RESUMO
Early osteoclast precursors, in the form of murine bone marrow macrophages (BMMs), while expressing no detectable alpha(v)beta3 integrin, contain abundant alpha(v)beta5 and attach to matrix in an alpha(v) integrin-dependent manner. Furthermore, alpha(v)beta5 expression by osteoclast precursors progressively falls as they assume the resorptive phenotype. We find the osteoclastogenic agent, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, (TNF) down-regulates alpha(v)beta5 expression by BMMS via attenuation of beta5 messenger RNA (mRNA) t1/2. Using BMMs from TNF receptor knockout mice we establish the p55 receptor transmits the beta5 suppressive effect. The functional implications of TNF-mediated alpha(v)beta5 down-regulation are underscored by the capacity of an alpha(v) inhibitory peptide mimetic to prevent spreading by BMMs expressing abundant alpha(v)beta5 while failing to impact those in which the integrin has been diminished by TNF. Finally, beta5 mRNA in BMMs of wild-type mice administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS) progressively falls with time of in vivo treatment. Alternatively, beta5 mRNA does not decline in BMMs of LPS-treated mice lacking both TNF receptors, documenting down-regulation of the beta5 integrin subunit, in vivo, is mediated by TNF. Thus, matrix attachment of osteoclast precursors and mature osteoclasts are governed by distinct alpha(v) integrins which are differentially regulated by specific cytokines.
Assuntos
Regulação da Expressão Gênica/genética , Integrinas/biossíntese , Integrinas/genética , Osteoclastos/metabolismo , Receptores de Vitronectina , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/fisiologia , Animais , Antígenos CD/biossíntese , Antígenos CD/genética , Northern Blotting , Diferenciação Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação para Baixo , Técnicas In Vitro , Lipopolissacarídeos/farmacologia , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Osteoclastos/ultraestrutura , Osteogênese/genética , Osteogênese/fisiologia , Testes de Precipitina , RNA Mensageiro/biossíntese , Receptores do Fator de Necrose Tumoral/biossíntese , Receptores do Fator de Necrose Tumoral/genética , Receptores Tipo I de Fatores de Necrose Tumoral , Transcrição Gênica/genética , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/agonistasRESUMO
Osteolysis complicating arthroplasty reflects progressive generation of implant-derived wear particles, which prompt an inflammatory reaction attended by recruitment of osteoclasts to the prosthesis-bone interface. To identify a soluble mediator of periprosthetic osteolysis we first showed that implant particles induce c-src in murine bone marrow macrophages (BMMs), a protein specifically expressed when these cells commit to the osteoclast phenotype. The fact that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is a potent osteoclastogenic agent while at the same time is the only soluble moiety known to be c-src inductive suggests that this cytokine may mediate implant particle-induced osteoclastogenesis. Consistent with this hypothesis, prosthesis-derived wear particles, recovered at revision arthroplasty, dose-dependently prompt TNF secretion by BMMs. Similarly, particulate polymemthylmethacrylate, the major component of orthopedic implant cement, induces BMM expression of TNF mRNA and protein in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, failure of BMMs derived from mice deleted of both the p55 and p75 TNF receptors to express c-src in response to polymemthyl-methacrylate indicates TNF is an essential mediator of particle induction of this osteoclast specific protein. To test the hypothesis that TNF mediates implant osteolysis, we established an in vivo murine model of this condition that histologically mirrors that of man. Verifying that TNF is essential to development of particle osteolysis, mice failing to express both the p55 and p75 TNF receptors are protected from the profound bone resorption attending polymemthyl-methacrylate particle implantation on calvariae of wild-type animals. Finally, the protective effect of deletion of both TNF receptors is recapitulated in mice lacking only the p55 receptor. Thus, targeting TNF and/or its p55 receptor may arrest wear particle osteolysis.
Assuntos
Ortopedia , Osteólise/etiologia , Próteses e Implantes/efeitos adversos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas pp60(c-src)/metabolismo , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/fisiologia , Animais , Cimentos Ósseos/farmacologia , Células da Medula Óssea/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C3H , Camundongos Knockout/genética , Tamanho da Partícula , Polimetil Metacrilato/farmacologia , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Receptores do Fator de Necrose Tumoral/deficiência , Receptores do Fator de Necrose Tumoral/genética , Ativação Transcricional/genética , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/genética , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMO
Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells and the principal resorptive cells of bone. Although osteoclasts are of myeloid origin, the role of haematopoietic transcription factors in osteoclastogenesis has not been explored. Here we show that messenger RNA for the myeloid- and B-cell-specific transcription factor PU.1 progressively increases as marrow macrophages assume the osteoclast phenotype in vitro. The association between PU.1 and osteoclast differentiation was confirmed by demonstrating that PU.1 expression increased with the induction of osteoclastogenesis by either 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or dexamethasone. Consistent with the participation of PU.1 in osteoclastogenesis, we found that the development of both osteoclasts and macrophages is arrested in PU.1-deficient mice. Reflecting the absence of osteoclasts, PU.1-/- mice exhibit the classic hallmarks of osteopetrosis, a family of sclerotic bone diseases. These animals were rescued by marrow transplantation, with complete restoration of osteoclast and macrophage differentiation, verifying that the PU.1 lesion is intrinsic to haematopoietic cells. The absence of both osteoclasts and macrophages in PU.1-mutant animals suggests that the transcription factor regulates the initial stages of myeloid differentiation, and that its absence represents the earliest developmental osteopetrotic mutant yet described.
Assuntos
Osteopetrose/etiologia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/deficiência , Transativadores/deficiência , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Medula Óssea/patologia , Transplante de Medula Óssea , Reabsorção Óssea , Osso e Ossos/patologia , Diferenciação Celular , Linhagem Celular , Deleção de Genes , Hematopoese/fisiologia , Macrófagos/patologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Mutação , Osteoclastos/patologia , Osteoclastos/fisiologia , Osteopetrose/genética , Osteopetrose/patologia , Osteopetrose/terapia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/fisiologia , RNA Mensageiro/biossíntese , Células Estromais/patologia , Transativadores/genética , Transativadores/fisiologiaRESUMO
Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is an immune cytokine that inhibits bone resorption in mice and suppresses osteoclastic cell formation in vitro through an undefined mechanism. In this report, we have established the cellular identity of the IL-4 target cell using a variety of bone marrow/stromal cell coculture methods. Initially, we found that the majority of IL-4's inhibition of osteoclastic cell formation was due to its effect on bone marrow cells, not stromal cells. Consequently, bone marrow macrophages were used as osteoclastic cell progenitors after they had been transiently exposed to IL-4 (48 h), before the addition of stromal cells, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and dexamethasone. In this circumstance, IL-4 impaired subsequent osteoclastic cell formation, suggesting that the macrophage may be potentially targeted by many factors known to influence osteoclast formation. Consequently, we discovered that interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), prostaglandin E (PGE), and cell-permeant cAMP analogs also impacted osteoclastic cell formation when used to selectively treat bone marrow macrophages. IFN gamma suppressed osteoclastic cell formation, whereas PGE and cAMP analog treatment led to the formation of significantly enlarged osteoclastic cells. Importantly, PGE antagonized the inhibitory effects of both IL-4 and IFN gamma on the osteoclastic cell-forming potential of bone marrow macrophages. Collectively, these findings establish bone marrow macrophages as osteoclastic cell precursors with the degree of their commitment to the osteoclast pathway sensitive to the effects of soluble mediators, including IL-4, IFN gamma, and PGE.
Assuntos
Células da Medula Óssea , Medula Óssea/efeitos dos fármacos , Interferon gama/farmacologia , Interleucina-4/farmacologia , Prostaglandinas E/farmacologia , Animais , Reabsorção Óssea/prevenção & controle , Ensaio de Unidades Formadoras de Colônias , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/citologia , Células-Tronco Hematopoéticas/efeitos dos fármacos , Técnicas In Vitro , Macrófagos/citologia , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C3H , Modelos Biológicos , Osteoclastos/citologia , Osteoclastos/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
To determine if interleukin 4's (IL-4) recently discovered skeletal effects could be explained by its effects on osteoblasts, we have examined IL-4's impact on macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) secretion by the murine osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1. Interleukin-4 increased colony-forming activity in MC3T3 supernatants two-threefold with colony cytomorphology, cytohistochemistry, and blockade of the effect by anti-M-CSF antibody, indicating that the IL-4-induced activity was M-CSF. MC3T3 M-CSF supernatant activity increased in a time-dependent manner with positive IL-4 effects seen after a 24-hour exposure. The maximal IL-4 effective dose was 100 U/ml where conditioned media from IL-4-treated cells contained twofold more M-CSF than control cells (400 U/ml versus 200 U/ml M-CSF) as detected by a sandwich M-CSF ELISA. Northern blots showed that IL-4 (200 U/ml) rapidly increased steady-state M-CSF mRNA levels with maximal induction observed by 2 hours followed by a decline to near basal levels by 24 hours. IL-4 also dose dependently increased M-CSF mRNA levels with maximal induction (fourfold) seen at 100 U/ml IL-4. In contrast to its impact on MC3T3 M-CSF production, IL-4 (200 U/ml) did not stimulate MC3T3 IL-6 secretion whereas IL-1 (1 pM) stimulated a 500-fold increase in MC3T3 IL-6 release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Assuntos
Interleucina-4/farmacologia , Interleucina-6/biossíntese , Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Macrófagos/metabolismo , Osteoblastos/efeitos dos fármacos , Células 3T3/efeitos dos fármacos , Células 3T3/metabolismo , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Northern Blotting , Contagem de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Diferenciação Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Camundongos , Monócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Hibridização de Ácido Nucleico , Osteoblastos/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes/farmacologiaRESUMO
Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is an immune cytokine recently shown to inhibit bone resorption. To determine whether IL-4 directly acts on osteoclasts, we have analyzed its effect on cytosolic calcium concentration [Ca2+]i and bone resorptive function of murine osteoclastic cells generated from bone marrow/stromal cell co-cultures. IL-4 exposure induced an immediate and sustained increase in [Ca2+]i that remained elevated for at least 10 min. This IL-4 effect was dose-dependent, with the maximal effect (209 +/- 15% of baseline, n = 16) at 200 units/ml and an apparent ED0.5 of 60 units/ml. The IL-4-induced [Ca2+]i rise required extracellular Ca2+ influx, since the response was prevented by LaCl3, and voltage-gated Ca2+ channel blockers, although the IL-4 effect was more sensitive to nicardipine and nifedipine than to diltiazem. Depolarization by high extracellular K+ concentration also raised [Ca2+]i, and, under these conditions, osteoclasts failed to respond to IL-4. On the other hand, when intracellular Ca2+ stores were depleted by thapsigargin, IL-4 still induced an increase in [Ca2+]i, although smaller in amplitude and transient. Calcitonin also produced [Ca2+]i increases in osteoclasts, yet it only slightly desensitized these cells to IL-4. Furthermore, IL-4 was much less effective on osteoclasts pretreated (5-10 min) with either forskolin or 8-bromo-cAMP. Both IL-4 and calcitonin were effective even when [Ca2+]i had been increased by exposure to high extracellular Ca2+. Finally, IL-4 dose dependently inhibited the bone-resorptive activity of mature osteoclasts. Therefore, IL-4 signal transduction in osteoclasts involves a rapid and sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i mediated by a voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx, in combination with Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Modulation of osteoclast [Ca2+]i represents a potential mechanism by which IL-4 inhibits bone resorption.
Assuntos
Reabsorção Óssea/prevenção & controle , Cálcio/metabolismo , Citosol/metabolismo , Interleucina-4/farmacologia , Osteoclastos/metabolismo , Animais , Transporte Biológico , Calcitonina/farmacologia , Canais de Cálcio/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Ativação do Canal Iônico , CamundongosRESUMO
Type 5 acid phosphatase is a lysosomal enzyme expressed in cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage frequently used as a marker of osteoclastic differentiation. Oligonucleotide primers for DNA amplification were designed following sequence alignment of rat bone and human macrophage type 5 acid phosphatases. DNA (330 bp in length) obtained using these primers and reverse transcribed total cell RNA from in vitro generated murine osteoclastic cells was cloned and sequenced. DNA sequence analysis of two clones demonstrates that the amplified material was 91% and 96% identical to rat bone type 5 acid phosphatase at the nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively. Northern blots of murine tissue RNA show the presence of 1.5-kb transcripts that are most highly expressed in the long bones. Total cell RNA from the osteoclastic cells contain a marked level of type 5 acid phosphatase mRNA when compared to the levels seen in the tissue samples. Additionally, osteoclastic cell RNA contains two additional transcripts of 2.5 and 5 kb. Bone marrow macrophages grown in the presence of M-CSF express low levels of the 1.5-kb transcript with no signal observed for either of the two larger transcripts that were seen in the osteoclastic RNA samples. Importantly, bone marrow macrophage 1.5-kb type 5 acid phosphatase transcript levels are increased by interleukin 4 treatment in both a time and concentration-dependent manner. These findings indicate that type 5 acid phosphatase, while a cytochemical marker for osteoclasts, can be induced in macrophages by agents that block in vitro osteoclastic differentiation. Increased type 5 acid phosphatase may play a role in interleukin 4-stimulated monocyte activities.
Assuntos
Fosfatase Ácida/biossíntese , Células da Medula Óssea , Interleucina-4/farmacologia , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Osteoclastos/citologia , Fosfatase Ácida/classificação , Fosfatase Ácida/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Diferenciação Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Indução Enzimática/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Isoenzimas/genética , Lisossomos/enzimologia , Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Macrófagos/farmacologia , Macrófagos/enzimologia , Camundongos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Osteoclastos/enzimologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , RNA Mensageiro/biossíntese , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Alinhamento de Sequência , Homologia de Sequência , Fosfatase Ácida Resistente a Tartarato , Transcrição GênicaRESUMO
The immune cytokine interleukin 4 has newly recognized effects on skeletal metabolism. While the interaction of many cells ultimately determines bone mass, we have examined the possibility that the osteoblast may be an IL-4 target in bone by characterizing IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) expression by MC3T3-E1 (MC3T3) murine osteoblastic cells. Based on 125I-IL-4 binding, MC3T3 cells express large numbers of IL-4 receptors (125I-IL-4 Bmax = 3,000-7,500 sites/cell, 125I-IL-4 K = 13-40 pM) with an affinity similar to the IL-4 receptor expressed by an IL-4-responsive T cell line. Monoclonal anti-IL-4R antibodies (M1) blocked specific MC3T3 125I-IL-4 binding and MC3T3 total cell RNA contained full-length IL-4R mRNA as detected by reverse transcription DNA amplification utilizing IL-4R primers and Northern blot analysis. Functionally, IL-4 treatment of MC3T3 cells resulted in increased cellular proliferation (10-20%) and inhibition of alkaline phosphatase levels (20-40%). While parathyroid hormone (PTH) exposure did not influence IL-4R levels, vitamin D3 treatment augmented MC3T3 125I-IL-4 binding, in a time-dependent manner, up to threefold after a 24 h exposure with a metabolite specificity indicating the involvement of the vitamin D receptor. Equilibrium binding studies showed that the impact of 1,25 (OH)2 D3 on MC3T3 125I-IL-4 binding was due to an increased IL-4R Bmax. Cycloheximide treatment inhibited 1,25 (OH)2 D3-induced IL-4R upregulation, suggesting that protein synthesis was required. Furthermore, the steroid increased steady-state IL-4R mRNA levels in both a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The IL-4R message half-life was not altered by 1,25 (OH)2 D3, suggesting that increased IL-4R mRNA expression resulted from increased IL-4R gene transcription. Taken together, these findings raise the possibility that IL-4's influence on mineral metabolism could be mediated by osteoblasts and that the effectiveness of this cytokine may be influenced by vitamin D3's impact on IL-4R expression.
Assuntos
Calcitriol/farmacologia , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Osteoblastos/metabolismo , Receptores Mitogênicos/genética , Anticorpos Monoclonais/farmacologia , Ligação Competitiva , Northern Blotting , Contagem de Células , Linhagem Celular , Cicloeximida/farmacologia , Interleucina-4/metabolismo , Osteoblastos/efeitos dos fármacos , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Receptores de Interleucina-4 , Receptores Mitogênicos/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/metabolismoRESUMO
The biologically active metabolite of vitamin D3, 1,25 (OH)2 D3, exerts important immunoregulatory effects in addition to being a central mediator of calcium/phosphate metabolism. Utilizing an interleukin 1 responsive murine T cell line and 125I-interleukin 1 alpha, we show that 1,25 (OH)2 D3 (5,50 nM) enhanced 125I-interleukin 1 alpha binding up to almost 2-fold over control. This 1,25 (OH)2 D3 effect occurred in a dose-dependent manner and was detectable after 24 h but not before 7 h of culture. Scatchard analysis of 125I-interleukin 1 alpha binding data demonstrated that 1,25 (OH)2 D3 enhanced interleukin 1 receptor number without a significant change in affinity. The biologically less potent metabolite of vitamin D3, 25 (OH) D3, also augmented 125I-interleukin 1 alpha binding but at steroid levels 2-3 log orders greater than 1,25 (OH)2 D3. This observation, combined with the presence of high-affinity 3H-1,25 (OH)2 D3 receptors (88 sites/cell, K = 0.45 nM) in cytosolic extracts, strongly suggests that the nuclear vitamin D receptor mediates this steroid's effect on interleukin 1 receptor expression. Based on the capacity of an anti-type 1 interleukin 1 receptor monoclonal antibody (35F5) to block 1,25 (OH)2 D3-enhanced 125I-interleukin 1 alpha binding, we conclude that this steroid augments type 1 interleukin 1 receptor expression. When combined with interleukin 1, a cytokine that also impacts MD10 interleukin 1 receptor expression, 1,25 (OH)2 D3 enhanced interleukin 1 receptor expression. Northern blots hybridized with a 32P-type 1 interleukin 1 receptor cDNA probe show that 1,25 (OH)2 D3 enhanced type 1 interleukin 1 receptor steady state mRNA levels. Functionally, 1,25 (OH)2 D3 pretreatment augmented the MD10 proliferative response to suboptimal levels of interleukin 1 (< 100 fM interleukin 1 alpha). These findings further support 1,25 (OH)2 D3's role as an immunoregulatory molecule and provides a possible mechanism by which this steroid could potentiate certain immune activities.
Assuntos
Calcitriol/farmacologia , Receptores de Interleucina-1/biossíntese , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Northern Blotting , Linhagem Celular , DNA , Regulação para Baixo , Humanos , Camundongos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Regulação para CimaRESUMO
The combination of IL-1 and IL-4 stimulates the proliferation of certain murine T cell populations. Although this effect has been best characterized for a number of murine type 2 Th cell (Th2) clones, the mechanism(s) by which these cytokines effect this response is unclear. We have examined the effects of IL-1 and IL-4 on IL-1R expression by MD10 cells, and IL-1-responsive murine T cell line. These cells bear specific IL-1R, which bind human and murine IL-1 alpha and -beta. The measured apparent IL-1R dissociation constant ranged from 41 to 255 pM using 125I-HrIL-1 alpha. Cross-linking studies demonstrated two different 125I-HrIL-1 alpha binding complexes having Mr of 70,000 and 130,000 to 156,000. When removed from passage conditions and placed in non-growth factor-supplemented media, MD10 IL-1R expression spontaneously increased two- to fourfold over the first 11 to 12 h of culture followed by a decline. This phenomenon is partially inhibitable by cycloheximide suggesting that protein synthesis is involved. In agreement with other reports, HrIL-1 alpha down-regulated the expression of its own receptor with an ED50 of between 1 and 10 pM HrIL-1 alpha for this effect. In most experiments, low amounts of HrIL-1 alpha (1.0, 0.1 pM) significantly augmented IL-1R expression. Scatchard analysis of data obtained with all HrIL-1 alpha treatment conditions showed that the effects were due to a change in receptor number, not affinity. Significantly, purified murine IL-4 (MpIL-4) augmented MD10 IL-1R expression in both a time- and dose-dependent fashion. In the presence of 50 U/ml MpIL-4, MD10 IL-1R expression increased two- to threefold after 24 h without a change in receptor affinity. When MpIL-4 (50 U/ml) and various amounts of HrIL-1 alpha (.01-1000 pM) were co-added, the down-regulatory effect of high levels of HrIL-1 alpha was significantly antagonized. When added to cultures after 24 h of HrIL-1 alpha (100 pM) treatment, MpIL-4 reversed the IL-1R down-regulatory effect induced by high levels of HrIL-1 alpha. Finally, when combined in MD10 proliferation assays, MpIL-4 synergistically enhanced the proliferation of MD10 cells treated with suboptimal levels of HrIL-1 alpha.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Assuntos
Interleucina-1/farmacologia , Interleucina-4/farmacologia , Receptores Imunológicos/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Animais , Linhagem Celular , Cicloeximida/farmacologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Regulação para Baixo/efeitos dos fármacos , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Técnicas In Vitro , Interleucina-1/metabolismo , Ativação Linfocitária/efeitos dos fármacos , Camundongos , Peso Molecular , Receptores de Interleucina-1 , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/metabolismoRESUMO
The binding and mitogenic properties of thrombin have been established in various transformed cell lines. In such systems, thrombin induces cell division in the absence of exogenous growth factors, and the enzyme is considered to act directly as a mitogen. This study explores thrombin's interaction with nontransformed, growth factor-dependent cells. Binding of 125I-alpha-thrombin to colony-stimulating factor (CSF)-1-dependent bone marrow-derived macrophages is saturable, time-dependent, and displaceable by both unlabeled alpha-thrombin, and esterolytically inactive thrombin. Both dissociation studies of pre-bound radio-labeled thrombin and Scatchard analysis assisted by the program "Ligand" suggest adherence of thrombin-binding data to a multi-site model. There are an estimated 2 x 10(4) high affinity sites (Kd = 7 x 10(-9)M) and 2 x 10(6) low affinity sites (Kd = 9 x 10(-7)M) per cell. Quiescent bone marrow-derived macrophages were cultured with either 10(-8)M thrombin, 1000 units of CSF-1/ml, or both and [3H]thymidine incorporation was determined. Thrombin alone did not induce mitogenesis. CSF-1 induced mitogenesis with peak [3H] thymidine incorporation occurring 24 h after addition of the mitogen. This CSF-1-dependent mitogenic influence was enhanced greater than 2-fold by treatment with thrombin.