J774A.1 macrophage cell line produces PDGF-like and non-PDGF-like growth factors for bone cells

In light of evidence that macrophages participate in the local regulation of bone remodeling, we have examined the production of peptide stimulators of bone cell growth and specialization by the J774A.1 macrophage cell line. Cultured J774A.1 cells secrete growth-promoting activities which have an affinity for heparin. The first partially purified material, termed HEP I, appears to contain platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-like activity. It has a molecular weight of about 30,000 daltons, inhibits the binding of labeled PDGF to its receptors, reacts with polyclonal anti-human PDGF antibody, and exhibits mitogenic activity for osteoblasts, which is partially blocked by anti-PDGF antisera. Like PDGF, HEP I is active in a wide variety of mesenchyme-derived cells, including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, 3T3 cells and NRK cells. The J774A.1 cells contain mRNA, which hybridizes to a v-sis DNA probe, suggesting that they express the c-sis gene, which contains the code for a PDGF-like protein. The second factor, HEP II, has an approximate molecular weight of 20,000 daltons and possesses substantial mitogenic activity for osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and smooth muscle cells, but is not mitogenic for fibroblasts, 3T3 cells, and NRK cells. HEP II appears to be a unique bone cell mitogen, which is distinct from the growth factors presently known. Neither HEP I nor HEP II contained interleukin 1, a macrophage product known to promote bone resorption and perhaps the growth and activity of osteoblasts.