and aggrecan were produced by alkaline phosphatase activity positive cells engaged in early stages of osteogenic differentiation, such as cells in preosteogenic-condensing mesenchyme, the cambium layer of periosteum, the advancing osteogenic front, and osteoid bone. Type IIB and X collagen messenger RNAs (mRNA), markers for mature chondrocytes, were also detected at low levels in calvarial bone but not until late embryonic stages (day 19), indicating that some calvarial cells may undergo overt chondrogenesis. On the basis of our findings, we propose that the normal intramembranous pathway in chicks includes a previously unrecognized transient chondrogenic phase similar to prechondrogenic mesenchyme, and that the cells in this phase retain chondrogenic potential that can be expressed in specific in vitro and in vivo microenvironments.

Healing of autogenous intramembranous bone in the presence and absence of homologous demineralized intramembranous bone

This study was designed to examine the osteogenecity of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) prepared from intramembranous (IM) bone and to quantitatively assess the amount of new bone formed by IM autogenous bone grafts with or without DBM(IM). Forty-two defects were created in 42 New Zealand White rabbits. Twenty-one defects were grafted with IM bone alone, and the other 21 defects were grafted with composite IM-DBM(IM). Eleven rabbits, 22 defects were used as controls, where 11 defects were left empty (passive control) and the other 11 defects were filled with rabbit skin collagen (active control). Tissues were retrieved on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 14 for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Cells involved in the healing of composite IM and IM-DBM(IM) bone grafts were identified. No cartilage cells were detected during the healing of either grafts. Appearance of small blood vessels into the newly formed matrix was seen on day 5 in IM bone grafts and on day 4 in composite IM-DBM(IM) bone graft. Quantitative analysis was performed by means of image analysis on 100 sections of tissues retrieved after 14 days. Approximately 204% more new bone was formed in defects grafted with composite IM-DBM(IM) than in those grafted with IM bone alone (P <.0001). No bone was formed across the defects in either active or passive controls. In conclusion, DBM(IM) significantly increases the osteogenicity of IM bone grafts.

Morphological and immunocytochemical characterization of primary osteogenic cell cultures derived from fetal rat cranial tissue

Enzymatic digestion of bone tissue potentially releases a mixture of precursor, differentiating, and mature cells. Conceptually, early fetal osteogenic tissue should provide a more uniform population of cells than late embryonic or newborn bone in which cells have already differentiated. In this context, we have applied sequential enzymatic digestion to obtain and culture cells from 15-16-day fetal rat cranial tissue, a developmental age where deposition of bone matrix has not yet started at this site. These cultures were compared with those of osteogenic cells isolated from newborn rat calvariae and grown under similar conditions. Matrix production and composition were examined by colloidal gold immunocytochemistry using antibodies to bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteocalcin (OC), and osteopontin (OPN). The plated cells formed mineralized nodules by day 14. The presence of mineral was determined by von Kossa staining and backscattered electron imaging (BEI), and the accumulation of calcium and phosphorus within the nodules was demonstrated by X-ray microanalysis and elemental mapping. At early time intervals, cells were generally cuboidal in shape and showed a well-developed Golgi apparatus, which occasionally was immunoreactive for OPN. Labeling for BSP and OPN was found over mineralization foci and electron-dense material within, and at the periphery, of larger mineralized masses and over accumulations of afibrillar matrix at the dish surface. Osteocalcin immunoreactivity was also associated with electron-dense portions of the bone-like matrix. These data demonstrate the potential of presumptive fetal rat calvarial cells to form a bone-like matrix in vitro and suggest that the assembly and mineralization pattern show similarities to the process of intramembranous ossification. Such a culture system is of interest not only for studying cellular and matrix events of bone formation, but also factors which influence mesenchymal cells in committing themselves to the osteogenic pathway.

Chondrogenic potential of skeletal cell populations: selective growth of chondrocytes and their morphogenesis and development in vitro

Most vertebrate embryonic and post-embryonic skeletal tissue formation occurs through the endochondral process in which cartilage serves a transitory role as the anlage for the bone structure. The differentiation of chondrocytes during this process in vivo is characterized by progressive morphological changes associated with the hypertrophy of these cells and is defined by biochemical changes that result in the mineralization of the extracellular matrix. The mechanisms, which, like those in vivo, promote both chondrogenesis in presumptive skeletal cell populations and endochondral progression of chondrogenic cells, may be examined in vitro. The work presented here describes mechanisms by which cells within presumptive skeletal cell populations become restricted to a chondrogenic lineage as studied within cell populations derived from 12-day-old chicken embryo calvarial tissue. It is found that a major factor associated with selection of chondrogenic cells is the elimination of growth within serum-containing medium. Chondrogenesis within these cell populations appears to be the result of permissive conditions which select for chondrogenic proliferation over osteogenic cell proliferation. Data suggest that chondrocyte cultures produce autocrine factors that promote their own survival or proliferation. The conditions for promoting cell growth, hypertrophy, and extracellular matrix mineralization of embryonic chicken chondrocytes in vitro include ascorbic acid supplementation and the presence of an organic phosphate source. The differentiation of hypertrophic chondrocytes in vitro is associated with a 10-15-fold increase in alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity and deposition of mineral within the extracellular matrix. Temporal studies of the biochemical changes coincident with development of hypertrophy in vitro demonstrate that proteoglycan synthesis decreases 4-fold whereas type X collagen synthesis increases 10-fold within the same period. Ultrastructural examination reveals cellular and extracellular morphology similar to that of hypertrophic cells in vivo with chondrocytes embedded in a well formed extracellular matrix of randomly distributed collagen fibrils and proteoglycan. Mineral deposition is seen in the interterritorial regions of the matrix between the cells and is apatitic in nature. These characteristics of chondrogenic growth and development are very similar in vivo and in vitro and they suggest that studies of chondrogenesis in vitro may provide a valuable model for the process in vivo.

Developmental restriction of embryonic calvarial cell populations as characterized by their in vitro potential for chondrogenic differentiation

The mechanism(s) by which the cells within the calvaria tissue are restricted into the osteogenic versus the chondrogenic lineage during intramembranous bone formation were examined. Cells were obtained from 12-day chicken embryo calvariae after tissue condensation, but before extensive osteogenic differentiation, and from 17-day embryo calvariae when osteogenesis is well progressed. Only cell populations from the younger embryos showed chondrogenic differentiation as characterized by the expression of collagen type II. The chondrocytes underwent a temporal progression of maturation and endochondral development, demonstrated by the expression of collagen type II B transcript and expression of collagen type X mRNA. Cell populations from both ages of embryos showed progressive osteogenic differentiation, based on the expression of osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin mRNAs. Analysis using lineage markers for either chondrocytes or osteoblasts demonstrated that when the younger embryonic cultures were grown in conditions that were permissive for chondrogenesis, the number of chondrogenic cells increased from approximately 15 to approximately 50% of the population, while the number of osteogenic cells remained almost constant at approximately 35-40%. Pulse labeling of the cultures with BrdU showed selective labeling of the chondrogenic cells in comparison with the osteogenic cells. These data indicate that the developmental restriction of skeletal cells of the calvaria is not a result of positive selection for osteogenic differentiation but a negative selection against the progressive growth of chondrogenic cells in the absence of a permissive or inductive environment. These results further demonstrate that while extrinsic environmental factors can modulate the lineage progression of skeletal cells within the calvariae, there is a progressive restriction during embryogenesis in the number of cells within the calvaria with a chondrogenic potential. Finally, these data suggest that the loss of cells with chondrogenic potential from the calvaria may be related to the progressive limitation of the reparative capacity of the cranial bones.

Differentiation-dependent and stimulus-specific expression of ILA, the human 4-1BB-homologue, in cells of mesenchymal origin

OBJECTIVE

Examine the expression of ILA, a member of the human NGF/TNF receptor family and the homologue of the murine 4-1BB, in mesenchymal cells.

METHODS

ILA mRNA was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Northern blotting in human articular chondrocytes and fibroblasts. ILA protein expression was examined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The proinflammatory stimuli interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), interferon (IFN) gamma and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced ILA mRNA in primary human articular chondrocytes. TGF beta and dexamethasone inhibited IL-1 induced ILA expression. Chondrocytes expressed the 4.8, 4.0 and 1.9 kb isoforms of ILA mRNA which had previously been observed in lymphocytes and additional isoforms at 3.2, 1.5 and 1.2 kb. Cycloheximide alone induced ILA mRNA in primary chondrocytes while the combination of IL-1 and cycloheximide resulted in ILA superinduction. In contrast to primary chondrocytes, activated human synovial or skin fibroblasts did not express ILA mRNA. Furthermore, ILA was no longer inducible by IL-1 in subcultured, dedifferentiated chondrocytes. However, repression of ILA in fibroblasts and dedifferentiated chondrocytes was overcome by cycloheximide and IL-1 further increased ILA mRNA levels in the presence of cycloheximide. Flow cytometric analysis of ILA protein expression with monoclonal antibodies revealed increased cell-surface expression on IL-1 or TNF alpha, but not on TGF beta stimulated chondrocytes.

CONCLUSION

ILA is not only expressed in the immune system but also in mesenchymal cells. ILA expression is induced by specific stimuli and modulated by the differentiation status of the cells. ILA can serve as a model and marker to analyze differentiation-dependent gene expression in mesenchymal cells.

Ultrastructural identification of cells involved in the healing of intramembranous and endochondral bones

This study was designed to identify the cells involved in the healing of autogenous intramembranous (IM) and of endochondral (EC) bone grafts. Thirty-six defects were created in the skull of 18 adult New Zealand White rabbits. Defects were filled with IM graft alone, EC graft alone, demineralized bone matrix (DBM) alone, or combined DBM-IM and DBM-EC bone. Cellular identification was carried out at 7 and 14 days by light and electron microscopy. In IM bone, preosteoblasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes were observed with no cartilage intermediate stage, while in EC bone, chondroblasts and chondrocytes were observed. DBM implant and DBM-IM were characterized by the presence of a cartilage stage. In conclusion, IM bone healed through an osteogenic ossification route, while EC bone healed through an EC ossification route. In the presence of demineralized EC bone matrix, IM bone adopts an EC ossification route.

Analysis of chondroprogenitor frequency and cartilage differentiation in a novel family of clonal chondrogenic rat cell lines

We have isolated through sequential steps of subcloning a series of normal clonal cell lines enriched for chondroprogenitors that undergo differentiation in vitro from progenitors to mature chondroblasts and chondrocytes forming three-dimensional cartilage nodules. In the parental chondroblast clone RCJ 3.1C5 (C5), differentiation and cartilage formation occurred without added hormones or growth factors, but chondrogenesis could be stimulated markedly in the presence of the glucocorticoid steroid Dexamethasone (Dex). Limiting dilution analysis indicated that greater than one in ten C5 cells plated was a chondroprogenitor capable of differentiating and forming a cartilage nodule in low density cultures, but chondrogenesis was down-regulated in higher density cultures. Dex elicited a greater stimulatory effect on cartilage nodule formation when C5 cells were plated at higher rather than lower densities. Since Dex also maintained the chondrogenic potential of C5 cells passaged repeatedly, we subcloned C5 in the presence of Dex. Eight of eleven subclones were chondrogenic and the frequency of chondroprogenitors capable of cartilage formation in isolated subclones ranged from lower to much higher than in the parental C5 clone. Both Dex-independent as well as Dex-dependent clones were identified, although long-term maintenance of the chondrocyte phenotype in all subclones required Dex. These data suggest that there are Dex-dependent and Dex-independent chondroprogenitor cells, that cell-cell interactions and/or local factors can modulate cartilage nodule formation and that Dex-responsive steps are involved in long-term maintenance of chondroprogenitors in vitro. Thus, this unique family of non-transformed, clonal chondrogenic cell lines provides a quantifiable, readily manipulatable system in which cartilage differentiation and metabolism can be assessed.

Localization of pro-collagen type II mRNA and collagen type II in the healing tooth socket of the rat

Sprague-Dawley rats (50 days old) were anaesthetized and the maxillary right molars extracted. The rats were killed at 2, 3, 6, 8 and 10 days after extraction. The maxillae were dissected and prepared for either routine histology, in situ hybridization for pro-collagen type II mRNA, or immunohistochemical detection of collagen type II. Pro-collagen type II mRNA was expressed maximally in the healing tooth socket at 8 days after the extractions, but the protein was not expressed at any time. This suggests that the translation of pro-collagen type II mRNA does not occur in osteoblasts following tooth extraction. Ossification was present in the socket at 6 days after the extractions, which is consistent with the suggestion that an early feature of osteoblastic differentiation may be the expression of type II pro-collagen mRNA.

Pre-metatarsal skeletal development in tissue culture at unit- and microgravity

Explant organ culture was used to demonstrate that isolated embryonic mouse pre-metatarsal mesenchyme is capable of undergoing a series of differentiative and morphogenetic developmental events. Mesenchyme differentiation into chondrocytes, and concurrent morphogenetic patterning of the cartilage tissue, and terminal chondrocyte differentiation with subsequent matrix mineralization show that cultured tissue closely parallels in vivo development. Whole mount alizarin red staining of the cultured tissue demonstrates that the extracellular matrix around the hypertrophied chondrocytes is competent to support mineralization. Intensely stained mineralized bands are similar to those formed in pre-metatarsals developing in vivo. We have adapted the culture strategy for experimentation in a reduced gravity environment on the Space Shuttle. Spaceflight culture of pre-metatarsals, which have already initiated chondrogenesis and morphogenetic patterning, results in an increase in cartilage rod size and maintenance of rod shape, compared to controls. Older pre-metatarsal tissue, already terminally differentiated to hypertrophied cartilage, maintained rod structure and cartilage phenotype during spaceflight culture.

Human osteogenic protein-1 induces both chondroblastic and osteoblastic differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells derived from newborn rat calvaria

Osteogenetic protein-1 (OP-1), a member of the TGF-beta superfamily, induces endochondrial bone formation at subcutaneous sites in vivo and stimulates osteoblastic phenotypic expression in vitro. Primary cultures of newborn rat calvarial cells contain a spectrum of osteogenic phenotypes ranging from undifferentiated mesenchymal osteoprogenitor cells to parathyroid hormone (PTH)-responsive osteoblasts. We examined whether treatment of this cell population with recombinant human osteogenic protein-1 could induce chondrogenesis in vitro. Markers of chondroblastic versus osteoblastic differentiation included alcian blue staining at pH 1, alkaline phosphatase-specific activity, osteocalcin radioimmunoassay, and expression of collagen mRNAs. 6 d of treatment (culture days 1-7) with 4-100 ng OP-1/ml caused dose-dependent increases in alcian blue staining intensity and alkaline phosphatase activity (4.7- and 3.4-fold, respectively, at 40 ng/ml), while osteocalcin production decreased twofold. Clusters of round, refractile, alcian blue-stained cells appeared by day 3, increased in number until day 7, and then became hypertrophic and gradually became less distinct. Histochemically, the day 7 clusters were associated with high alkaline phosphatase activity and became mineralized. mRNA transcripts for collagen types II and IX were increased by OP-1, peaking at day 4, while type X collagen mRNA was detectable only on day 7 in OP-1-treated cultures. Delay of OP-1 exposure until confluence (day 7) amplifies expression of the normal osteoblastic phenotype and accelerates its developmental maturation. In contrast, early OP-1 treatment commencing on day 1 strongly amplifies chondroblastic differentiation. In the same protocol, TGF-beta 1 alone at 0.01-40 ng/ml fails to induce any hypertrophic chondrocytes, and in combination with OP-1, TGF-beta 1 blocks OP-1-dependent chondroinduction. OP-1 is believed to act on a subpopulation of primitive osteoprogenitor cells to induce endochondrial ossification, but does not appear to reverse committed osteoblasts to the chondrocyte phenotype.

Altered cartilage phenotype expressed during intramembranous bone formation

The sequential phenotypic expression occurring during intramembranous bone formation was investigated using the tooth extraction socket created in rat alveolar bone in vivo. The differential expression of bone extracellular matrix genes, such as collagen I and osteocalcin, was confirmed by RNA transfer blot analysis and in situ hybridization during the active healing period of the bony socket. To clarify the possible involvement of the chondrogenic phenotype during the process of intramembranous bone formation, the expression of cartilage collagen II and IX was further examined in this model. It was found that both alpha 1(II) and alpha 1(IX) mRNAs were present, but the alpha 1(IX) mRNA was a transcript from the downstream start site/promoter, which is a different site in the alpha 1(IX) gene from that used in hyaline cartilage. In situ hybridization indicated that the alpha 1(IX) message was expressed by cells associated with bone matrix in the early formation stage. This finding led to the investigation of type IX collagen expression by osteogenic cells isolated from newborn rat calvariae, in which only the truncated form of alpha 1(IX) mRNA was indicated by RNA transfer analysis. The expression of collagen II and a truncated form of collagen IX may represent an early phenotypic feature of osteoblast differentiation.

Embryonic mouse pre-metatarsal development in organ culture

Embryonic mouse pre-metatarsals were removed from embryos at 13 days of gestation and cultured in a defined, serum-free medium for up to 15 days. By histological analysis, we observe that the cultured pre-metatarsal tissue undergoes a similar developmental profile as pre-metatarsals growing normally in vivo. The initial mesenchyme condensation regions undergo differentiation and morphogenesis to form distinct rods made up of cartilage tissue. A marker of this differentiation step is the synthesis of type II collagen. Metabolic labelling, pepsin digestion, SDS-PAGE, and autoradiography were used to demonstrate this protein when cartilage tissue is present in the cultures. After additional culture time, terminal chondrocyte differentiation and morphogenesis take place in specific regions of the cartilage rods to form bands of hypertrophied chondrocytes. One marker of this differentiation step is the synthesis of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase. We have measured the activity of this enzyme throughout the culture period and see a substantial increase at the time of terminal chondrocyte differentiation. Another feature of hypertrophied chondrocytes is that the matrix around the cells becomes calcified. Calcified matrix in our cultured pre-metatarsals was visualized by staining with alizarin red. By supplementing the defined culture medium with ITS, we observed that terminal chondrocyte differentiation took place in a shorter culture time. Supplementation of the medium with serum results in a similar acceleration of terminal differentiation, and, with additional culture time, an osteoid-like matrix forms around the central region of the rods.

The matrix of endochondral bone differs from the matrix of intramembranous bone

Osseous tissue develops via two distinctly different processes: endochondral (EC) ossification and intramembranous (IM) ossification. The present study tests the hypothesis that each type of osseous tissue contains unique inducing factors for the promotion of cartilage and bone development. Previous work suggests that subcutaneous implants of demineralized EC and IM bone matrices both induce endochondral ossification. Thus, it concludes that the bone growth promotion properties of the respective matrices are very similar. As it was unclear to us why EC and IM bone powders should possess identical osteoinductive properties, we attempted to reproduce these results. We implanted EC (femoral) demineralized bone matrix (DBM), IM (frontal) DBM, or a mixture of the two into the ventral thoracic subcutaneous tissue of 12 to 15-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats. Morphological and radiolabeling techniques in this study demonstrated that implants of EC bone matrix induce bone formation via EC ossification in contrast to implants of IM bone matrix which do not induce EC ossification. Our findings suggest that the matrix of EC bone differs qualitatively from the matrix of IM bone due to their respective abilities to induce cartilage and/or bone formation. These observations differ from those previously reported possibly because our IM DBM preparations were not contaminated with tissues of endochondral origin. In current clinical practice, EC DBM allografts are often used to induce new bone formation in defects involving both IM and EC bone. We conclude that there may be clinical settings in which it would be more appropriate to replace bone originally formed via IM ossification with IM DBM rather than EC DBM.

Phenotypic changes of rabbit mandibular condylar cartilage cells in culture

The present study describes the behavior of mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC) cells as a function of time in primary culture, since it is not yet clear whether these cells maintain their phenotype in culture. MCC cells from New Zealand white rabbits were seeded at high density and cultured in DMEM containing 50 micrograms/mL ascorbic acid and 10% fetal bovine serum. These cells appeared as a heterogeneous population and changed their shape, size, and refractivity as cultures aged. Cartilage-like cells, which always dominated the culture, were infiltrated with a minority of fibroblast-like cells. Cell number increased progressively, and cultures reached confluence at nine days. Antibody activity for cartilage-specific glycosaminoglycan was determined by ELISA assay. This reaction reached a maximum at six days and decreased thereafter. Cultures stained with Alcian blue (pH 1.0) supported these results. Cytoplasmic mRNA analysis indicated that the transcription of type II collagen gene was present at all time points. Type I collagen and alkaline phosphatase mRNA levels showed progressive increases from 12 h to nine days, with significantly higher values in cells cultured for six, nine, and 12 days than in cells collected from earlier time points. These results suggest that in our present culture system, MCC cells undergo phenotypic changes that resemble their maturation processes in vivo.

Induction and prevention of chondrocyte hypertrophy in culture

Primary chondrocytes from whole chick embryo sterna can be maintained in suspension culture stabilized with agarose for extended periods of time. In the absence of FBS, the cells remain viable only when seeded at high densities. They do not proliferate at a high rate but they deposit extracellular matrix with fibrils resembling those of authentic embryonic cartilage in their appearance and collagen composition. The cells exhibit many morphological and biochemical characteristics of resting chondrocytes and they do not produce collagen X, a marker for hypertrophic cartilage undergoing endochondral ossification. At low density, cells survive in culture without FBS when the media are conditioned by chondrocytes grown at high density. Thus, resting cartilage cells in agarose cultures can produce factors required for their own viability. Addition of FBS to the culture media leads to profound changes in the phenotype of chondrocytes seeded at low density. Cells form colonies at a high rate and assume properties of hypertrophic cells, including the synthesis of collagen X. They extensively deposit extracellular matrix resembling more closely that of adult rather than embryonic cartilage.

Effects of different concentrations of serum on cartilage growth in an organ culture system

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of various concentrations of serum on the behavior of neonatal condylar cartilage when cultured in an organ culture system. Mandibular condylar cartilages were obtained from newborn ICR mice, of which the zone of undifferentiated chondroprogenitor cells along with a few layers of young cartilage cells were cultivated at the medium-air interface. The incubation medium included fetal bovine serum at concentrations ranging from 0 to 10%, and the explants were kept in vitro up to 10 d. The serum-free medium maintained the chondrogenic expression, and the overall size of the cartilagenous portion of the explants increased with the decrease of the concentrations of serum in the medium. When explants were labeled with [3H]thymidine and were then processed for autoradiography, the peak of labeling was noticed at 48 h, a feature that recapitulated itself in all cultures (73, 140, 175, 201, and 129 labeled cells per chondroprogenitor zone in explants grown in 0, 1, 2.5, 5, and 10%, respectively). It can be concluded that serum-free medium maintains the chondrogenic phenotype of condylar cartilage in vitro.

Growth and differentiation of stage 24 limb mesenchyme cells in a serum-free chemically defined medium

A serum-free defined medium which supports the differentiation of chick limb mesenchymal cells has been developed. In this medium, stage 24 embryonic limb mesenchymal cells which are plated at high density (5 x 10(6) cells/35-mm culture dish) differentiate into chondrocytes. Morphologically, these cultures appear only slightly different from those in which the cells are maintained in serum-containing medium. DNA levels and proline incorporation in cultures grown in defined medium are indistinguishable from control cultures. The rate of radiolabeled sulfate incorporation, a monitor of the rate of proteoglycan synthesis, in Day 8 high-density cultures maintained in defined medium is approximately 70-80% of control values. Additionally, growth and differentiation of intermediate-density (2 x 10(6) cells/35-mm culture dish) and low-density (1 x 10(6) cells/35-mm dish) cultures are also supported by this defined medium. The availability of this medium allows exploration of bioactive factors which affect or modulate mesenchymal cell differentiation and subsequent development.

Effects of dexamethasone on expression and maintenance of cartilage in serum-containing cultures of calvaria cells

The effects of dexamethasone on the ability of cells enzymatically isolated from 21-day fetal rat calvaria to produce cartilage in vitro has been investigated. Primary cultures of single-cell suspensions of rat calvaria were grown for up to 28 days in vitro in alpha-minimal essential medium containing 15% fetal bovine serum, 50 micrograms/ml ascorbic acid, 10 mM Na beta-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone at concentrations of 1 microM to 1 nM. Two types of nodules were present in dexamethasone-containing cultures. One has been characterized previously as bone (Bellows et al. 1986). The second morphologically resembled hyaline cartilage, possessed a strong Alcian blue-positive matrix and contained type-II, but not type-I, collagen. Both bone and cartilaginous nodules were spatially distinct and developed in isolation from each other. Cartilaginous nodules were found in the highest number at a dexamethasone concentration of 100 nM. Time-course experiments revealed that while the number of bone nodules increased continuously at least to day 28, the number of cartilaginous nodules remained constant after cultures had reached confluency. When cells were isolated separately from frontal and parietal bones and sutural regions, the greatest number of cartilaginous nodules developed from parietal bones. Since 21-day fetal rat calvaria contains 2 distinct patches of cartilage at the periphery of the parietal bones, it seems likely that this cartilaginous tissue is the origin of the cartilage cells. The results demonstrate that cultures of rat calvaria cells contain chondrocytes and possibly chondroprogenitor cells that are distinct from osteoprogenitors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of vitamin D metabolites on collagen production and cell proliferation of growth zone and resting zone cartilage cells in vitro

Previous studies have suggested that vitamin D metabolites directly influence the differentiation and maturation of chondrocytes in calcifying cartilage. Recently, this laboratory has shown that the response of chondrocyte plasma membrane and matrix vesicle enzymes to 1,25-(OH)2D3 and 24,25-(OH)2D3 is both cell and membrane specific. The current study demonstrates that cell replication and matrix protein synthesis are also modulated by vitamin D. Confluent, third-passage growth zone (GC) and resting zone (RC) costochondral chondrocytes were incubated in medium containing 10(-13)-10(-7) M 1,25-(OH)2D3 or 10(-12)-10(-6) M 24,25-(OH)2D3. The amount of collagenase-digestible protein (CDP) secreted into the media was inversely proportional to the concentration of fetal bovine serum (FBS). At 10% FBS, greater than 80% of the CDP was incorporated into the matrix. 1,25-(OH)2D3 stimulated CDP and percentage collagen synthesis by GC cells but had no effect on the synthesis of noncollagenous protein (NCP). 1,25-(OH)2D3 inhibited CDP and percentage collagen synthesis by RC cells but did not alter NCP synthesis. [3H]thymidine incorporation was inhibited in both cell types, whether confluent or subconfluent cultures were examined. At 10(-6) and 10(-7) M 24,25-(OH)2D3, there was a significant decrease in CDP production and percentage collagen synthesis by RC cells but no effect on NCP. However, at 10(-9) and 10(-10) M hormone there was an increase in NCP production but no effect on CDP, resulting in a decrease in percentage collagen synthesis. CDP and NCP production were unaffected by 24,25-(OH)2D3 in GC cells. High concentrations of hormone inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation in both cell types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Use of Iodogen and sulfosuccinimidobiotin to identify and isolate cuticular proteins of the filarial parasite Brugia malayi

The cuticle of filarial nematodes is a dynamic structure which may be an important target for protective host immune responses. Prior studies have employed radioiodination of intact parasites to demonstrate that the collagenous cuticle of filariids contains relatively few exposed proteins, some of which are stage and/or species-specific. In the present study, we have used sulfo-NHS-biotin to label and affinity purify cuticular components of living adult Brugia malayi. Results obtained by this method were compared with the widely used Iodogen method of surface radioiodination by SDS-PAGE analysis of detergent-solubilized worms and by ultrastructural analysis. Both labeling methods produced very similar electrophoretic patterns with major doublets at 70 and 100 kDa, a major band at 25 kDa, and minor bands between 60-200 kDa. Ultrastructural analysis showed that both methods labeled components throughout all levels of the parasite cuticle; underlying somatic tissues were not labeled. The biotinylated components were isolated from the total parasite extract by affinity chromatography on an avidin matrix. Further characterization of these surface-associated proteins may lead to improved methods for the control of filariasis.

Effects of transforming growth factor type beta upon bone cell populations grown either in monolayer or semisolid medium

Bone has been shown to store large amounts of transforming growth factor type beta (TGF beta) and this has recently been found to be synthesized by bone-forming cells. We report on studies undertaken to examine the effects of platelet-derived TGF beta on different bone cell populations, isolated from 1-day postnatal rat calvaria by sequential enzymatic digestion. In addition, we tried to determine which of these cell populations synthesize TGF beta. In this regard, evidence was collected to indicate that cell populations which were shown to be enriched with osteoblast-like cells synthesize TGF beta. Although the production of the factor appeared to be limited to a particular cell type, its action was found to be of a more general character, as all cell populations were found to respond to TGF beta. Contrary to earlier reports, TGF beta was shown to be inhibitory upon cell proliferation. In this context, growth of cells released during early digestions was reduced considerably more than growth of those released during late digestions. Studies on the effect upon protein synthesis revealed that TGF beta specifically inhibited collagen but not the synthesis of noncollagenous proteins. The synthesis of collagen was altered to a greater extent in cells isolated during late digestions than in cells of the early populations. Further information on the TGF beta-mediated effects on bone cell biology was provided by data showing that both alkaline phosphatase and cAMP production in response to PTH was greatly reduced by TGF beta. Finally, experiments performed to determine whether TGF beta induces any of the bone cell populations to acquire the transformed phenotype revealed that only populations previously shown to be enriched with osteoblast-like cells formed colonies in soft agarose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Differential expression of phenotype by resting zone and growth region costochondral chondrocytes in vitro

This study establishes an in vitro model for examining endochondral cartilage cell metabolism. Chondrocytes derived from the resting cell zone and adjacent growth zone of rat costochondral cartilage were compared for retention of phenotype in culture. At third passage confluence, two cell populations differ morphologically and biochemically. Resting zone cells are fibroblast-like, with smooth cell membranes and little rough endoplasmic reticulum. Growth zone cells are more polygonal, smaller in diameter, with numerous cytoplasmic extensions of the plasma membranes and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum. Both cell populations produce matrix vesicles that are comparable morphologically to matrix vesicles isolated enzymatically from epiphyseal cartilage. While membrane vesicles are released into the media by cells derived from the resting zone as well as from the growth cartilage, alkaline phosphatase activity is enriched in media vesicles produced by growth cartilage cells. Alkaline phosphatase enriched vesicles appear to be preferentially incorporated into the extracellular matrix. Both the plasma membrane marker enzyme activity and the membrane phospholipid composition are differentially expressed in matrix vesicles and plasma membranes and are cell specific. Matrix vesicles produced by resting zone cells are enriched in alkaline phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase, ouabain sensitive Na+/K+ ATPase and cardiolipin when compared to the cell membrane. In addition, the plasma membranes of these cells contain more phosphatidylcholine plus sphingomyelin than do growth cartilage plasma membranes. Resting zone cell matrix vesicles have less phosphatidylethanolamine than do vesicles from growth cartilage cultures. Matrix vesicles produced by growth cartilage cells contain one proteolipid at 43,000 Mr which comigrates with plasma membrane proteolipid and an additional proteolipid at approximately 3,000 Mr. These data indicate that both cells retain differential expression of phenotype in culture and that one expression of this phenotype is production of specific extracellular matrix vesicles.

Calcium deficiency induces expression of cartilage-like phenotype in chick embryonic calvaria

A detailed histological study of the chick embryonic calvarium was carried out to characterize the effect of calcium deficiency on cell differentiation during embryonic bone formation. Calcium deficiency on cell differentiation during embryonic bone formation. Calcium deficient chick embryos, produced by means of long-term shell-less (SL) culture, developed skeletal anomalies. In addition to reduced mineralization as detected by alizarin staining, significant changes were also observed in the extracellular matrix of the embryonic bones. First, the undermineralized matrix of the calvaria of SL embryos appeared to be more acidic as shown by more intense hematoxylin staining of the trabecular regions compared to controls. Secondly, the presence of sulfated proteoglycans was suggested by specific Alcian blue staining of the calvaria of Day 14 SL embryos. In addition, indirect fluorescence immunohistochemistry confirmed the developmental appearance of type II collagen in calcium-deficient calvaria, and localized it to undermineralized regions of the bone. These observations demonstrate the emergence of a chondrogenic phenotype in a typically osteogenic tissue during, and perhaps in response to, severe systemic calcium deficiency in the developing chick embryo.

Leukocyte interleukins induce cultured endothelial cells to produce a highly organized, glycosaminoglycan-rich pericellular matrix

We report here that interleukins have a dramatic effect on extracellular matrix production by cultured endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells incubated with growth media conditioned by lectin-activated human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes undergo marked changes in cell shape and elaborate a highly organized extracellular material that is not detectable in untreated cultures. This material has the following characteristics: (a) it is not recognizable by electron microscopy unless the cationic dye, Alcian blue, is added to the fixative; (b) it is visualized as a network of branching and anastomosing fibrils of various thickness that can be resolved into bundles of fine filaments; (c) it is associated with the cell surface, extends between contiguous cells, and coats the culture substrate; (d) it is removed by digestion with glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes, such as crude heparinase and chondroitinase ABC. These results demonstrate that soluble factors released by activated peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (interleukins) stimulate cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells to produce a highly structured pericellular matrix containing glycosaminoglycans (probably chondroitin sulfate and/or hyaluronic acid) as a major constituent. We speculate that this phenomenon corresponds to an early step of angiogenesis as observed in vivo as a consequence of interleukin release.

Macrophage-derived growth factor for osteoblast-like cells and chondrocytes

Rat resident peritoneal macrophages in primary culture were found to elaborate a mitogenic factor (or factors) for rat osteoblast-like cells and chondrocytes but not for skin fibroblasts. Growth-promoting activity appeared in the incubation medium within the first 20 hr of macrophage culture and was released in amounts that paralleled the number of macrophages per culture. After their proliferative response, as judged by increases in DNA synthesis and cell number, the osteoblast-like cells became enriched in alkaline phosphatase, an index of osteoblast specialization. The macrophage-derived activity was nondialyzable and heat-stable, and it was eliminated by exposure to trypsin. Inhibition of prostaglandin cyclooxygenase failed to modify its generation. Partial purification (Amicon filter concentration, gel filtration) disclosed principal peaks of activity corresponding to Mr of 43,000 and 10,000. The crude conditioned medium and the Mr 43,000-peak, but not the low-molecular-weight peak, exhibited interleukin 1 activity, as judged by the ability to stimulate the proliferation of mouse thymic lymphocytes. The macrophage-derived growth factor described herein may participate in bone remodeling and repair and in primary bone and cartilage growth.

Effect of experimentally induced calcium deficiency on the developmental expression of collagen types in chick embryonic skeleton

In order to investigate the effect of embryonic calcium deficiency on the cellular differentiation processes in embryonic skeletogenesis, chick embryos were maintained in long-term shell-less cultures in vitro. The absence of the eggshell, which normally provides over 120 mg of calcium to the embryo during the course of development, resulted in severely retarded and anomalous skeletal formation. The pattern of cytodifferentiation in the skeletal elements during development was assessed by examining collagen type synthesis in both endochondral and intramembranous bones of normal and shell-less embryos as a function of developmental age. Skeletal tissues obtained from these embryos at various developmental stages were maintained in short-term organ culture in medium containing [3H]Pro. The metabolically labeled collagen was isolated from these tissues and typed biochemically based on electrophoresis, ion-exchange chromatography, differential salt fractionation, zone precipitation chromatography, and CNBr peptide mapping. The results indicate that, compared to chronologically equivalent normal controls, calcium-deficient skeletal elements from shell-less embryos appeared to fail to mature into complete bony tissues and instead exhibited partial cartilage phenotype with the expression of cartilage-specific type II collagen.

Bone cell differentiation and growth factors

Bone morphogenetic protein and bone-derived growth factors are biochemical tools for research on induced cell differentiation and local mechanisms controlling cell proliferation. Bone morphogenetic protein irreversibly induces differentiation of perivascular mesenchymal-type cells into osteoprogenitor cells. Bone-derived growth factors are secreted by and for osteoprogenitor cells and stimulate DNA synthesis. Bone generation and regeneration are attributable to the co-efficiency of bone morphogenetic protein and bone-derived growth factors.