Glucocorticoids induce mineralization coupled with bone protein expression without influence on growth of a human osteoblastic cell line.

Mineralization was induced by glucocorticoid treatment in a human osteoblastic cell line derived from normal bone in vitro, designated SV-HFO, immortalized with simian virus 40 (CHIBA, H. et al. (1993). Jpn. J. Cancer Res., 84: 290-297). Mineralization was revealed by electron microscopy, von Kossa staining and electron spectroscopic analysis, which indicated that the Ca/P ratio was approximately 1.70, corresponding to the value of hydroxyapatite. The effect was dose- (10(-8)-10(-6) M) and time-dependent (days 7-28), was greatest at day 28, and was preceded by expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteopontin (OPN). The ALP activity induced was highest at day 7, whereas OPN reached its highest level at day 28. When the induction of ALP activity was inhibited by 10(-4) M levamisole, mineralization of SV-HFO cells by glucocorticoid treatment was markedly reduced, suggesting that elevated ALP activity in the early phase is important in the mineralization of human osteoblastic cells. Glucocorticoid treatment did not alter cell proliferation. These results indicated that glucocorticoids play crucial roles in the formation of mineralized matrix in human osteoblasts by inducing differentiation of SV-HFO cells without modulating their proliferative activity.