CD10 expression in cultured human osteoblast-like cells

Morphological features, bone nodule formation and alkaline phosphatase activity are currently used to identify osteoblasts. CD10 (cALLa antigen) is a glycoprotein with endopeptidase activity and it is present on the surface of many cell types. We have studied the expression of CD10 in osteoblast-like cells by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry in order to identify other markers of the osteoblast lineage. We isolated osteoblast-like cells from specimens obtained in the course of oral surgery. Expression of the cALLa antigen (CD10) may also be an indicator of the osteoblast phenotype.