title: Procalcitonin NH2-terminal cleavage peptide has no mitogenic effect on normal human osteoblast-like cells.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hassager
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bonde
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rink
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Spelsberg
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Riggs
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D008934:Mitogens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014316:Tritium; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D013936:Thymidine