Differentiation of normal human bone cells by transforming growth factor-beta and 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3

To investigate the role of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta) in bone metabolism, the effects of this agent on the differentiation characteristics of human bone cells were studied in vitro. Human bone cells were isolated from femoral head samples by collagenase digestion. Differentiation characteristics included alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin production, and mRNA levels for alkaline phosphatase, type I alpha 2-procollagen, and osteocalcin. The effect of TGF beta on alkaline phosphatase was not constant, but varied with the incubation conditions. At high cell density and in the presence of serum, TGF beta decreased alkaline phosphatase activity. However, at low cell density and under serum-free conditions, TGF beta stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity. The addition of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 also stimulated alkaline phosphatase. The combination of the two agents gave a greater increase in activity than the sum of the activities when the two agents were given alone. The percentage of cells that stain positively for alkaline phosphatase changed in parallel with the change in specific activity. The percentage of positive cells increased from 17% to 64%, while the specific activity increased from 22 to 169 mU/mg protein. To investigate the mechanism of this stimulation, mRNA levels were measured at 24 hours. Individually, TGF beta and 1,25(OH)2D3 increased message levels for alkaline phosphatase and type I procollagen, but the greatest effect was produced by the combination of the two factors. 1,25(OH)2D3 increased osteocalcin mRNA levels, but TGF beta markedly inhibited this stimulation. TGF beta also inhibited production of osteocalcin by the human bone cells. TGF beta appears to modulate differentiation of human bone cells in combination with 1,25(OH)2D3 and other factors.