title: In vitro osteoblast-like cell metabolism in spondylodesis--a tool that may predict fusion capacity: a prospective study in 50 patients with a 1-year follow-up.
abstract: In vitro cultures of human primary osteoblast-like cells provide a model for studying cellular mechanisms associated with human bone biology. We investigated in vitro osteoblast-like cell metabolism as a method for predicting the occurrence of spinal fusion in the individual patient. A bone biopsy was taken from the iliac crest of 50 patients, median age 49 (23-77) years, who were undergoing lumbar spine fusion. First-passage osteoblast-like cells were established by the bone-tissue-explant method. We then estimated 3H-thymidine incorporation, alkaline phosphatase activity and procollagen I production. Fusion rates were evaluated at the 1-year follow-up. Primary human osteoblast-like cell cultures showed an age-dependent decline in their capacity for cellular outgrowth and expression of alkaline phosphatase, which suggested a useful biological response pattern of the osteoblast culture. However, such cultures were unsatisfactory as an in vitro tool for predicting fusion capacity.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Spine Unit, Department of Orthopaedics E, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. Malenebiomeklab@mail.tele.dk
authors.forename: Malene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laursen
authors.forename: Finn B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: Ebbe S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Høy
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gelineck
authors.forename: Cody
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bünger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase