C-TERMINAL PARATHYROID HORMONE-RELATED PROTEIN INHIBITS PROLIFERATIONAND DIFFERENTIATION OF HUMAN OSTEOBLAST-LIKE CELLS

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is synthesized by osteobla sts, although its local role in bone is not completely understood. The C-terminal (107-111) region of PTHrP seems to be a potent inhibitor o f osteoblastic bone resorption. We studied the effect of this PTHrP do main on the proliferation and synthesis of osteoblastic markers in ost eoblast-like cells from adult human bone. We found that the human (h)P THrP(107-139) fragment, between 10 fM and 10 nM, inhibited H-3-thymidi ne incorporation into these cells. The antiproliferative effect of the latter fragment, or that of hPTHrP(107-111), was similar to that indu ced by [Tyr(34)]hPTHrP(1-34) amide, bovine PTH(1-34), and hPTHrP(1-141 ), while hPTHrP(38-64) amide was ineffective. Human PTHrP(7-34) amide, at 10 nM, and 1 mu M phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate also significant ly decreased DNA synthesis in human osteoblast-like cells. Neither hPT HrP(7-34) amide nor hPTHrP(107-139), at 10 nM, stimulated protein kina se A (PKA) activity in these cells. Moreover, 100 nM H-89, a PKA inhib itor, did not eliminate the inhibitory effect of hPTHrP(107-139) on th ese cells' growth. However 100 nM calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor, blunt ed this effect of PTHrP(107-139). In addition to their antimitogenic e ffect, hPTHrP(107-139) and hPTHrP(107-111) inhibited basal and 1,25-di hydroxyvitamin D-3 (1,25(OH)(2)D-3)-stimulated alkaline phosphatase ac tivity in these cells. Both fragments, like 1,25(OH)(2)D-3, decreased C-terminal type I procollagen secretion into the cell-conditioned medi um, but osteocalcin secretion by these cells was unaffected by the C-t erminal PTHrP fragments. These findings suggest that PTHrP may act as a local regulator of bone formation.