The effects of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta on cellular proliferation and the production of prostaglandin E2, plasminogen activator, osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase by osteoblast-like cells derived from human bone.

There is mounting evidence implicating cytokines such as interleukin-1 in the local regulation of bone homeostasis. In this report we show that recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rhIL-1 beta) influences several activities of osteoblast-like cells derived from human trabecular bone explants in vitro. rhIL-1 beta stimulated cellular proliferation and the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 and plasminogen activator activity in the cultured human osteoblast-like cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, the induction of osteocalcin synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity in response to 1,25(OH)2D3, two characteristics of the osteoblast phenotype, were antagonized by rhIL-1 beta over a similar dose range. This study adds further support to the potential role of interleukin-1 in the physiological and pathological modulation of bone cell metabolism.