Fluoride increases net 45Ca uptake by SaOS-2 cells: The effect is phosphate dependent

Previous in vitro studies have shown that the effect of fluoride to increase avian osteoblast-like cell proliferation was dependent on the phosphate concentration. In vitro studies have further revealed that fluoride could also have direct effects on osteoblast-like cells to increase phosphate uptake and transiently increase cytosolic calcium. The current studies were intended to determine whether fluoride could increase net 45Ca uptake by human osteosarcoma (SaOS-2) cells and, if so, whether those effects would also be phosphate dependent. The results of these studies indicate that fluoride increased net 45Ca uptake by SaOS-2 cells, with biphasic dose and time dependencies. After 30 minutes of exposure, net 45Ca uptake was increased to a greater extent by 50 microM fluoride (217 +/- 16% of control, P < 0.001) than by 200 microM fluoride; and the stimulatory effect of 100 microM fluoride on net 45Ca uptake was greater after 20 minutes (187 +/- 22% of control, P < 0.001) than after 60 minutes (122 +/- 7% of control, P < 0.05). These effects of fluoride to increase net 45Ca uptake were dependent on the phosphate concentration in the medium. Fluoride had no effect on net 45Ca uptake in medium containing 0.4 mM phosphate, but increased net 45Ca uptake in medium containing 1.2 or 2.0 mM phosphate (P < 0.005). As the phosphate concentration was increased, the biphasic fluoride dose-response curve was shifted to a lower range of fluoride concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)