Transforming growth factor--alpha stimulates chemotaxis of osteoblasts and osteoblast-like cells in vitro.
Homeostatic turnover of bone is believed to be regulated in part by growth factors present in the surrounding environment. The first step during the bone formation process is the recruitment of osteoblasts from the surrounding intact bone to the resorption site. In this study, the effects of TGF-alpha on osteoblast chemotaxis was investigated. Cultures of rat osteoblasts and human osteoblast-like cells were examined for chemotaxis in response to increasing concentrations of TGF-alpha utilizing a modified Boyden Chamber technique. TGF-alpha stimulated a dose-dependent increase in chemotaxis by both cell populations. These results indicate that TGF-alpha may be playing an important role in the early stages of bone matrix regeneration by stimulating osteoblast chemotaxis.
Panagakos
F S
FS
Department of Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark 07103.
D000818:Animals; D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D001862:Bone Resorption; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha