Similarity of synthetic peptide from human tumor to parathyroid hormone in vivo and in vitro.

One mechanism considered responsible for the hypercalcemia that frequently accompanies malignancy is secretion by the tumor of a circulating factor that alters calcium metabolism. The structure of a tumor-secreted peptide was recently determined and found to be partially homologous to parathyroid hormone (PTH). The amino-terminal 1-34 region of the factor was synthesized and evaluated biologically. In vivo it produced hypercalcemia, acted on bone and kidney, and stimulated 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 formation. In vitro it interacted with PTH receptors and, in some systems, was more potent than PTH. These studies support a long-standing hypothesis regarding pathogenesis of malignancy-associated hypercalcemia.

Comparison of postreceptor effects of 1-34 human hypercalcemia factor and 1-34 human parathyroid hormone in rat osteosarcoma cells.

A tumor-derived factor believed to cause hypercalcemia by acting on the parathyroid hormone (PTH) receptor was recently purified, cloned, and found to have NH2-terminal sequence homology with PTH. The 1-34 region of this protein was synthesized, evaluated for its postreceptor effects on the ROS 17/2.8 cell line, and its properties were compared to 1-34 PTH. Both 1-34 human humoral hypercalcemia factor (HCF) and 1-34 PTH stimulated adenylate cyclase with an effective concentration (EC)50 of approximately 1 nM. The extent of stimulation by both peptides was equally enhanced by dexamethasone. They both had a pronounced inhibitory effect on growth in the presence of dexamethasone, with an EC50 of approximately 0.1 nM, reduced alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity by approximately 70% in the absence of dexamethasone and by approximately 80% in the presence of dexamethasone with an EC50 of 0.03 nM, and when present at a concentration of 10 nM, reduced AP mRNA levels (estimated by Northern analysis) by approximately 80% in the presence or absence of dexamethasone. Thus, in addition to similar dose-response curves for adenylate cyclase stimulation, both HCF and PTH produced identical postreceptor effects in ROS 17/2.8 cells. These effects of HCF are probably mediated by the interaction of the tumor-derived factor with the PTH receptor.

Induction of vascular endothelial growth factor expression by prostaglandin E2 and E1 in osteoblasts.

PGE1 and PGE2 are potent stimulators of bone formation. Osteogenesis is strongly dependent on angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEFG), a secreted endothelial cell-specific mitogen, has been implicated in physiological and pathological angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the possible role of VEGF in PG stimulation of bone formation. We found that in rat calvaria-derived osteoblast-enriched cells and in the osteoblastic RCT-3 cell line PGE2 and E1 increased VEGF mRNA and protein levels. The increased expression of VEGF mRNA produced by PGE2 was rapid (maximal at 1 h), transient (declined by 3 h), potentiated by cycloheximide, and abolished by actinomycin D. PGE2 had no effect on VEGF mRNA stability, suggesting transcriptional regulation of VEGF expression by PGF2. Rp-cAMP, a cAMP antagonist, suppressed VEGF mRNA induced by PGE2, indicating cAMP mediation. The upregulation of VEGF expression by PGE2 in the preosteoblastic RCT-1 cells was potentiated by treatment with retinoic acid, which induces the differentiation of these cells. The upregulation of VEGF mRNA by PGE2 was inhibited by dexamethasone treatment. In addition, Northern blot analysis showed that VEGF mRNA is expressed in adult rat tibia. In summary, we documented, for the first time, the expression of VEGF in osteoblasts and in bone tissue. Stimulation of VEGF expression by PGs and its suppression by glucocorticoids, which, respectively, stimulate and suppress bone formation, strongly implicate the involvement of VEGF in bone metabolism.

Factors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy stimulate adenylate cyclase in osteoblastic cells.

The culture media of three cell lines, a human prostate carcinoma (PC3), a rat Leydig cell tumor (Rice-500), and a rat carcinosarcoma (WRC-256), that were derived from tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM), were examined for stimulation of adenylate cyclase in ROS 17/2.8 osteoblastic cells and for bone resorptive activity in culture. Cells from a nonhypercalcemic variant of the WRC256 tumor served as control. Extracts from three solid human tumors, a lung adenocarcinoma from a patient with HHM and two adenocarcinoma from normocalcemic patients (lung and colon), were also examined for adenylate cyclase stimulation. We found excellent correlation between stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in ROS 17/2.8 cells and bone resorbing activity in culture, or production of HHM in vivo. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase by HHM factors was inhibited by the parathyroid hormone competitive inhibitor, [8norleucyl, 18norleucyl, 34tyrosinyl] bovine parathyroid hormone (3-34) amide.

Characterization of a human osteosarcoma cell line (Saos-2) with osteoblastic properties.

This study examines the osteoblastic properties of the established human osteosarcoma cell line Saos-2. Saos-2 cells inoculated into diffusion chambers, which were implanted i.p. into nude mice, produced mineralized matrix in 4 of 6 chambers at 8 weeks. In 5 of 6 chambers there was a strong positive alkaline phosphatase reaction. In culture the alkaline phosphatase levels increased with time and cell density, reaching very high levels at confluence: 4-7 mumol/mg protein/min. The cells show a sensitive adenylate cyclase response to parathyroid hormone, 50% effective dose = 2.8 nM, which increases with cell density and is further raised by dexamethasone treatment. They also exhibit typical binding of 1-25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to 3.2S receptor protein with an apparent Kd of 0.21 nM; the numbers of sites per cell were 3,300 at 50,000 cells/cm2 and 1,800 at 280,000 cells/cm2. The presence of osteonectin was visualized with a monoclonal antibody which revealed a reticular pattern on the cell surface. Osteonectin was also detected in the medium by Western blots, migrating at around Mr 40,000 in nonreduced gels and Mr 44,000 in reduced gels. The Saos-2 cells thus possess several osteoblastic features and could be useful as a permanent line of human osteoblast-like cells and as a source of bone-related molecules.

The role of Mg2+ in hormone stimulation of rat osteosarcoma adenylate cyclase.

1. Mg2+ concentration dependence of adenylate cyclase activity, in a rat osteosarcoma cell line (ROS 2/3), exhibits two apparent affinities with Km values of approx. 2 mM and 10 mM. 2. Only one Mg2+ affinity with a Km value of around 1 mM was apparent at saturating concentrations of: (i) guanosine-5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate; (ii) parathyroid hormone and GTP; and (iii) (-)-isoproterenol and GTP. 3. Conversely, at saturating concentrations of Mg2+ (40 mM) only high hormone concentrations, acting on low affinity sites, stimulated adenylate cyclase. 4. At saturating concentrations of guanosine-5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate, hormone stimulation decreased with increasing Mg2+ concentrations and none was seen at 40 mM Mg2+. The findings suggest that hormone stimulation of adenylate cyclase is associated with Mg2+ activation of a 'high hormone affinity' responsive state dependent on triphosphoguanine nucleotide. The hormone effect on Mg2+ affinity fully accounts for hormone stimulation of adenylate cyclase at physiologically relevant concentrations.

Parathyroid hormone and isoproterenol stimulation of adenylate cyclase in rat osteosarcoma clonal cells. Hormone competition and site heterogeneity.

A clonal cell line from rat osteosarcoma was found to possess parathyroid hormone and isoproterenol sensitive adenylate cyclase. This study examines the relationship between the two hormones and triphosphoguanine nucleotide with respect to enzyme activation. Concentration-dependence curves, analyzed by computer-aided curve fitting, revealed: (1) in the presence of 5 microM GTP there were two apparent affinities for parathyroid hormone (Km 9 and 89 nM) and isoproterenol (Km 72 and 340 nM; (2) and two affinities for guanosine-5' (beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate (Km 0.25 and 1.3 microM); (3) hormones and guanine nucleotides reciprocally shifted each other's concentration dependence curve to the high affinity sites; (4) parathyroid hormone and isoproterenol interacting with high affinity sites competed for the same adenylate cyclase; (5) parathyroid hormone and isoproterenol, acting on low affinity sites had additive effects and also stimulated adenylate cyclase in the absence of added guanine nucleotides. The findings are consistent with (i) competition of parathyroid hormone and isoproterenol for the activation of the high (hormone) affinity complex containing: receptors, nucleotide subunit, triphosphoguanine nucleotide, catalytic unit (ii) the apparent presence of receptor-nucleotide sub-unit GDP-catalytic unit complexes with low hormone affinity which are stimulated by parathyroid hormone and isoproterenol separately.

Demonstration of adenylate cyclase activity in human red blood cell ghosts.

The presence of adenylate cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing) EC 4.6.1.1) activity was demonstrated in human erythrocyte ghosts and was found to be around 3 pmol adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) - 2 h-1 - mg-1 protein. This enzymatic activity is strongly stimulated by NaF and 5'-guanylimidodiphosphate, is slightly stimulated by epinephrine, norepinephrine, isoproterenol, and prostaglandin E1 and is inhibited by calcium. The hormone stimulation is not potentiated by 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate.

Clonal differences in prostaglandin synthesis among osteosarcoma cell lines.

This study compares the metabolism of [14C]-arachidonic acid between PGE2 synthesizing (ROS 17/2.8) and nonsynthesizing (ROS 25/1) osteosarcoma cell lines. In both cell lines: (a) 90% of [14C]-arachidonic acid was taken up at 24 h. (b) More than 90% of the label was associated with phospholipids. (c) [14C]-arachidonic acid was rapidly taken up by phosphatidylcholine which reached the highest specific activity around 5 h while the labeling of other phospholipids was still increasing at 24 h. (d) Twenty-four hours after addition of [14C]-arachidonic acid only 4% of the label was associated with triacylglycerols in ROS 25/1 and 0.3% in ROS 17/2.8 cells. The calcium ionophore A23187 enhanced the release of [14C]-arachidonic acid from phospholipids in the PGE synthesizing osteoblastic cells (ROS 17/2.8 and 2/3) but had no effect in nonosteoblastic cells (ROS 24/1 and 25/1). ROS 17/2.8 and 2/3 cells converted the released arachidonic acid as well as exogeneously added arachidonic acid into PGE2. PGE2 synthesis depended on arachidonic acid concentration. Among bone resorbing agents, parathyroid hormone and 1,25(OH)2D3 had no effect on PGE synthesis, whereas thrombin and rabbit serum stimulated PGE2 production. The effect of rabbit serum was abolished by heat inactivation. The findings of this study indicate that the difference in PGE production between the osteoblastic and nonosteoblastic osteosarcoma cells are due mainly to differences in arachidonic acid conversion to PGE2.

Dexamethasone effects on beta-adrenergic receptors and adenylate cyclase regulatory proteins Gs and Gi in ROS 17/2.8 cells.

Treatment of ROS 17/2.8 cells with dexamethasone (dex) increases (-)isoproterenol (ISO)-, PTH-, cholera toxin-, guanine nucleotide-, NaF-, and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Enhanced hormone stimulation was first apparent 12 h after dex addition. (-)-[3H]Dihydroalprenolol binding, displaceable by ISO, increased up to 2-fold in dex-treated cells. This effect depended on protein synthesis and closely paralleled the extent and time course of the increase in adenylate cyclase stimulation. In dex-treated cells there was also an increase in the maximum velocity of guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate-stimulated adenylate cyclase, a decrease in the lag time for guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate enzyme activation in the presence of ISO from 3 to 1 min, increased stimulation of adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin, and increased labeling of 47,000 and 42,000 mol wt proteins by [32P]NAD in the presence of cholera toxin. [32P]NAD ribosylation in the presence of pertussis toxin resulted in the labeling of 40,000 mol wt protein, which was also increased by 20-50% in dex-treated cells. However, pertussis toxin treatment did not augment or reduce the effect on hormone stimulation, although it increased the cAMP response to PTH and (-)ISO. These findings suggest that dex increases (-)ISO stimulation of adenylate cyclase in ROS 17/2.8 cells by jointly increasing the number of hormone receptors and the abundance of Gs, the guanine nucleotide binding regulatory protein.

Effects of retinoic acid on alkaline phosphatase messenger ribonucleic acid, catecholamine receptors, and G proteins in ROS 17/2.8 cells.

Retinoic acid (RA) inhibits the increases in alkaline phosphatase (AP) and hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase that accompany the growth of ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cells in culture. The RA effects were first detected 2 days after initiation of treatment and were dose dependent, with an EC50 of 100 nM. The reduction in the hormone-responsive adenylate cyclase activity was associated with lower levels of beta-catecholamine receptors, without a change in apparent receptor affinity and with lower levels of the GTP-binding proteins Gs and Gi, visualized by NAD-dependent [32P]ADP ribosylation. The reduction in AP was correlated with a decrease in the steady state level of AP mRNA. RA had no effect on cell proliferation or saturation density. Retinoids thus inhibit the same features that are promoted by glucocorticoids in ROS 17/2.8 cells. These features seem to be subject to coordinate regulation, probably at the pretranslational level.

Rat calvarial cell lines immortalized with SV-40 large T antigen: constitutive and retinoic acid-inducible expression of osteoblastic features.

Two new bone cell lines were established by immortalizing cells derived from embryonic rat calvariae with a recombinant retrovirus containing the cDNA for SV-40 large T antigen and the neomycin resistance gene. One cell line, RCT-1, isolated from early digest cells, a population which typically does not express osteoblastic features, displayed osteoblastic characteristics only after 3 days of treatment with 1 microM retinoic acid: alkaline phosphatase activity increased from 0.003 to 0.25 mumol/min.mg protein, the steady state level of type I procollagen mRNA increased 4-fold, and the cells acquired a PTH-stimulatable adenylate cyclase (EC50, 10 nM). mRNA for osteopontin, an abundant bone matrix protein, was induced in RCT-1 cells by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (10 nM). The second cell line, RCT-3, isolated from late digest cells, a population previously shown to be enriched with differentiated osteoblasts, expressed constitutively the properties described above. In addition, RCT-3 cells responded to interleukin-1 by increased prostaglandin production (EC50, 20 pM) and to prostaglandin E2 by enhanced cAMP accumulation, features exhibited by calvarial cells in organ culture. Thus, the SV-40 immortalized cell lines we describe retained many of the characteristics of osteoblasts in primary culture, including hormonal regulation of phenotype-related genes. In RCT-1 cells the coordinate induction of several properties by retinoic acid offers a new model for the study of differentiation-related gene expression in bone cells.

Growth stimulation of rat calvaria osteoblastic cells by acidic fibroblast growth factor.

Purified acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) from bovine brain stimulates the proliferation of calvaria-derived osteoblastic cells. Maximum stimulation, relative to corresponding controls, was seen at 0.2% serum (2- to 3-fold), and no stimulation was seen in the absence of serum or under serum replete conditions. The effect was dose-dependent with an ED50 of around 750 pg/ml (47 pM). aFGF (5 ng/ml) sustained the growth of calvaria cells in culture during multiple passages (72 days) at 0.2% serum. In DNA synthesis assays aFGF produced 2- to 4-fold stimulation; insulin-like growth factor I had a slight effect on DNA synthesis on its own, but enhanced the effect of aFGF 2-fold. In cells fully stimulated by epidermal growth factor (5-fold), aFGF had no further effect. Stimulation of DNA synthesis peaked at 5 ng/ml, while higher concentrations were inhibitory. Recombinant aFGF (bovine sequence) also stimulated cell proliferation (1.5-fold), and its potency was augmented by heparin (50 micrograms/ml), about 2-fold. Using simultaneous histochemical staining for alkaline phosphatase activity and [3H]thymidine nuclear uptake we found that aFGF stimulates DNA synthesis to the same extent in alkaline phosphatase-rich (osteoblastic) and alkaline phosphatase-poor (nonosteoblastic) cells. However, after cell division there is a significant decrease in PTH-responsive adenylate cyclase (2- to 3-fold) and in alkaline phosphatase levels (4- to 8-fold). These findings indicate that aFGF is mitogenic to rat calvaria osteoblastic cells, its action requires additional factors, and its growth stimulation is associated with a reduction in phenotypic expression.

Parathyroid hormone stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity and lactic acid accumulation in calvaria of osteopetrotic (ia) rats.

We have examined the effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the adenylate cyclase activity of newborn osteopetrotic rat calvaria, to study a possible molecular basis for the reduced response of this mutant to PTH. Phenotypically normal littermates served as controls. We also measured the effect of PTH on kidney adenylate cyclase activity and on lactic acid accumulation in short term cultures of calvaria. PTH stimulated calvarial adenylate cyclase activity in a dose-dependent manner in both mutant rats and normal littermates. Lactic acid production was also enhanced by PTH, and no significant difference between mutants and normal littermates was observed. These findings indicate that the reduced response of the young osteopetrotic rats to PTH is not due to an absence of PTH receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase.

Parathyroid hormone-responsive clonal cell lines from rat osteosarcoma.

Several clonal cell lines from a transplantable rat osteosarcoma, selected on the basis of parathyroid hormone (PTH)-sensitive adenylate cyclase, were established in culture. Bovine PTH-(1-84) (0.1 microM) stimulation of adenylate cyclase varied among clones from 8-fold to none. The level of PTH response was a stable property of each clonal line that was retained through numerous passages in vitro (nearly 3 yr in the oldest clone). Highly PTH-responsive lines had a cuboidal-eliptoid morphology and differed from the nonresponsive lines, which had a more fibroblastic appearance. PTH responsiveness correlated with several properties, presumably associated with the osteoblastic phenotype: elevated alkaline phosphatase activity, synthesis of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing bone protein, and production of mineralized tumors in host rats. PTH (1.0 nM; 24 h) reduced the alkaline phosphatase activity by 40% when tested in a responsive clone. The acid phosphatase activity of the various cell lines was uniformly low. These osteosarcoma-derived cell lines which are stable in vitro thus seem to reflect the phenotypic heterogeneity observed in the tumor in situ. They could be useful in studies of phenotypic expression, PTH action, and a possible relationship between the two.

The effect of dexamethasone on parathyroid hormone stimulation of adenylate cyclase in ROS 17/2.8 cells.

Treatment of ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma-derived cells with dexamethasone potentiates the PTH stimulation of adenylate cyclase in these cells, yielding a detectable response to as little as 10 pM PTH. Isoproterenol stimulation was also enhanced. The dexamethasone effect is first apparent at 12 h and increases with time of treatment. The apparent EC50 for dexamethasone is 3 nM. Hydrocortisone and corticosterone act similarly to dexamethasone, but require 30-fold higher concentrations. Dexamethasone treatment produces no change in high affinity phosphodiesterase activity. Glucocorticoid-potentiating effects are much more pronounced in whole cells than in broken cells and do not influence forskolin stimulation. Particulate fractions of dexamethasone-treated cells have higher adenylate cyclase specific activity, but are stimulated by guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate to the same extent as control cells. These findings suggest that the glucocorticoids potentiate hormone responsiveness through promotion of hormone receptor-adenylate cyclase coupling by a mechanism dependent on cellular integrity.

Evidence for preferential effects of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and adenosine on bone and periosteum.

In order to explore the distribution of hormone-responsive cells in skeletal tissues, we have examined the effects of synthetic bovine parathyroid hormone N-terminal peptide (bPTH 1-34) and salmon calcitonin (sCT) on cyclic AMP levels in periosteum-free rat calvaria, segments of periosteum, and in isolated cells dispersed from each tissue by collagenase digestion. Synthetic bovine PTH increased cyclic AMP levels to a greater degree in calvaria and in isolated bone cells than in the periosteal segments and cells, whereas sCT was more effective in the periosteal than in the bone systems. Primary cultures prepared from bone and periosteal cell populations exhibited progressive increases in their responsiveness to bPTH (1-34) and progressive decreases in responsiveness to sCT. After six days in the culture, bone cells failed to respond to sCT, and sCT did not modify their response simultaneously added bPTH (1-34). Six-day periosteal cell cultures exhibited residual sCT responsivity and an additive response upon simultaneous exposure to high concentrations of bPTH (1-34) and sCT suggesting separate sites of hormone action. Adenosine, a known stimulator of bone cell adenylyl cyclase, caused a greater increase in periosteal cell than in bone cell cyclic AMP. bPTH (1-34)-responsive cells which enrich periosteum-free bone may be osteoblasts, in view of their histological prominence in this tissue and in the bone cell isolates. Periosteal cells which responded to sCT and to adenosine preferentially are unidentified. Although periosteal segments contained numerous fibroblast-like cells, skin fibroblasts cultured from the same fetuses were sCT-insensitive. Growth in primary culture appears to alter the number of hormone-responsive cells or responsiveness of existing cells to each hormone, or both.

Leukemia inhibitory factor binds with high affinity to preosteoblastic RCT-1 cells and potentiates the retinoic acid induction of alkaline phosphatase.

This study examines the effect of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on preosteoblastic rat calvaria (RCT-1) cells, which acquire osteoblastic properties when treated with retinoic acid (RA). LIF potentiated the increase in alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity produced by RA. The LIF effect was time and dose dependent (EC50, approximately 1 pM). The earliest effects on AP activity were detected at 48 h, and maximal effects were observed after 72 h. RA increased AP mRNA about 2-fold at 3 h and 6-fold at 6 and 12 h. LIF further increased AP mRNA to 18-fold at 12 h. After RA treatment AP mRNA returned to control levels at 24 h, but in the presence of LIF, AP mRNA remained elevated at 24 and 72 h of treatment. When given alone, LIF had no effect on either AP activity or mRNA levels. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 also potentiated the RA induction of AP, and interleukin-6 had a small effect, whereas granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor had no effect. LIF alone had a small inhibitory effect on type 1 collagen mRNA, but did not oppose the stimulatory effect of RA. Consistent with these biological actions, LIF receptors were demonstrated on these cells. [125I]LIF bound to RCT-1 cells at 0 C with an apparent dissociation constant of 20 pM, and it was found that these cells express an average of 300 receptors/cell. Scatchard analyses showed a single class of high affinity binding site. LIF was internalized with an endocytic rate constant for occupied receptors of 0.03 min-1, and the apparent equilibrium dissociation constant at 37 C was 358 pM. These findings suggest that osteoblast precursor cells are among the target cells of LIF.

Glucocorticoid treatment facilitates cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase response in parathyroid hormone-responsive osteogenic sarcoma cells.

Late passage cultures of a clonal osteogenic sarcoma line (ROS 17/2.8) failed to respond to PTH with activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase isoenzymes despite showing a sensitive and dose-dependent increase in cAMP after treatment with the hormone. When cells were treated with hydrocortisone or dexamethasone, protein kinase responsiveness to PTH was readily demonstrated; such treatment also resulted in enhanced cAMP production. Forskolin preincubation resulted in a cAMP response to PTH of similar magnitude to that seen with hydrocortisone but no activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase occurred. Thus, the effect of glucocorticoid cannot be explained merely by the increased amplitude and sensitivity of the cAMP response which developed with glucocorticoid treatment in these cells. The data indicate that cellular activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase does not automatically follow cAMP generation and that information transfer can be restored by pharmacological means.

The integrin ligand echistatin prevents bone loss in ovariectomized mice and rats.

Integrins that bind RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) containing peptides, especially the vitronectin receptor alpha(v)beta3, have been implicated in the regulation of osteoclast function. Echistatin, an RGD-containing snake venom peptide with high affinity for beta3 integrins, as well as nonpeptide RGD mimetics, were shown to inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate the role of RGD-binding integrins in bone metabolism, we examined by several methods the effects of echistatin on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss in mice and rats. First, we confirmed that echistatin binds in vitro with high affinity (Kd, 0.5 nM) to alpha(v)beta3 integrin purified from human placenta and established a competitive binding assay to measure echistatin concentrations in serum. We find that echistatin infused for 2 or 4 weeks at 0.36 microg/h x g body weight (approximately 50 nmol/day x mouse) completely prevents OVX-induced cancellous bone loss in the distal femora of ovariectomized mice. Echistatin has no effect on uterine weight, body weight, and femoral length changes induced by OVX, nor does it cause any apparent changes in major organs other than bone. In OVX rats, echistatin infusion at 0.26 microg/h x g for 4 weeks effectively prevents bone loss, evaluated by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of the femur, by femoral ash weight, and by bone histomorphometry of the proximal tibia. At effective serum concentrations of 20-30 nM, measured at the end of the infusion period, echistatin maintains histomorphometric indices of bone turnover at control levels but does not decrease osteoclast surface. In conclusion, these results provide in vivo evidence, at the level of bone histology, that RGD-binding integrins, probably alpha(v)beta3, play a rate-limiting role in osteoclastic bone resorption and suggest a therapeutic potential for integrin ligands in the suppression of bone loss.