Effects of heparin on osteoclast activity

The effect of heparin on osteoclastic bone resorption was studied in vitro using the disaggregated osteoclast resorption assay. Bone resorption was assessed by counting the resorption lacunae on bone slices by light microscopy. Low concentrations of heparin (5 micrograms/ml) increased bone resorption by isolated chick and rat osteoclasts. Among other glycosaminoglycans tested at 5 micrograms/ml, only dextran sulfate showed a small but significant stimulation of resorption. Chondroitin sulfates A, B, and C were without effect at 25 and 100 micrograms/ml, whereas resorption was increased by 100 micrograms/ml of heparan sulfate. With chick osteoclasts, which could be maintained in serum-free conditions, a stimulatory effect of heparin was found both in the presence of 5% fetal calf serum and in serum-free media containing insulin, transferrin, and selenium. The magnitude of the heparin-induced increase in resorption was similar in the presence or absence of serum. The stimulation of resorption was associated with an increase in the number of osteoclasts on bone slices. Pretreatment of the bone slices with heparin also enhanced resorption. In time course experiments, 5 micrograms/ml of heparin caused a doubling of chick osteoclast activity index (number of resorption pits per number of osteoclasts) at 12 and 24 h. In 24 h cultures, treatment with 10 micrograms/ml of the arginine-rich basic protein, protamine, 1 microgram/ml of the immunosuppressant, cyclosporine A, or 5 micrograms/ml of the cysteine-proteinase inhibitor, leupeptin, negated the heparin effect on bone resorption. Leupeptin also inhibited basal resorption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)