Cholestatic Liver Injury After Biliary Reconstruction Impairs Transplanted Islet Viability and Function.

Islet autotransplantation following total pancreatectomy differs from allograft transplantation with respect to the requirement of biliary reconstruction. Although it is known that careful consideration should be given to postoperative cholestatic liver injury after biliary reconstruction, its direct effects on transplanted islets have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we developed a murine model of postoperative cholestatic liver injury after biliary reconstruction with islet autotransplantation that involved syngeneic intraportal islet transplantation into chemically induced diabetic mice and common bile duct ligation. We assessed the viability and function of the transplanted islets. The impaired viability of transplanted islets and increased blood glucose levels indicated restoration of the diabetic state after common bile duct ligation in this murine model. Furthermore, impaired islet viability and function occurred earlier in the transplanted islets than in the surrounding liver tissues, which was consistent with the faster and higher expression of oxidative stress markers in the transplanted islets. Transplanted islets may be more vulnerable to oxidative stress caused by cholestatic liver injury than the surrounding liver tissue. Therefore, patients should be intensively managed after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation to preserve viability and function of the transplanted islets.

Ovarian cancer presenting as a metastasis to a trocar tract used for a gasless lift-laparoscopy to resect a benign ovarian cyst: an unusual case report.

BACKGROUND: Metastasis to a trocar tract (port-site metastasis, PSM) is an uncommon but serious complication that possibly compromises the prognosis of cancer patients treated laparoscopically. CASE: A 42-year-old Japanese woman had a 20-cm benign right ovarian cyst resected using gasless lift-laparoscopy. Five years and eight months postoperatively, she noticed a three-cm subcutaneous tumor involving the trocar tract. She was also found to have a pelvic mass and an exploratory laparotomy revealed left ovarian cancer. Based on the histopathological findings, the subcutaneous tumor was diagnosed as a metastasis from the ovarian cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggested that PSM could occur without direct or indirect wound contamination during laparoscopic surgery.

Hollow spheroids in ascites of ovarian clear cell carcinoma: how are they formed and how do they behave?

OBJECTIVE: Although the multicellular aggregates (spheroids) in malignant ascites are usually solid throughout, they sometimes have acellular hollow spaces, especially in ascites of ovarian clear cell carcinoma. The purpose of this study is to analyse the origin and behaviour of hollow spheroids. METHODS: Archival cytological and histological specimens of 32 ovarian carcinomas, including 12 clear cell carcinomas, were reviewed. HAC-2, a clear cell carcinoma cell line, was injected into the abdominal cavity of nude mice for direct comparison of ascitic cytology and tumour histology. Spheroids that were collected from nude mice ascites were cultured in vitro to observe their behaviour. RESULTS: Five of six clear cell carcinomas with hollow spheroids showed spherule-like hyaluronan-rich stroma in their tumour tissue, whereas those without hollow spheroids did not. After heterotransplantation, both ascites and tumour imprints showed small or large hollow spheroids. Hyaluronan was detected in the former but not in the latter. The abdominal tumours showed compact spherule-like hyaluronan-rich stroma, enlarged oedematous stroma or intermediate stroma. In both size and hyaluronan status, small and large hollow spheroids were approximately comparable to spherule-like hyaluronan-rich stroma and oedematous stroma, respectively. During culture in vitro, hollow spheroids were maintained as hollow spheroids in suspension, and produced daughter hollow spheroids. CONCLUSIONS: The hollow space in the spheroids originates from spherule-like hyaluronan-rich stroma, where water trapping by hyaluronan causes enlargement of the space. The matrix within the hollow space serves as a scaffold that regulates cell polarity and matrix production.

Metastatic gastric cancer mimicking an advanced cervical cancer: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Metastasis to the uterine cervix from non-gynecologic neoplasms is rare. However, metastatic tumors sometimes precede the diagnosis of a primary tumor, and may lead to diagnosis of the primary tumor. CASE: A 50-year-old woman was referred to us complaining of increasing right flank pain. Computed tomography scan demonstrated an enlarged uterus with right-sided hydronephrosis and hydroureter. Cervical cytology revealed adenocarcinoma. She was considered to have a Stage IIIB cervical adenocarcinoma. Although no cervical lesion was seen colposcopically, histopathology from biopsies of the uterine cervix revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma infiltrating around the normal endocervical glands. A metastasis from the gastrointestinal tract was suspected. The patient underwent gastroscopy and was found to have Borrmann type IV gastric cancer. Biopsies confirmed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells. CONCLUSION: Physicians should bear in mind that metastatic tumors may precede the diagnosis of a primary tumor and could manifest by mimicking advanced cervical cancer.

Studies of immune functions of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: antibodies to desialized, rather than intact, T cells preferentially bind to and eliminate suppressor effector T cells.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were found to have in their plasma antibodies specific for desialized T cells. Adsorption studies with intact or desialized T cells indicated that SLE anti-T cell antibodies consisted of two populations with different target cell specificities, one capable of recognizing unique determinants on desialized T cells and another able to bind to both intact and desialized T cells. Normal T cells did not remove the antibodies specific for desialized T cells. moreover, the antibodies to desialized T cells were not removed by adsorption with either desialized non-T cells or desialized erythrocytes. Thus, the antibodies to desialized T cells recognize a determinant that is unique to a T cell subset and also includes a sugar. Inhibition studies with various sugars indicated that lactose was the most potent inhibitor of antibody binding. The anti-desialized T cell antibody appears to recognize a T cell determinant which includes lactose, probably in the form of a beta-galactosyl residue, but which also includes additional T cell determinants. The antibodies to desialized T cells were found to bind preferentially to concanavalin A-induced autorosetting T cells, which had been already demonstrated to contain suppressor effector cells. Indeed, such antibodies were effective in eliminating suppressor effector function without interfering with T cells necessary for such activation (such as precursor or inducer cells). Finally, studies of patients with SLE yielded a highly significant correlation (r = 0.92) between impaired suppressor effector function of their cells and the presence of antibodies to desialized T cells in their plasma.

Estimation of thyroxine and triiodothyronine distribution and of the conversion rate of thyroxine to triiodothyronine in man.

Studies on peripheral metabolism of simultaneously administered 125-I-labeled L-thyroxine ([125-I]T4) and 131-I labeled L-trilodothyronine ([131-I]T3) were performed in five normal subjects, in four patients with untreated hypothyroidism, and in 3 hypothyroid patients made euthyroid by the administration of T4. The fractional turnover rate (lambda 03) of thyroid hormones irreversibly leaving the site of degradation and the volumes of pool 1 (serum V1) of pool (interstitial fluid, V2), and of pool 3 (all tissues, V3)were obtained by using a three-compartment analysis. In addition to the turnover studies, the ratios for the in vivo T4 to T3 conversion were determined by paper chromatographic study in sera obtained 4, 7, and 10 daysafter the injection. The rate (K12) of the extrathyroidal conversion of T4 to T3 was also estimated by the compartment analysis. The T3 distribution volume (V3) of pool 3, in which T3 is utilized and degraded, was about 60% of totaldistribution volume (V=V1+V2+V3) in normal subjects, whereas only about 25% of the extrathyroidal T4 pool was in the intracellular compartment, indicating that T3 is predominantly an intracellular hormone..

Calcitonin stimulation of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate production with growth inhibition in human renal adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Responsiveness of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) to parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and vasopressin was studied in six human renal adenocarcinoma cell lines. Four of six renal adenocarcinoma cell lines showed increased cAMP content in response to calcitonin while the other two did not. Neither parathyroid hormone nor vasopressin increased the concentration of cAMP in each of these cell lines. The growth rate of KU-2 cells, which responded to calcitonin with an increase of cAMP content, was inhibited by calcitonin. On the other hand the growth rate of calcitonin-nonsensitive KH-39 cells was unaltered. The growth inhibitory effect of the hormone on KU-2 cells could be considered to be mediated by the increased cAMP levels from the following results: (a) there was positive correlation between the cellular cAMP content and growth inhibition after various amounts of calcitonin addition; (b) KU-2 growth was also suppressed by N6,O2'-dibutyryl cAMP; and (c) a group of KU-2 cells which had become resistant to calcitonin-induced growth inhibition showed a diminished cAMP increase in response to calcitonin.

Parathyroid hormone degradation by chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase in the clonal osteogenic UMR-106 cell.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) -degrading activity was studied using osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells. PTH-degrading activity was assessed by the amount of PTH fragments produced in the medium after exposure of intact human PTH-(1-84) to UMR-106 cells. PTH immunoreactivity recovered in trichloroacetic acid-soluble products of the medium and in fractions eluted from reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was measured by radioimmunoassay using an antibody specific for the mid-region and C-terminus of PTH. In this study, intact UMR-106 cells but not extracellular enzymes cleaved human PTH(1-84) into fragments which were released into the medium (in a time- and temperature-dependent fashion). HPLC analysis of the PTH fragments depicted three immunoreactive peaks (peaks 1, 2 and 3) besides intact PTH, indicating a limited PTH-hydrolyzing activity of the cells. Furthermore, a 1000-fold molar excess of either hPTH-(3-34) or [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]hPTH-(3-34)amide inhibited PTH-degrading activity by 63% and 80% of control, respectively, whereas neither calcitonin, vasopressin nor growth hormone suppressed it. Additionally, HPLC analysis of the samples treated with [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]hPTH-(3-34)amide showed a reduction of the three peaks, suggesting an involvement of PTH receptor in the production of PTH fragments. This PTH-degrading activity was strongly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and chymostatin, but not by soybean trypsin inhibitor, elastatinal or inhibitors of cysteine, aspartic or metalloproteinases, indicating that it is due to a seryl chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase. Chymotrypsin-like activity seems to be solely responsible for PTH-degrading activity in intact UMR-106 cells, since all three PTH fragments were predominantly suppressed in the presence of chymostatin. Further analysis of chymotrypsin-digested products of hPTH-(1-84) eluted from HPLC exhibited five fragments detected by ultraviolet absorbance at 210 nm, three of which were measurable by PTH radioimmunoassay, each corresponding to the three PTH fragments produced by UMR-106 cells. To explore the cleavage sites of PTH further, amino acid analysis of chymotrypsin-cleaved products was performed. The results strongly support the view that the chymotrypsin-like enzyme in UMR-106 cells cleaved the hormone between residues 23-24 and 34-35, to produce, at least, hPTH-(24-84) and -(35-84). Our present study indicates that a chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase is solely responsible for limited hydrolysis of PTH by intact UMR-106 cells.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide and induction of hyperglycemia in conscious rats in vivo.

The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on glucose metabolism was investigated in conscious and unrestrained rats in vivo. Intravenous injection of rat CGRP (5.67 and 0.567 nmol/kg) caused a significant, dose-dependent increase in plasma glucose concentration and a simultaneous dose-dependent increase in plasma insulin level. In contrast, plasma glucagon level was not changed. On the other hand, intravenous infusion of CGRP (46.6 pmol.kg-1.min-1) decreased tolerance to intragastric administration of glucose (IGGTT). Plasma insulin response to IGGTT, however, was not affected by CGRP infusion. Moreover, although intravenous injection of CGRP (5.67 nmol/kg) elicited a significant increase in plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations, concomitant administration of epinephrine and norepinephrine, inducing a more prominent rise in plasma catecholamines than those induced by CGRP, affected neither plasma glucose nor insulin levels. Finally, plasma insulin levels obtained by simulating CGRP-induced changes in plasma glucose or glucose plus catecholamine levels by infusion of glucose or glucose plus catecholamines were not different from those induced by CGRP injection. These results suggest that CGRP has a hyperglycemic action that is not mediated by sympathetic outflow in conscious rats, and inhibition of insulin secretion, if any, does not play a major role in this hyperglycemic action of CGRP. We have demonstrated specific CGRP receptors linked to adenylate cyclase activation in rat liver plasma membranes; this hyperglycemic effect of CGRP in vivo may be partly due to its direct action on the liver.

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors enhance cell growth in an osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1.

To elucidate the significance of endogenous prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in osteoblastic cell function, we studied the effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors on cell growth and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. UMR-106 cells were also used as references in our experiments. MC3T3-E1 cells, cultured in alpha-minimal essential medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, were shown to produce PGE2, which was markedly suppressed in the presence of indomethacin. Addition of indomethacin resulted in an increase in DNA content and [3H]thymidine incorporation. A similar growth stimulatory effect was observed when structurally different cyclooxygenase inhibitors, that is, acetyl salicylic acid (ASA), flurbiprofen, and piroxicam, were added. These cyclooxygenase inhibitors, however, differed in their effects on ALP activity. Indomethacin and ASA enhanced ALP activity, whereas flurbiprofen and piroxicam suppressed it. We then examined the effects of exogenous addition of PGE2. Although exogenous PGE2 at 6 x 10(-6) M slightly stimulated cell growth, it inhibited cell growth at 6 x 10(-8) M and 6 x 10(-7) M. ALP activity was reduced in a dose-dependent fashion by exogenous PGE2. These results suggest that PGE2 produced by MC3T3-E1 may be suppressing cell proliferation and that cyclooxygenase inhibitors, per se, may stimulate cell growth by inhibiting endogenous PGE2 production in MC3T3-E1 cells. UMR-106 cells also produced PGE2, although less than MC3T3-E1 cells. In UMR-106 cells, the cyclooxygenase inhibitors did not influence DNA content or ALP activity as distinctly as in MC3T3-E1 cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characteristics of parathyroid hormone-specific cyclic changes of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the distal convoluted tubule of the guinea pig.

The effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the time course of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in the distal convoluted tubule of a vitamin D-depleted guinea pig was determined using quantitative cytochemistry. G6PD activity decreased to the stable basal level 5 hrs after the initiation of the kidney segment maintenance cultures. The exposure of the tissues to 1 pg/ml of bovine PTH-(1-84) induced a cyclic change of G6PD activity, whereas neither carboxyl-terminal PTH nor other hormones tested showed such activity. After a 16-min exposure to bovine PTH-(1-84), the peak height of each cycle began to decrease until it disappeared at 34 min. The second exposure to this hormone at 46 min reinduced a similar cyclic change with a similar peak, indicating full viability of the cells. When bovine PTH-(1-84) was incubated with an excess amount of anti-bovine PTH antibody, the PTH-induced G6PD activity was completely abolished. Throughout a 14-min exposure to either human PTH-(1-84), human PTH-(1-34) or bovine PTH-(1-84), similar cyclic changes were observed with the constant peak height regardless of the dose (10(-16)-10(-12) M), although the cycle length shortened progressively as the dose was increased. They were equipotent on a molar basis between the concentrations of 10(-16) and 10(-13) M at 6 min of hormone exposure. The present data demonstrate that the cytochemical bioassay of PTH in a vitamin D-depleted animal is based on a dose-dependent difference in the time course of G6PD activity.

Cross talk of dual-signal transduction systems in the regulation of DNA synthesis by parathyroid hormone in osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells.

There has been recent evidence that calcium/protein kinase C (Ca/PKC) messenger system as well as adenylate cyclase are involved in the signal transduction stimulated by PTH. We therefore examined the role of these dual-signal transduction systems and the interaction of these systems in the regulation of DNA synthesis by PTH in the osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells, UMR-106. As recently reported, 10(-4) M Sp-cAMPS, a direct activator of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), and 10(-4) M dibutyryl-cAMP, as well as hPTH-(1-34), caused the significant inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation (TdR). Both A23187 and ionomycin (10(-8)-10(-6) M) inhibited TdR in a dose-dependent manner, with a minimal effective dose at 10(-7) M. Although 10(-6) M phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused slight but significant stimulation of TdR by itself, it augmented not only dibutyryl-cAMP- but also Sp-cAMPS-induced inhibition of TdR. On the other hand, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, incapable of activating PKC, failed to augment these cAMP analogs-induced effects. Pretreatment with 50 microM H-7, an inhibitor of PKC, not only abolished the PMA-induced augmentation of effect by cAMP analogs but also significantly blocked the PTH-induced inhibitory effect on TdR. Pretreatment with 10(-6) M PMA, which downregulates PKC, significantly inhibited the PTH-induced suppression of TdR. Combined treatment with cAMP analog (dibutyryl-cAMP or Sp-cAMPS) and calcium ionophore (A23187 or ionomycin) caused additive effects on TdR, and PMA used in combination with both cAMP analog and calcium ionophore induced the further inhibition of TdR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Quantitative bone histomorphometry and circulating T lymphocyte subsets in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

To explore the influence of the immune system on the development of osteoporosis, 19 untreated postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were studied by means of quantitative histomorphometry of the ilium and an analysis of T lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood. Osteoporotic women had lower OKT3+ and OKT8+ counts and a higher OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio than nonosteoporotic control subjects. Linear regression analyses disclosed that the age of subjects correlated with bone mineral density (BMD; r = -0.634, p less than 0.01) and some of the histomorphometric parameters for bone formation (r = -0.694 to -0.467, p less than 0.01-0.05). The number of OKT4+ cells showed weak but significant negative correlation with the parameters for bone resorption (r = -0.549 to -0.462, p less than 0.05). In a multiple regression analysis, the advanced age, the increase in OKT3+, and the decrease in OKT4+ and OKT8+ counts were shown to be significant predictors for the decrease in BMD (R = 0.882, p less than 0.01). According to the regression formula obtained from the analysis, the parameters for bone formation were related only to the age of subjects whereas those for bone resorption were tightly associated with the number of OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells but not with the age of subjects. These results indicated that, in addition to the age factor, abnormalities of the peripheral T lymphocyte subsets, especially those of OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells, are closely associated with the decrease in bone mass in postmenopausal osteoporosis, supporting the causal relationship between T lymphocyte functions and the development of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Interaction of parathyroid hormone-related peptide-responsive dual signal transduction systems in osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells: role in PTHrP-induced homologous desensitization.

In osteoblastic UMR-106 cells, 10(-7) M human (h) PTH-related peptide (PTHrP)-(1-34) significantly induced the formation of total inositol phosphates to the same degree as 10(-7) M hPTH-(1-34), confirming that in addition to cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), PTHrP possesses another signal transduction system, calcium/protein kinase C (Ca/PKC). Experiments were therefore performed to characterize the cross talk of these dual-signal transduction systems and its participation in the PTHrP-induced homologous desensitization of cAMP and cytosolic calcium (Cai) response in osteoblasts. Preincubation with 10(-7) M hPTHrP-(1-34) caused homologous desensitization, resulting in a remarkable decrease in cAMP accumulation in response to further exposure to PTHrP. This effect was significant after 2 h pretreament and reached a maximum at 6 h. Pretreatment with the PKC-activating phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA, 10(-6) M) for 30 minutes and 6 h caused a significant increase and decrease in cAMP responsiveness to PTHrP, respectively. Pretreatment with calcium ionophores (A23187 or ionomycin, 10(-6) M), not for 30 minutes but for 6 h, caused a significant decrease in cAMP responsiveness to PTHrP. H-7 (an inhibitor of PKC, 50 microM) significantly blocked not only PMA- but also PTHrP-induced desensitization of the cAMP response. PTHrP caused the complete homologous desensitization of an increase in Cai within 30 minutes. Pretreatment with dibutyryl-cAMP (10(-4) M) for 30 minutes caused significant inhibition of the PTHrP-induced increase in Cai, and pretreatment with Sp-cAMPS (10(-4) M), a direct activator of PKA, for 30 minutes completely blocked the PTHrP-induced increase in Cai.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of glucocorticoid administration on intestinal, renal, and cerebellar calbindin-D28K in chicks.

A radioimmunoassay for chick intestinal calcium-binding protein (calbindin-D28K, CaBP-28K) has been developed in our laboratory with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/ml. The values for CaBP-28K in vitamin D-deficient (-D) chicks ranged from a high value for the cerebellum (21,400 +/- 580 ng/mg protein) to a scarcely detectable level in the liver (19.6 +/- 2.2 ng/mg protein). After administration of vitamin D (vitamin D3 500 IU p.o. for 7 days) (+D), the levels of CaBP-28K increased in the duodenum (52,300 +/- 5,100 ng/mg protein), ileum (45,200 +/- 740 ng/mg protein), cerebellum (22,000 +/- 470 ng/mg protein), colon (15,200 +/- 330 ng/mg protein), and kidney (13,460 +/- 540 ng/mg protein). However, the increment in the level of CaBP-28K in each tissue after vitamin D administration was different; levels of CaBP-28K in the duodenum, ileum, and colon increased dramatically more than 200 times after vitamin D administration, whereas that in the kidney showed only a 2.5-fold increase and was unaltered in the cerebellum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Parathyroid hormone control of free cytosolic Ca2+ in the kidney.

We have established a perifusion system to monitor free cytosolic calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in mouse kidney slices, which presumably reflects in vivo status more accurately than renal cells in culture, by means of the fluorescent calcium indicators quin-2 and fura-2. An increase in the extracellular calcium concentrations from 0 (no added Ca2+) to 3.0 mM resulted in an increase in [Ca2+]i from 52 to 239 nM. Replacement of 118 mM of extracellular Na+ with choline, or the addition of ouabain, an inhibitor of Na+,K+-ATPase, at 10(-6) M in the perfusate caused an increase in [Ca2+]i from 161 +/- 13 to 873 +/- 78 nM (n = 10) and 161 +/- 13 to 395 +/- 68 nM (n = 4), respectively, suggesting the possible existence of a Na+,Ca2+ exchange mechanism in the kidney slice. We further examined the effects of PTH on [Ca2+]i mobilization in the kidney. Both human PTH-(1-34) and hPTH-(1-84) increased [Ca2+]i within 60 s at physiologic concentrations of 10(-11)-10(-9) M in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, an increase in intracellular cAMP in the slice was also detected above 3 X 10(-9) M hPTH-(1-34) [base 2.1 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg, 3.2 +/- 0.6 pmol/mg (p less than 0.05 versus control values) 5 minutes after the application of 3 X 10(-9) M hPTH-(1-34) and 17.3 +/- 4.3 pmol/mg (p less than 0.05 versus control values) 3 X 10(-8) M hPTH-(1-34), mean +/- SEM, n = 7, p less than 0.05 versus control values].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of high calcium concentration on the functions and interactions of osteoblastic cells and monocytes and on the formation of osteoclast-like cells.

The present study was performed to clarify the role of high calcium concentration and the appearance of mononuclear cells at the resorptive site in bone remodeling. Our recent study revealed that the high concentration of extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]e) stimulated DNA synthesis in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells not only directly but also indirectly via monocytes. Human monocyte-conditioned medium (CM) significantly stimulated DNA synthesis and inhibited alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. In contrast, when monocytes were cultured at high [Ca2+]e concentrations (more than 3 mM), CM from these monocytes significantly stimulated ALP activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. Such stimulatory effect of CM was not observed at a high magnesium concentration (Mg2+, 5 mM). Treatment of monocytes with the calcium ionophore A23187 did not affect the CM-induced effect on DNA synthesis and ALP activity in these cells. To determine the migration potency of MC3T3-E1 cells and monocytes toward the high [Ca2+]e, chemotaxis assay was performed. The increasing [Ca2+]e (more than 3 mM) induced a chemotactic response of MC3T3-E1 cells as well as monocytes, but the high concentration of Mg2+ (5 mM) did not induce it. On the other hand, treatment with high [Ca2+]e (more than 3 mM) or CM significantly inhibited the 1,25-(OH)2D3-induced formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells (MNC) from their precursors derived from mouse spleen cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Stimulatory effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 on osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity.

Although the action of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) on osteoblast differentiation has been extensively investigated, its effect on osteoclast differentiation remains unknown. In the present study, in vitro effects of BMP-2 on osteoclast-like cell formation and bone resorption were examined. BMP-2 (1-100 ng/ml) significantly stimulated bone resorption by preexistent osteoclast-like cells in mouse bone cell cultures containing stromal cells, whereas it did not affect the bone-resorbing activity of isolated rabbit osteoclast-like cells. When BMP-2 was added to unfractionated bone cells after degeneration of preexistent osteoclast-like cells, BMP-2 dose-dependently stimulated osteoclast-like formation at a minimal effective concentration of 10 pg/ml. BMP-2 also enhanced the osteoclast-like cell formation induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). Moreover, osteoclast-like cells newly formed by BMP-2 from unfractionated bone cells possessed the ability to form pits on dentine slices. Because these results indicated that BMP-2 directly or indirectly stimulated osteoclast differentiation and activity, we next examined the direct effect of BMP-2 on osteoclast precursors in the absence of stromal cells using hemopoietic blast cells derived from spleen cells. The mRNA for BMP-2/4 receptor was detected in hemopoietic blast cells supported by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as well as osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and MC3T3-G2/PA6 stromal cells by RNase protection assay. BMP-2 dose-dependently stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation from hemopoietic blast cells supported by GM-CSF at a minimal effective concentration of 10 pg/ml. BMP-2 also enhanced 1,25(OH)2D3-induced osteoclast-like formation from hemopoietic blast cells. The present data are the first to indicate that BMP-2 stimulates bone resorption through both direct stimulation of osteoclast formation and activation of mature osteoclasts, possibly via stomal cells, in vitro.

Prostaglandin E2 stimulates osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity via osteoblasts: role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an important local regulator in bone. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of PGE2 on osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts in the presence or absence of osteoblasts, PGE2 (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) significantly stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation in osteoblast-containing mouse bone cell cultures, although it did not affect osteoclast-like cell formation from hemopoietic blast cells supported by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in osteoblast-free mouse spleen cell cultures. The conditioned medium from osteoblastic UMR-106 cells pretreated with PGE2 (10(-8) and 10(-6) M) significantly stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation from hemopoietic blast cells. PGE2 also significantly stimulated the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts in osteoblast-containing mouse bone cell cultures. In contrast, PGE2 significantly inhibited the bone-resorbing activity and osteopontin mRNA expression in isolated rabbit osteoclasts. Rp-cAMPS, a direct protein kinase (PKA) antagonist, significantly inhibited PGE2-stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation and the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts, although protein kinase C inhibitors, dantrolene (an inhibitor of calcium release from the intracellular calcium pool) and voltage-dependent calcium channel blockers did not affect PGE2-stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation. In conclusion, PGE2 stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity in mouse bone cell cultures presumably through osteoblasts. The activation of PKA is linked to PGE2-stimulated osteoclast-like cell formation and bone-resorbing activity.

Human PTH-(3-34) inhibited the effects of human parathyroid hormone-related protein on phosphate uptake in a cultured renal cell line (OK cells).

The action mechanism of hPTH and hPTHrP-(1-34) on phosphate uptake in opossum kidney (OK) cells was studied using [Nle8,18Tyr34]hPTH-(3-34)-NH2, a potent competivie inhibitor of adenylate cyclase-coupled PTH receptor. We examined the effects of hPTH-(1-34), hPTHrP-(1-34), and hPTH-(3-34) separately or in combination on the change in renal cyclic AMP production and phosphate uptake in OK cells. Both hPTH-(1-34) and hPTHrP-(1-34) stimulated intracellular cyclic AMP production to the same degree at concentrations between 10(-10) and 10(-7) M and inhibited phosphate uptake equipotently on a molar basis (27.5 +/- 2.0 and 33.2 +/- 1.2% inhibition at 10(-7) M, respectively). Both exogenous addition of (Bu)2cAMP and endogenous stimulation of cAMP by forskolin inhibited phosphate uptake in a dose-dependent manner. Cyclic AMP production induced by either hPTH-(1-34) or hPTHrP-(1-34) was inhibited by both [Nle8,18Tyr34]-hPTH-(3-34)-NH2 and [Tyr34]-hPTH-(7-34)-NH2. However, [Nle8,18Tyr34]hPTH-(3-34)-NH2 and [Tyr34]-hPTH-(7-34)-NH2 inhibited hPTH-induced cAMP production more strongly. The inhibitory action of phosphate uptake by hPTH-(1-34) and hPTHrP-(1-34) was prevented in the presence of a 100-fold greater concentration of [Nle8,18Tyr34]hPTH-(3-34)-NH2. The antagonistic action of [Nle8,18Tyr34]hPTH-(3-34)-NH2 on the inhibition of phosphate uptake induced by hPTH-(1-34) and hPTHrP-(1-34) became weaker with time (0-120 minutes), and [Nle8,18Tyr34]hPTH-(3-34)-NH2 did not antagonize the inhibition of phosphate uptake induced by hPTHrP-(1-34) at 120 minutes of incubation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)