title: Characterization of osteosarcoma cell lines MG-63, Saos-2 and U-2 OS in comparison to human osteoblasts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteosarcomas are malignant bone tumors consisting of cells with abnormal cellular functions. Although osteosarcoma-derived cells are commonly used for osteoblastic models, the molecular composition of the osteosarcoma extracellular matrix (ECM) is not well characterized.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared three osteosarcoma cell lines (MG-63, Saos-2 and U-2 OS) with normal human osteoblasts by immunocytochemistry. Cellular characteristics were assessed by morphometric analysis and proliferation kinetics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All investigated osteosarcoma cell lines exhibited very heterogeneous labelling profiles and each differed significantly from that of normal osteoblasts. Saos-2 cells revealed the most mature osteoblastic labelling profile while U-2 OS cells were negative for most of the investigated osteoblastic markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that each osteosarcoma cell line exhibits a characteristic labelling profile and thus produces a differently composed extracellular matrix. This can be used in attempts to better characterize osteosarcoma, a as well as for their diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery University of Technology Munich (TUM), Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pautke
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schieker
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tischer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolk
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neth
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mutschler
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase