Rapid intracellular degradation of newly synthesized collagen by bone cells. Effect of dichloromethylenebisphosphonate.

Experiments were carried out to determine whether bone cells isolated from rat calvaria degrade newly synthesized collagen intracellularly prior to secretion and to assess the effect of dichloromethylenebisphosphonate, a compound shown to stimulate collagen synthesis during this event. The findings indicate that isolated bone cells grown in culture degraded a proportion (average 16%) of newly synthesized collagen prior to secretion. This process was markedly reduced by exposure to dichloromethylenebisphosphonate in a dose-related manner. Concomitantly with the observed decrease of degradation, an increase of collagen synthesis was detected as determined by the incorporation of [3H]proline into collagenase-digestible proteins or by the conversion of [3H]proline into [3H]hydroxyproline. No similar enhancement on total non-collagenous protein synthesis was evident. Dichloromethylenebisphosphonate did not influence the extracellular degradation of collagen. Although the reduction in intracellular degradation accounted only for part of the bisphosphonate mediated increase in net collagen synthesis, it is conceivable that the rate of collagen synthesis is regulated, at least in part, by mechanisms that modulate the level of intracellular degradation.