In vitro differentiation and calcification in a new clonal osteogenic cell line derived from newborn mouse calvaria.

We investigated the capacity of a clonal osteogenic cell line MC3T3-E1, established from newborn mouse calvaria and selected on the basis of high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the confluent state, to differentiate into osteoblasts and mineralize in vitro. The cells in the growing state showed a fibroblastic morphology and grew to form multiple layers. On day 21, clusters of cells exhibiting typical osteoblastic morphology were found in osmiophilic nodular regions. Such nodules increased in number and size with incubation time and became easily identifiable with the naked eye by day 40-50. In the central part of well-developed nodules, osteocytes were embedded in heavily mineralized bone matrix. Osteoblasts were arranged at the periphery of the bone spicules and were surrounded by lysosome-rich cells and a fibroblastic cell layer. Numerous matrix vesicles were scattered around the osteoblasts and young osteocytes. Matrix vesicles and plasma membranes of osteoblasts, young osteocytes, and lysosome-rich cells showed strong reaction to cytochemical stainings for ALP activity and calcium ions. Minerals were initially localized in the matrix vesicles and then deposited on well-banded collagen fibrils. Deposited minerals consisted exclusively of calcium and phosphorus, and some of the crystals had matured into hydroxyapatite crystals. These results indicate that MC3T3-E1 cells have the capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts and osteocytes and to form calcified bone tissue in vitro.

Hormonal responsiveness of a preadipose cell line derived from newborn mouse calvaria.

We established a clonal preadispose cell line from newborn mouse calvaria. Cells of this cell line, designated MC3T3-G2/PA6, had the capacity to convert to adipose cells, to accumulate triglycerides in their cytoplasm, and to mature to differentiated fat cells in a resting state. This adipose conversion was markedly accelerated by addition of dexamethasone, which was the most potent inducer among the steroid hormones tested. The presence of dexamethasone was needed during the steroid hormones tested. The presence of dexamethasone was needed during logarithmic growth phase for maximal conversion. The frequency of adipose conversion was dependent on exposure time to the hormone, but cells already committed to differentiation continued to accumulate lipid and developed into mature adipose cell even in its absence. This indicates that the hormone accelerates the initiation of the adipose conversion, but is not required for the ongoing conversion process. In fact, it was rather inhibitory for the process of fat accumulation. Insulin alone slightly inhibited the adipose conversion, but its combination with dexamethasone neutralized the above inhibitory effect of dexamethasone. The responsiveness of this cell line is consistent with that observed for mouse bone marrow preadipocytes in primary culture but differs from that for preadipose cell lines derived from extramedullary tissues. These results strongly suggest that the MC3T3-G2/PA6 cell line was derived from bone marrow.

A new preadipose cell line derived from newborn mouse calvaria can promote the proliferation of pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells in vitro.

A clonal preadipose cell line MC3T3-G2/PA6, established from newborn mouse calvaria, responds to glucocorticoids and converts to adipose cells in a fashion similar to bone marrow preadipocytes. We investigated the effect of the cells on in vitro hemopoiesis of mouse bone marrow cells by cocultivation. When bone marrow cells were inoculated into confluent cultures of MC3T3-G2/PA6 cells (10(4)-10(6) cells/25-cm2 flask), the number of hemopoietic stem cells (CFU-S) significantly increased during 7-day cultivation in proportion to inoculum size. Under these conditions, active replication of CFU-S was maintained for several weeks until MC3T3-G2/PA6 cell layers detached from the substratum. This capacity of the MC3T3-G2/PA6 line was unique because other established cell lines, including the MTF preadipose line, failed to support CFU-S growth. When bone marrow cells were not allowed to contact the MC3T3-G2/PA6 cell layer, only a small number of CFU-S survived for 7 days. Moreover, MC3T3-G2/PA6 cell-conditioned medium did not show any growth-promoting activity for CFU-S. These results indicate that the MC3T3-G2/PA6 cell line has the ability to promote the proliferation of CFU-S through a short range cell-to-cell interaction by providing an in vitro microenvironment probably similar to that for in vivo hemopoiesis.