title: Zoledronic acid in vivo increases in vitro proliferation of rat mesenchymal stromal cells.
abstract: Background and purpose - Bisphosphonates are widely used in the treatment of bone loss, but they might also have positive effects on osteoblastic cells and bone formation. We evaluated the effect of in vivo zoledronic acid (ZA) treatment and possible concomitant effects of ZA and fracture on the ex vivo osteogenic capacity of rat mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Methods - A closed femoral fracture model was used in adult female rats and ZA was administered as a single bolus or as weekly doses up to 8 weeks. Bone marrow MSCs were isolated and cultured for in vitro analyses. Fracture healing was evaluated by radiography, micro-computed tomography (μCT), and histology. Results - Both bolus and weekly ZA increased fracture-site bone mineral content and volume. MSCs from weekly ZA-treated animals showed increased ex vivo proliferative capacity, while no substantial effect on osteoblastic differentiation was observed. Fracture itself did not have any substantial effect on cell proliferation or differentiation at 8 weeks. Serum biochemical markers showed higher levels of bone formation in animals with fracture than in intact animals, while no difference in bone resorption was observed. Interestingly, ex vivo osteoblastic differentiation of MSCs was found to correlate with in vivo serum bone markers. Interpretation - Our data show that in vivo zoledronic acid treatment can influence ex vivo proliferation of MSCs, indicating that bisphosphonates can have sustainable effects on cells of the osteoblastic lineage. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy , Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku ;
authors.forename: Terhi J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Heino
authors.affiliation: b Orthopaedic Research Unit, University of Turku , Turku ;
authors.forename: Jessica J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Alm
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy , Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku ;
authors.forename: Heikki J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Halkosaari
authors.affiliation: b Orthopaedic Research Unit, University of Turku , Turku ;|c Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology , University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Ville-Valtteri
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Välimäki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid