Congenital osteoclast deficiency in osteopetrotic (op/op) mice is cured by injections of macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Osteopetrotic (op/op) mice have a severe deficiency of osteoclasts, monocytes, and peritoneal macrophages because of a defect in the production of functional macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) resulting from a mutation within the M-CSF gene. In this study, we examined whether daily 5-microgram injections of purified recombinant human M-CSF (rhM-CSF) for 14 d would cure these deficiencies in the mutant mice. Monocytes in the peripheral blood of the op/op mice were significantly increased in number after subcutaneous injections of the factor two or three times a day. In contrast, osteopetrosis in the long bones of op/op mice was completely cured by only one injection of rhM-CSF per day. Bone trabeculae in the diaphyses were removed. Many osteoclasts were detected on the surface of bone trabeculae in the metaphyses. Although development of tooth germs of uninjected op/op mice was impaired, rhM-CSF injection restored the development of molar tooth germs and led to tooth eruption as a consequence of the recovery of bone-resorbing activity. These results demonstrate that M-CSF is one of the factors responsible for the differentiation of osteoclasts and monocyte/macrophages under physiological conditions.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha stimulates osteoclast differentiation by a mechanism independent of the ODF/RANKL-RANK interaction.

Osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF, also called RANKL/TRANCE/OPGL) stimulates the differentiation of osteoclast progenitors of the monocyte/macrophage lineage into osteoclasts in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF, also called CSF-1). When mouse bone marrow cells were cultured with M-CSF, M-CSF-dependent bone marrow macrophages (M-BMM phi) appeared within 3 d. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts were also formed when M-BMM phi were further cultured for 3 d with mouse tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in the presence of M-CSF. Osteoclast formation induced by TNF-alpha was inhibited by the addition of respective antibodies against TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) or TNFR2, but not by osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF, also called OPG, a decoy receptor of ODF/RANKL), nor the Fab fragment of anti-RANK (ODF/RANKL receptor) antibody. Experiments using M-BMM phi prepared from TNFR1- or TNFR2-deficient mice showed that both TNFR1- and TNFR2-induced signals were important for osteoclast formation induced by TNF-alpha. Osteoclasts induced by TNF-alpha formed resorption pits on dentine slices only in the presence of IL-1alpha. These results demonstrate that TNF-alpha stimulates osteoclast differentiation in the presence of M-CSF through a mechanism independent of the ODF/RANKL-RANK system. TNF-alpha together with IL-1alpha may play an important role in bone resorption of inflammatory bone diseases.

Cellular hydrophobicity of Listeria monocytogenes involves initial attachment and biofilm formation on the surface of polyvinyl chloride.

AIMS: To clarify the cellular properties of Listeria monocytogenes involved in adhesion to and biofilm formation on polyvinyl chloride, a widely used material in the food manufacturing process. METHODS AND RESULTS: A significant correlation between the ability of initial adherence to and biofilm formation on PVC was observed for 24 L. monocytogenes strains (Spearman rank-correlation coefficient, r(s) = 0.89). The swimming motility assay revealed no relationship between initial adherence and motility of L. monocytogenes. The microbial adhesion to solvent assay revealed an interaction of L. monocytogenes cells with nonpolar solvents, and a significant correlation was also observed between the degree of interaction with nonpolar solvents and initial adherence to PVC (r(s) = 0.87 and r(s) = 0.84, between initial adherence and affinities to decane and hexadecane, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that cellular hydrophobicity of L. monocytogenes is an important property involved in the initial adherence to and biofilm formation on PVC. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: This study clarified the factors involved in the adherence to and biofilm formation ability of L. monocytogenes strains with PVC.

Regulatory roles of beta-catenin and AP-1 on osteoprotegerin production in interleukin-1alpha-stimulated periodontal ligament cells.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the enhanced expression of inflammatory mediators leading to alveolar bone resorption. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) plays a suppressive role in cytokine-induced osteoclastogenesis. In osteoblasts, OPG expression is upregulated by beta-catenin but downregulated by the transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1; c-fos/c-jun). The purpose of this study was to examine the roles of beta-catenin and AP-1 in interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) -induced OPG production in human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) and periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. METHODS: Expression of c-fos and c-jun messenger RNA was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and OPG production was analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The nuclear AP-1 activity was quantified using an AP-1 microplate assay. The effect of the Wnt canonical pathway on OPG production was evaluated using small interfering (si) RNA for beta-catenin and the effect of AP-1 on OPG production was evaluated using the AP-1 inhibitor curcumin. RESULTS: Levels of c-fos messenger RNA and nuclear AP-1 activity were higher in PDL cells than in hGFs. When stimulated with IL-1alpha, PDL cells had significantly higher c-fos expression and lower OPG production compared with hGFs. The siRNA for beta-catenin suppressed the IL-1alpha-induced OPG production in both PDL cells and hGFs, whereas the AP-1 inhibitor curcumin augmented the IL-1alpha-induced OPG production in PDL cells, but not in hGFs. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that beta-catenin enhances IL-1alpha-induced OPG production in both PDL cells and hGFs, whereas AP-1 suppresses IL-1alpha-induced OPG production in PDL cells. Higher expression of c-fos in PDL cells than in hGFs may implicate a role of PDL cells in alveolar bone resorption in periodontitis.

IL-17 in synovial fluids from patients with rheumatoid arthritis is a potent stimulator of osteoclastogenesis.

IL-17 is a newly discovered T cell-derived cytokine whose role in osteoclast development has not been fully elucidated. Treatment of cocultures of mouse hemopoietic cells and primary osteoblasts with recombinant human IL-17 induced the formation of multinucleated cells, which satisfied major criteria of osteoclasts, including tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity, calcitonin receptors, and pit formation on dentine slices. Direct interaction between osteoclast progenitors and osteoblasts was required for IL-17-induced osteoclastogenesis, which was completely inhibited by adding indomethacin or NS398, a selective inhibitor of cyclooxgenase-2 (COX-2). Adding IL-17 increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis in cocultures of bone marrow cells and osteoblasts and in single cultures of osteoblasts, but not in single cultures of bone marrow cells. In addition, IL-17 dose-dependently induced expression of osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF) mRNA in osteoblasts. ODF is a membrane-associated protein that transduces an essential signal(s) to osteoclast progenitors for differentiation into osteoclasts. Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF), a decoy receptor of ODF, completely inhibited IL-17-induced osteoclast differentiation in the cocultures. Levels of IL-17 in synovial fluids were significantly higher in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients than osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Anti-IL-17 antibody significantly inhibited osteoclast formation induced by culture media of RA synovial tissues. These findings suggest that IL-17 first acts on osteoblasts, which stimulates both COX-2-dependent PGE2 synthesis and ODF gene expression, which in turn induce differentiation of osteoclast progenitors into mature osteoclasts, and that IL-17 is a crucial cytokine for osteoclastic bone resorption in RA patients.

Interferon-gamma reduces Ia+ dendritic cell traffic to the lung.

MHC class II+ lung dendritic cells (DC) increase in number following treatment of animals with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) [Kradin et al. (1991) Am. J. Resp. Mol. Biol. 4, 210; Gong et al. (1992)J. Exp. Med. 175, 797]. To test whether this is due to increased sequestration and/or trafficking of DC to the lung, bone marrow DC from BALB/c mice were obtained by culturing bone marrow with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Recipient BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 4 days with one of the following: IFN-gamma, dexamethasone (Dex), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Twenty-four hours after the last dose, they were injected intravenously (i.v.) with carboxyfluorescein (F1) -labeled DC (1 x 10(6)/mouse) and killed 4 h later. DC, double immunostained for Ia and F1, were quantified by morphometry in frozen sections of lung. The number of injected dual-labeled DC/cm2 was reduced by 90% in IFN-gamma-treated mice. By contrast, there was no significant difference between Dex- and PBS-treated animals in the number of double-labeled DC retained in pulmonary capillaries. Biodistribution and imaging studies were conducted on IFN-gamma- and PBS-treated mice using 111In-labeled DC. Reduced radioactivity in the lung was accounted for by an equivalent increase in the liver of IFN-gamma-treated mice; imaging studies confirmed these observations. Removal of >80% of alveolar macrophages (AM) by pretreatment with intratracheally administered chlodronate-loaded liposomes did not change the biodistribution of DC in IFN-gamma- and PBS-injected mice. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha and nitrite/nitrate in IFN-gamma-treated mice were similar to those of controls. Immunostaining for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), however, revealed a 1.5-and 6-fold increase in the number of positively stained cells in the lung and liver, respectively, of IFN-gamma-treated mice; the number of iNOS-expressing cells was markedly reduced in Dex-treated animals relative to controls. To test whether the systemic treatment with IFN-gamma stimulated the cytotoxic activity of Kupffer cells, mice were injected with chlodronate liposomes 5 days before death. After treating the mice in the ensuing 4 days with IFN-gamma or PBS, biodistribution and imaging studies with 111In-labeled DC were conducted on the 5th day. After administration of chlodronate liposomes, there was a significant increase in the radioactivity detected in the lungs of IFN-gamma-injected mice but not in those of PBS- injected controls, a finding confirmed by imaging studies. We conclude that IFN-gamma treatment augmented Kupffer cell cytotoxic activity, which, in turn, effectively reduced the number of injected DC in circulation, with the result that fewer of these cells were retained in the lung vasculature. We further conclude that IFN-gamma increases the number of Ia+ lung DC by up-regulating Ia expression of resident Ia- DC precursors and not by promoting the migration of circulating DC to the lung.

A new method for permanent preparations of hemopoietic cells cultured in methylcellulose medium.

To obtain permanent preparations for morphologic examination of hemopoietic cells cultured in methylcellulose medium, a new method designated as "the membrane filtration technique" has been devised. Permanent preparations of erythroid colonies, bursts and leukemic colonies, which have been grown mainly in methylcellulose medium, are illustrated in this paper. The stages of differentiation of cells within these colonies can be easily recognized by means of Wright-Giemsa staining.

S 12911-2 inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro.

The potential anti-osteoporotic activity of the strontium compound, S12911, was tested on osteoclast-like cells and on cultured fetal mouse long bones. From 1 mM Sr2+, S12911 reduced both basal and stimulated bone resorption by decreasing osteoclast activity and ruffled border formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of S 12911-2 on osteoclastic bone resorption using in vitro systems. Osteoclast-like cells, produced in vitro by co-culture of mouse bone marrow cells with primary osteoblasts, were allowed to settle on dentine slices, and the area of resorption pits formed after 48 h was measured using an image analysis system. S 12911-2, at a minimal active concentration of 1 mM Sr2+, significantly reduced pit formation by these cells (p < 0.05). Pretreatment of slices for 48 h with S 12911-2 (5 mM Sr2+) did not produce appreciable inhibition of resorption. Bone resorption in cultured fetal mouse long bones was assessed by measuring the release of pre-incorporated 45calcium. S 12911-2 inhibited resorption in control cultures (18.9%, p < or = 0.05) and in bones cultured with the active form of vitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] (44.5%, p < or = 0.05). S 12911-2 had no effect on the number of osteoclasts observed histochemically in longitudinal sections prepared from fetal mouse long bones. Electron microscopy of mouse long bones treated with S 12911-2 (3 mM Sr2+) showed osteoclasts with clear zones facing the bone surface, but without well-developed ruffled borders; untreated bones contained osteoclasts with normal ruffled borders. These results indicate that S 12911-2 inhibits osteoclast activity. This effect is directly linked to the presence of strontium, is effective on basal and stimulated resorption, and involves a decrease in ruffled border formation by osteoclasts.

Chemical and physical properties of the extracellular matrix are required for the actin ring formation in osteoclasts.

To examine the effect of extracellular matrix on osteoclast polarization, we focused on the actin organization in osteoclasts, using murine osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (OCLs) formed in cocultures of osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells. When OCLs were cultured on either a plastic plate, calcified dentine, or calcium phosphate thin films in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS), they similarly formed ringed structures of F-actin dots (actin rings). However, OCLs placed on demineralized dentine or type I collagen gel matrix (collagen gel) failed to form actin rings. In the absence of FBS, actin ring formation in OCLs was induced on plastic plates coated with vitronectin, fibronectin, or type I collagen, but not on those coated with laminin, poly-L-lysine, or bovine serum albumin. Actin ring formation appeared to depend on integrins, since the GRGDS, but not the GRGES, peptide inhibited it in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, immunoelectron microscopic examination revealed that vacuolar proton ATPase (V-ATPase) was localized along the apical membrane in much higher densities than the basolateral membrane in OCLs placed on plastic coverslips. In OCLs placed on collagen gel, however, V-ATPase was found to be distributed throughout the cytoplasm without polarity. These results suggest that actin ring formation in osteoclasts was dependent on matrix substrates, matrix proteins and integrins, and was closely related to osteoclast function.

Prostaglandins promote osteoclastlike cell formation by a mechanism involving cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in mouse bone marrow cell cultures.

We have developed a mouse bone marrow culture system in which multinucleated osteoclast (OC)-like cells are formed within 8 days. Using this culture system, we examined the effect of prostaglandins (PGs), potent bone-resorbing agents, on OC-like cell formation. Four PGs (PGE1 and PGE2 at 10(-8)-10(-5) M, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha at 10(-5) M, and PGF2 alpha at 10(-6)-10(-5) M) significantly stimulated the formation of OC-like cells. The potency of the PGs in inducing OC-like cell formation was the highest in PGE1 and PGE2, followed by PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in that order, and the order was highly correlated with the order of the potency in increasing the production of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in bone marrow cells. Addition of dibutyryl-cAMP also induced OC-like cell formation. Moreover, isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), a potent inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, potentiated the OC-like cell formation induced by PGE2, whereas salmon calcitonin greatly inhibited it. Calcitonin induced cAMP production in cultures treated with PGE2, but not in cultures with vehicle. When bone marrow mononuclear cells were cultured on dentine slices in the presence of PGE2, multinucleated OC-like cells were similarly formed and they resorbed calcified dentine, resulting in so-called Howship's lacunae. These results suggest that PGs stimulate resorption of calcified tissues by promoting osteoclast formation. The activity of PGs in inducing OC-like cell formation is considered mediated mainly by a mechanism involving cAMP.

New resorption assay with mouse osteoclast-like multinucleated cells formed in vitro.

We previously reported a procedure to obtain a preparation containing a large number of mouse osteoclast (OCL)-like multinucleated cells (MNCs) formed in cocultures of mouse osteoblastic and bone marrow cells in the presence of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3]. The MNCs satisfied major criteria of OCLs, such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, acid production, calcitonin (CT) receptors, and the ability to form resorption pits on bone slices. In this report, we describe a simple resorption assay system using MNC preparations. After culturing MNC preparations or disaggregated rat OCL preparations on dentin slices, they were stained with Mayer's hematoxylin. The stained area corresponded exactly with the resorption pits visualized by scanning electron microscopy and were measured using an image analysis system attached to a light microscope. Pit formation by MNCs was gradually enhanced by reducing the medium pH (pH 7.5 < 7.2 < 6.9). The plan area resorbed by MNCs increased linearly for up to 72 h. These results are very similar to those obtained with OCL preparations. In multiple standard assays with MNC preparations, more than 250 MNCs could be placed on a dentin slice, and the total area resorbed to a level of up to 9% of the whole surface within 48 h. In contrast, in multiple assays with OCL preparations, it was not easy to place more than 50 OCLs on a slice and the resorbed area was only 0.7% of the surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Osteoclast function is activated by osteoblastic cells through a mechanism involving cell-to-cell contact.

We have established a method for obtaining an enriched preparation of functionally active osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (enriched OCLs) from co-cultures of mouse primary osteoblasts and bone marrow cells. Using these enriched OCLs, the effect of osteoblastic cells on osteoclast function was examined in two assays: a pit formation assay and an assay for actin ring formation. The enriched OCLs cultured for 24 h on dentine slices formed only a few resorption pits. When various numbers of primary osteoblasts were added to the enriched OCLs, the areas of the resorption pits increased proportionally to the number of osteoblasts added. Like primary osteoblasts, the established cell lines of osteoblastic cell (MC3T3-E1 and KS-4) and bone marrow-derived stromal cells (MC3T3-G2/PA6 and ST2) potentiated the pit formation caused by enriched OCLs. In contrast, the fibroblastic cell lines (NIH3T3 and C3H10T1/2) and the myoblastic cell line (C2C12) failed to activate OCL function. When cell-to-cell contact between MC3T3-E1 cells and enriched OCLs was prevented, only a few resorption pits were formed. Pit formation by enriched rat osteoclasts placed on dentine slices was also stimulated by adding MC3T3-E1 cells. Actin ring formation and pit forming activity were well correlated in either culture of enriched mouse OCLs or authentic rat osteoclasts on dentine slices. These results indicate that osteoclast function is activated by osteoblastic cells-through a mechanism involving cell-to-cell and/or cell-to-matrix contact.

Calcitonin-induced changes in the cytoskeleton are mediated by a signal pathway associated with protein kinase A in osteoclasts.

Calcitonin is known to inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption through its receptor, which is abundantly expressed on the plasma membrane of osteoclasts. Recently, it was reported that calcitonin receptors were coupled to both cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC). To examine how the PKA and PKC pathways are involved in the effects of calcitonin, we focused on changes in the cytoskeleton of murine osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (OCLs) formed in vitro. When OCLs were cultured on dentine slices, they formed resorption pits and ringed structures of F-actin dots (actin rings). Elcatonin, a synthetic analogue of eel calcitonin, disrupted actin rings and inhibited pit formation in a dose-dependent manner. Forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP, both of which have the ability to activate PKA, mimicked the effects of elcatonin. Phorbol myristate acetate and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, both of which have the ability to activate PKC, also inhibited pit-forming activity, but little affected actin rings of OCLs. The inhibitory effects of elcatonin on the pit formation and actin ring formation were partially restored by the treatment with Rp-cAMPs, a cAMP antagonist. Elcatonin induced a rapid increase in PKA activity within a few minutes, and its activation by elcatonin occurred in a dose-dependent manner. The time- and dose-dependent profiles of elcatonin for the activation of PKA were similar to those for the disruption of actin rings. Moreover, microinjection of activated PKA into OCLs disrupted actin rings within 10 min on culture dishes. Actin rings were little affected by the microinjection of the PKA preincubated with a cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor (IP-20) into OCLs. These results suggest that PKA activation, rather than PKC activation, is involved in mediating the effects of calcitonin, through the disruption of actin organization.

Osteoclast function is activated by osteoblastic cells through a mechanism involving cell-to-cell contact.

We have established a method for obtaining an enriched preparation of functionally active osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (enriched OCLs) from co-cultures of mouse primary osteoblasts and bone marrow cells. Using these enriched OCLs, the effect of osteoblastic cells on osteoclast function was examined in two assays: a pit formation assay and an assay for actin ring formation. The enriched OCLs cultured for 24 h on dentine slices formed only a few resorption pits. When various numbers of primary osteoblasts were added to the enriched OCLs, the areas of the resorption pits increased proportionally to the number of osteoblasts added. Like primary osteoblasts, the established cell lines of osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1 and KS-4) and bone marrow-derived stromal cells (MC3T3-G2/PA6 and ST2) potentiated the pit formation caused by enriched OCLs. In contrast, the fibroblastic cell lines NIH3T3 and C3H10T1/2) and the myoblastic cell line (C2C12) failed to activate OCL function. When cell-to-cell contact between MC3T3-E1 cells and enriched OCLs was prevented, only a few resorption pits were formed. Pit formation by enriched rat osteoclasts placed on dentine slices was also stimulated by adding MC3T3-E1 cells. Actin ring formation and pit forming activity were well correlated in either culture of enriched mouse OCLs or authentic rat osteoclasts on dentine slices. These results indicate that osteoclast function is activated by osteoblastic cells through a mechanism involving cell-to-cell and/or cell-to matrix contact.

Human osteoclast-like cells are formed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a coculture with SaOS-2 cells transfected with the parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related protein receptor gene.

Subclones of the human osteosarcoma cell line SaOS-2 were established by transfecting with an expression vector containing the human PTH/PTH-related protein (PTHrP) receptor, and their abilities to support osteoclast-like multinucleated cell (OCL) formation were examined in coculture with mouse or human hemopoietic cells. Of four subclones examined, SaOS-2/4 and SaOS-4/3 bound high levels of [125I]-PTH and produced a significant amount of cAMP in response to PTH. OCLs were formed in response to PTH in the cocultures of mouse bone marrow cells with either SaOS-2/4 cells or SaOS-4/3 cells. Human OCLs were also formed in response to PTH in the coculture of SaOS-4/3 cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Adding dexamethasone together with PTH greatly enhanced PTH-induced human OCL formation. Like mouse OCLs, human OCLs formed in response to PTH were tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive, expressed abundant calcitonin receptors and vitronectin receptors, and formed resorption pits on dentine slices. Other osteotropic factors such as 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, prostaglandin E2, and interleukin 6 plus soluble interleukin 6 receptors failed to induce mouse and human OCLs in cocultures with SaOS-4/3 cells. Both mouse and human OCL formation supported by SaOS-4/3 cells were inhibited by either adding an antibody against macrophage-colony stimulating factor or adding granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor. Thus, it is likely that human and mouse OCL formation supported by SaOS-4/3 cells are similarly regulated. These results indicate that the target cells of PTH for inducing osteoclast formation are osteoblast/stromal cells but not osteoclast progenitor cells in the coculture. This coculture model will be useful for investigating the abnormalities ofosteoclast differentiation and function in human metabolic bone diseases.

Osteoblastic cells are involved in osteoclast formation.

We developed a co-culture system with mouse spleen cells and osteoblastic cells to examine the role of osteoblasts in osteoclast formation. When mouse spleen cells and osteoblastic cells isolated from fetal mouse calvariae were co-cultured in the presence of 10 nM 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25(OH)2D3], numerous tartrate-resistant acid phosphate (TRACP)-positive mononuclear and multinucleated cells were formed within 8 days. Neither the same co-cultures without the vitamin nor separate cultures of either spleen cells or osteoblastic cells with the vitamin produced TRACP-positive cells. Salmon calcitonin (CT) markedly increased cAMP production in the co-cultures treated with 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3. Autoradiographic studies clearly demonstrated that [125I]-CT specifically bound to the TRACP-positive cells formed in the co-cultures with the vitamin. When spleen cells and osteoblastic cells were co-cultured on dentine slices in the presence of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3, numerous resorption lacunae were formed on the slices. Neither co-cultures of alveolar macrophages and osteoblastic cells nor those of spleen cells and mouse skin-derived fibroblasts induced TRACP-positive cells even in the presence of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3. When spleen cells and osteoblastic cells were cultured separately from each other by a membrane filter (0.45 micron), no TRACP-positive cells were formed. These results indicate that osteoblastic cells are required for the differentiation of osteoclast progenitors in splenic tissues into multinucleated osteoclasts.

Induction of calcitonin receptors by 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in osteoclast-like multinucleated cells formed from mouse bone marrow cells.

We have developed a mouse marrow culture system, in which multinucleated cells (MNCs) are formed within 6-8 days. These MNCs showed several characteristics of osteoclasts, including tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) and the ability to resorb calcified dentine. 1 alpha, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha, 25 (OH)2D3] stimulated the formation of TRACP-positive MNCs, and salmon calcitonin (CT) inhibited it. In this study, we examined whether the TRACP-positive MNCs formed from mouse marrow cells possess CT receptors, another typical characteristic of osteoclasts. Mouse marrow cells cultured for 8 days with 10 nM 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 and freshly isolated authentic mouse osteoclasts were incubated with [125I]-salmon CT in the presence or absence of excess amounts of unlabeled CT, stained for TRACP, and processed for autoradiography. The [125I]-CT exclusively bound to TRACP-positive mononuclear cells and MNCs formed in the 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3-treated cultures and also to isolated mouse osteoclasts. Both [125I]-CT binding and TRACP activity were induced simultaneously on mononuclear cells on day 3 in the cultures treated with 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3. CT markedly stimulated cAMP production in the 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3-treated cultures. The CT-dependent cAMP production increased in parallel with the increase in the number of TRACP-positive MNCs formed. Neither freshly isolated marrow cells nor cells cultured without 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 showed CT-induced cAMP accumulation. Furthermore, CT induced cytoplasmic contraction of both marrow-derived MNCs and isolated osteoclasts. These results clearly indicate that 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 induces TRACP activity and CT receptors almost simultaneously in mouse marrow cultures, and the MNCs formed in vitro respond to CT as authentic osteoclasts do.

The bone marrow-derived stromal cell lines MC3T3-G2/PA6 and ST2 support osteoclast-like cell differentiation in cocultures with mouse spleen cells.

After our previous report that osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (MNCs) were formed in response to 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3] in cocultures of mouse spleen cells and osteoblast-rich populations freshly isolated from fetal mouse calvariae, we examined whether such primary osteoblast-like cells can be replaced by established cell lines in inducing osteoclast-like cell formation. We first used two clonal cell lines simultaneously established from newborn mouse calvariae. One was the osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1, and the other was the preadipose cell line MC3T3-G2/PA6. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP; a marker enzyme of osteoclasts)-positive mononuclear cells and MNCs were formed in the cocultures of spleen cells and MC3T3-G2/PA6 cells in the presence of 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3. Dexamethasone greatly potentiated TRACP-positive MNC formation induced by 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3, whereas the glucocorticoid alone had no effect on it. In contrast, osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells failed to induce TRACP-positive cells in the cocultures. Another bone marrow-derived stromal cell line ST2 also induced TRACP-positive MNC formation in the cocultures in response to 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 and dexamethasone. Salmon calcitonin enhanced cAMP production in the cocultures only when TRACP-positive cells were formed. Autoradiographic studies demonstrated that [125I]calcitonin specifically bound to TRACP-positive cells formed in the cocultures. When spleen cells and either MC3T3-G2/PA6 or ST2 cells were cocultured on sperm whale dentine slices in the presence of 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 and dexamethasone, numerous resorption lacunae were formed. These results show that the two bone marrow-derived stromal cell lines can support osteoclast-like cell differentiation in cocultures with spleen cells.

Osteoclast-like cell formation and its regulation by osteotropic hormones in mouse bone marrow cultures.

We developed a mouse bone marrow culture system to examine the process of osteoclast-like multinucleated cell formation from its progenitors. When mouse marrow cells were cultured for 8 days with 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3, 10(-10) to 10(-7) M] or human PTH (1-34) (25-100 ng/ml), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP)-positive multinucleated cells formed. No TRACP-positive multinucleated cells appeared in the absence of these hormones. 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 and PTH also increased the number of the clusters of TRACP-positive mononuclear cells. Time course studies showed that these TRACP-positive mononuclear cell clusters appeared before the formation of TRACP-positive multinucleated cells, suggesting that the TRACP-positive mononuclear cells are precursors of the multinucleated cells. Salmon calcitonin markedly inhibited the formation of TRACP-positive multinucleated cells but not TRACP-positive mononuclear cell clusters induced by 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 or PTH. TRACP-positive mononuclear cells and multinucleated cells were rarely stained for nonspecific esterase, but some mononuclear cells were positively stained for both nonspecific esterase and TRACP. More that 90% of the TRACP-positive mononuclear cell clusters and multinucleated cells were found near colonies of alkaline phosphatase-positive mononuclear cells (possibly osteoblasts). When marrow mononuclear cells were cultured on sperm whale dentine slices in the presence of 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 or PTH, numerous resorption lacunae were formed. These results suggest that 1) TRACP-positive multinucleated cells formed in response to osteotropic hormones in mouse marrow cultures satisfy most of the criteria of osteoclasts, and 2) osteoblasts may play an important role in osteoclast formation.

Osteoclasts are present in gp130-deficient mice.

Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor, and oncostatin M similarly induce osteoclast formation in cocultures of osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells. These cytokines share a common signal transducer, gp130, which forms a receptor complex with the specific receptor for each cytokine. To investigate the role of gp130 in osteoclast development, we examined bone tissues in gp130-deficient and wild-type newborn mice of the ICR background. Soft x-ray radiographs and microfocus x-ray computed tomographs revealed that bone marrow cavities were present in tibiae and radii of both wild-type and gp130-deficient mice. Microfocus x-ray computed tomography and histological examination demonstrated a decrease in the amount of trabeculae at the metaphysial region in tibiae and radii of the gp130-deficient mice compared with the wild-type mice. The number ofosteoclasts in gp130-deficient mice was about double that in the wild-type mice. There were no apparent differences in the distributions of alkaline phosphatase-positive osteoblasts and the osteoid surface on the trabecular bone at the metaphysial region between the wild-type and gp130-deficient mice. The volume of mineralized trabecular bones was also decreased at mandibulae, accompanied by the increased number of osteoclasts in gp130-deficient mice compared with the wild-type and heterozygous mice. These results suggest that the formation of osteoclasts is not solely dependent on gp130 signaling, at least during fetal development. The osteoclastic bone resorption in gp130-deficient mice may be caused by the functional redundancy of bone-resorbing hormones and cytokines other than those of the IL-6 family.