Procalcitonin NH2-terminal cleavage peptide has no mitogenic effect on normal human osteoblast-like cells.
The NH2-terminal cleavage peptide of procalcitonin (N-proCT) recently was reported to be a bone cell mitogen (Burns DM et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86:9519-9523, 1989). We have investigated the effect of N-proCT on the proliferation of normal human cells that have the phenotype of mature osteoblasts (hOB cells). N-proCT treatment for 24, 48, or 96 h in concentrations from 1 nM to 1 microM did not significantly increase [3H]thymidine uptake (means ranged from -19% to 38% of control, no significant differences) in hOB cells (6-10 cell strains per experiment) plated at four different densities. However, the hOB cells responded significantly to treatment with transforming growth factor beta (3 ng/ml), bovine insulin (300 micrograms/ml), or 30% fetal calf serum, which were included in all experiments as positive controls. The [3H]thymidine uptake data were confirmed in a direct cell count experiment tested at 96 h. Thus our data do not support the hypothesis that N-proCT is a potent mitogen for normal human osteoblasts.
Hassager
C
C
Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
Bonde
S K
SK
Anderson
M A
MA
Rink
H
H
Spelsberg
T C
TC
Riggs
B L
BL
D002116:Calcitonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008934:Mitogens; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013936:Thymidine; D014316:Tritium
C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D008934:Mitogens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014316:Tritium; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D013936:Thymidine