Osteogenic protein-1 stimulates proliferation and differentiation of human bone cells in vitro

The effect of recombinant human osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) on proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was studied using human bone cells in culture. TE85, osteosarcoma cells with osteoblastic characteristics and normal bone cells derived from mandible (HBM) were used. OP-1 stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation in a dose dependent manner in TE85 (5-fold over vehicle control at 3-10 ng/ml) and HBM cells (1.8-fold at 100 ng/ml). In TE85 cells, OP-1 also increased cell number (2.4-fold over vehicle control at 3 ng/ml). OP-1 stimulated ALP activity in TE85 cells (4-fold over vehicle control at 30 ng/ml), but moderately inhibited ALP activity in HBM cells (to 67% of vehicle control at 100 ng/ml). Because 1,25(OH)2D3 has been shown to increase ALP activity in many cell types, we also studied if 1,25(OH)2D3 modulates the effects of OP-1 on ALP activity. In the presence of 10(-8) M 1,25(OH)2D3, a biphasic response occurred in TE85 and HBM cells with stimulation of ALP activity at low dose of OP-1 and inhibition at high dose. Thus, the effect of OP-1 on ALP activity appeared to be modulated by 1,25(OH)2D3. Our results suggest that OP-1 could be an important regulator of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.