Characterization of human bone cells in culture.

A Toesca, A Pagnotta, N Specchia

Journal: Italian journal of anatomy and embryology = Archivio italiano di anatomia ed embriologia 2001;106(1):13-26

PMID: 11410995

Abstract

Osteoblast-like cells isolated from human bone bioptic specimens were established in culture. Their osteoblast-like phenotype was studied by biochemical, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods and by electron microscopy examination. Third-passage cell cultures exhibited high level of alkaline phosphatase activity and the exposure to human parathyroid hormone produced an increase of intracellular cAMP. Cultured cells were immunoreactive for type I and type III collagen, osteonectin, and fibronectin; when ascorbic acid and beta-glycerophosphate were added, they synthesized a rich extracellular matrix. This characterization ensures the reliability of osteoblast-like cultures when they are used as experimental models.

Address: Institute of Human Anatomy, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. [email protected]

MeSH Terms: Adult, Alkaline Phosphatase, Ascorbic Acid, Bone Matrix, Cells, Cultured, Collagen, Cyclic AMP, Fibronectins, Glycerophosphates, Histocytochemistry, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Osteoblasts, Osteonectin, Parathyroid Hormone