Marrow stroma‐derived osteogenic clonal cell lines: Putative stages in osteoblastic differentiation

This report documents characterization of five osteogenic cell subpopulations of bone marrow stroma. The clonally derived cell lines were isolated from the parental line MBA‐15 known to express osteoblastic‐associated features in vitro and to form bone in vivo. The latter, presumably “arrested” at a particular stage along the osteogenic lineage, are useful models to study the processes involved in the differentiation of bone forming cells. The clones differ in their morphology, proliferation rate, quantities and distribution of extracellular matrix proteins, levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and activation of adenylate cyclase by parathyroid hormone and/or prostaglandin E. These properties have been retained during prolonged growth and subculturing through many passages. MBA‐15.4 is a presumptive preosteoblast with a fibroblast‐like appearance; it proliferates rapidly, synthesizes equal amounts of collagen and noncollagenous proteins, and produces constitutively low levels of alkaline phosphatase. This clone has PGE₂‐stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and a very low constitutive response to PTH. On the other hand, MBA‐15.6 has a large polygonal morphology with limited proliferative potential, synthesizes twice as much noncollagenous proteins as collagen, has high alkaline phosphatase activity, and responds strongly to PTH. The characteristics of the other clones place them between these two categories. The effects of 10⁻⁷ M dexamethasone or 10⁻¹²–10⁻⁸ M 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D₃ on growth and differentiation further strengthen the variance between these clones. The different in vitro characteristics of the various clones were directly reflected in their bone formation ability in vivo. When transplanted under the renal capsule, MBA‐15.33 formed a thick fibrous tissue, MBA‐15.4 formed small foci of bone, and MBA‐15.6 formed massive woven bone at the same period of time. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.