Adult human osteoblast-like cells do not express insulin-like growth factor-I

Previous studies using cultures of fetal rodents calvaria have indicated an important role for insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the local control of bone formation. In this study, we have examined the expression of IGF-I in adult human osteoblast-like (hOB) cells. To detect very low levels and to distinguish between the two IGF-I mRNA transcripts Ea and Eb, which are formed by alternate splicing, we have used the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Expression of both Ea and Eb IGF-I mRNA transcripts were found in human liver and in placenta. However, neither Ea nor Eb IGF-I mRNA could be detected under basal conditions or after stimulation with growth hormone in normal hOB cells and two human osteosarcoma cell lines with osteoblastic properties, SaOS-2 and MG-63. We conclude that adult hOB cells do not synthesize IGF-I. Thus, in contrast to its crucial role as a local regulator of skeletal remodeling in fetal rodent bone, IGF-I does not appear to have this autocrine function in adult human bone.