NER, a new member of the gene family encoding the human steroid hormone nuclear receptor.

NER, a new member of the steroid hormone nuclear receptor (NR)-encoding gene family, was isolated from a human osteosarcoma SAOS/B10 cell line cDNA library. NER codes for a polypeptide of 461 amino acids which contains the conserved sequences of the DNA-binding and ligand-binding domains of typical steroid hormone NR. It has highest homology with the retinoic acid receptors: 55% at the DNA-binding domain and 38-40% at the ligand-binding domain. A single transcript of 2.3 kb was detected in all cells and tissues tested. Although no ligand was identified for NER-I, its wide distribution may indicate that this novel steroid hormone NR may play a basic role in cell function.

Expression of alpha v and beta 3 integrin subunits in rat osteoclasts in situ.

Recent findings suggest that the vitronectin receptor, a member of the integrin family, plays an important role in the attachment of osteoclasts to bone matrix. We report here the localization by in situ hybridization of the mRNA for the alpha and beta subunits of the vitronectin receptor in rat bone sections. To generate the rat-specific RNA probes used in this study, we cloned cDNA fragments of integrin chains alpha v, beta 3, and beta 5 by the polymerase chain reaction from rat cDNA. These fragments share 86-91% homology with the respective human sequences. In situ hybridization localized the alpha v and beta 3 mRNAs to regions undergoing extensive bone resorption. The histologic appearance and prestaining of bone sections for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) indicated the presence of these mRNAs in osteoclasts. These observations support immunohistochemical findings that osteoclasts express high levels of the vitronectin receptor, confirm the identity of this receptor as integrin alpha v/beta 3, and suggest that osteoclasts may actively synthesize these molecules.

Differential expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-II messenger ribonucleic acid in growing rat bone.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) are among the most abundant growth factors found in bone. Although their local production has been implicated in growth and development, localization of the cells that express these proteins is not well documented. We have studied, by in situ hybridization, the temporal and spatial expression of IGF-I and IGF-II mRNA in rat long bones at different stages of postnatal bone development. In 2-day-old rats, IGF-II was highly expressed in cartilage and in the mesodermal structures that surround the bone. At later stages of bone development, the IGF-II signal decreased in intensity, but could still be detected in the growth plate of tibial bones at 3 and 5 weeks. At this stage, the IGF-II signal in the epiphyseal growth plate was unevenly distributed and was stronger in the periphery than in the center, where it was mainly concentrated in the germinal layer and in some, but not all, cartilage columns. IGF-I, on the other hand, was only faintly detected in the periosteum at the early cartilaginous stage of bone development. At later stages, IGF-I was strongly associated with regions of ossification in the trabecular bone of the metaphysis and epiphysis and along the endosteal and periosteal surfaces. Surprisingly, we did not detect at any time IGF-I mRNA in chondrocytes of the epiphyseal growth plate. These results suggest that in the rat, IGF-II plays a role in early development of bone and in the longitudinal growth of the epiphyseal plate. IGF-I is more closely associated with the osteogenic regions and does not replace the declining levels of IGF-II in the growth plate.

Biphasic effects of transforming growth factor-beta on the production of osteoclast-like cells in mouse bone marrow cultures: the role of prostaglandins in the generation of these cells.

Osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells are induced in bone marrow cultures by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and other agents. These cells resemble osteoclasts in their morphology, their ability to resorb bone, and the possession of calcitonin receptors. We report here a biphasic effect of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) on the generation of these cells in mouse bone marrow cultures. At low concentrations (10-100 pg/ml) TGF beta enhanced 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-dependent production of osteoclast-like cells, while at higher concentrations TGF beta was inhibitory. Complete inhibition was seen at 4 ng/ml. Antibodies directed against TGF beta significantly reduced the generation of osteoclast-like cells in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-treated cultures, indicating the contribution of endogenous TGF beta activity. TGF beta also enhanced the accumulation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we found that the generation of these cells in response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was also dependent on PG accumulation, since it was inhibited by indomethacin (250 ng/ml), and this inhibition could be reversed by exogenous PGE2. It is, thus, suggested that PG activity, probably PGE2, mediates the enhancing effect of low TGF beta concentrations and is required for the generation of osteoclast-like cells in this system.

The effect of hemopoietic growth factors on the generation of osteoclast-like cells in mouse bone marrow cultures.

Multinucleated cells containing tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase were produced in mouse bone marrow cultures in response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. These cells resemble osteoclasts in their morphology, possess receptors for calcitonin, and resorb bone in culture. The effects of several hemopoietic regulatory proteins on the generation of these cells were examined in this study. Interleukin-3, granulocyte-macrophage-stimulating factor (GMCSF), and macrophage-stimulating factor strongly inhibited generation of the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-containing multinucleated cells with approximate EC50 values of 3, 6, and 3 colony-forming units/ml, respectively. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor, interleukin-6, and leukemia inhibitory factor had no effect on the generation of these cells. In addition, we observed that the number of these cells was reduced when the bone marrow was plated at high cell density, and that this inhibitory effect was reversed by the addition of neutralizing antibodies directed against GMCSF. These findings suggest that GMCSF and other hemopoietic factors secreted by cells in the bone marrow regulate development of the osteoclast-like cells, possibly by diverting common precursor cells to alternate pathways.