The Comparison of Biological Characteristics between Osteocyte-like Cell MLO-Y4 and Osteoblast-like Cell MC3T3-E1

Abstract: To compare the biological characteristics of osteocyte-like cell MLO-Y4 and osteoblast-like cell MC3T3-E1 from cell morphology， cell proliferation， cell secretion and gene expression with different methods: Cell morphology was observed by inverted microscope. Cell counting assay was used to detect cell proliferation. RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of OC， CD44， OPN and c-fos. Secretion of ALP was measured by PNPP. Secretion of M-CSF and NO were measured by ELISA. The results tell us: osteocyte-like cell MLO-Y4 and osteoblast-like cell MC3T3-E1 showed obvious difference in cell morphology， MC3T3-E1 cells were spindle-shaped with few short dendrites， however， MLO-Y4 cells were star-shaped or dendrite-shaped with more dendrites. The doubling time of MC3T3-E1 cells was 18 h， while that of MLO-Y4 cells was 20 h. RT-PCR showed the expression of c-fos and OPN were higher and the expression of OC was lower in MC3T3-E1 cells than in MLO-Y4 cells， and there was not significant difference of CD44 expression between the two kinds of cells. ALP secretion was higher and M-CSF secretion was lower in MC3T3-E1 cells than that in MLO-Y4 cells. There is not significant difference of NO secretion between the two kinds of cells. It can be seen that there were significant differences in cell morphology， ALP and M-CSF secretion， expression of c-fos， OPN and OC between MLO-Y4 cells and MC3T3-E1cells. In bone research MLO-Y4 cells and MC3T3-E1 cells are often used. According to their different biological characteristics， researchers could choose appropriate cell types to in their study.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2010.02.0018