Analysis of human primary bone cells by fluorescence activated cell scanning: methodological problems and preliminary results.

We describe the development of flowcytometrical methods to analyse human primary osteoblast-like cultures obtained from trabecular bone explants in comparison to the human osteosarcoma cell line HOS 58. Two antigens typical of osteoblasts were studied: bone alkaline phosphatase and collagen/procollagen I; the non-specific attachment protein fibronectin served as control. The morphology of all different antigens is shown by immunocytochemistry before flowcytometrical analysis. The establishment of flowcytometry is described in detail. While all antigens tested were nearly 100% positive in the HOS 58 cells in immunocytochemistry and flowcytometry, in primary osteoblast-like cells results varied widely between both methods. Cell permeabilisation before flowcytometry improved the homogeneity of results, probably by increasing the accessibility of the specific antibody to intracellular compartments. Though up to 80% of cells were lost during preparation the ratio of positive versus negative cells in specific experiment was not dependent on the cell recovery. Therefore, the cells finally analysed seemed to be representative of the total population.