Osteoclasts resorb protein-free mineral (Osteologic™ discs) efficiently in the absence of osteopontin

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Abstract

Osteopontin (OPN) is both a matrix protein in mineralized tissues and a cytokine, and it has a pivotal role in osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Here, using a proprietary hydroxyapatite substitute for bone mineral (Osteologic™ discs), we investigated the requirement for OPN in mineral resorption. Resorption pits formed in the Osteologic™ discs, revealed by staining with silver nitrite (Von Kossa stain), were analyzed using the NIH Image J program, which can determine the number of pits formed per unit area, their average size, and the fractional area resorbed. After a preincubation of bone marrow cells from OPN-/- and OPN+/+ mice with M-CSF to allow the multiplication of osteoclast precursors on cell culture plastic, osteoclast formation on both Osteologic™ discs and standard cell culture plates was induced with soluble receptor activator of NFκB ligand, sRANKL. We did not detect a dramatic difference in osteoclast formation between OPN+/+ and OPN-/- cells, as judged by staining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in osteoclasts formed on cell culture plastic, nor was there a significant difference in the ability of the osteoclasts to form resorption pits in the Osteologic™ discs. Additionally, none of six different anti-OPN monoclonal antibodies had a significant and reproducible effect on the formation or subsequent functioning of the OPN+/+ osteoclasts. These studies suggest that, in contrast to what has been found for normal bone, the efficiency of dissolution of a ceramic, protein-free (excepting protein adsorbed from the culture medium) hydroxyapatite/tri-calcium phosphate substrate by osteoclasts is not substantially enhanced by endogenous or exogenous OPN.

Publication Title

In Vivo

First Page Number

335

Last Page Number

342

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