Primary cultures of human bone-derived cells produce parathyroid hormone-related protein: a study of 40 patients of varying age and pathology.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), a mediator of hypercalcemia of malignancy, has been detected in many tumours and in some normal foetal and adult tissues. PTHrP has potent effects on bone turnover in vivo and in vitro. In this study we cultured cells derived from explants of bone obtained from 40 subjects (age range 2-88 years). Immunoreactive PTHrP (iPTHrP) was detected by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) in conditioned medium from 25 of 40 cultures of bone-derived cells. PTHrP mRNA was detected in bone-derived cells by reverse transcriptase-linked polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The identity of PCR products was confirmed by Southern blotting. Local production of PTHrP in vivo may be important in the regulation of bone growth and remodelling.