Mechanical loading stimulates the release of transforming growth factor-beta activity by cultured mouse calvariae and periosteal cells.

We have shown earlier that mechanical stimulation by intermittent hydrostatic compression (IHC) inhibits bone resorption and stimulates bone formation in cultured fetal mouse calvariae (Klein-Nulend et al., 1986, Arthritis Rheum., 29: 1002-1009). The production of soluble bone factors by such calvariae is also modified (Klein-Nulend et al., 1993, Cell Tissue Res., 271:513-517). Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is an important local regulator of bone metabolism and is produced by osteoblasts. In this study, the release of TGF-beta activity as a result of mechanical stress was examined in organ cultures of neonatal mouse calvariae, in primary cultures of calvariae-derived osteoprogenitor (OPR) cells, and in more differentiated osteoblastic (OB) cells. Whole calvariae and calvariae-derived cells were cultured in the presence or absence of IHC for 1-7 days and medium concentrations of active as well as total TGF-beta were measured using a bioassay. IHC (maximum 13 kPa, maximal pressure rate 32.5 kPa/sec) was generated by intermittently (0.3 Hz) compressing the gas phase above the cultures. We found that mechanical loading by IHC stimulated the release of TGF-beta activity from cultured calvariae by twofold after 1 day. IHC also stimulated the release of TGF-beta activity from calvariae-derived cells after 1 and 3 days. The absolute amounts of TGF-beta activity released were lower in OPR cells than in OB cells, but the stimulatory effect of IHC was greater in OPR cells. Total TGF-beta (active and bound) released into the medium was not affected by IHC. IHC did not change the dry weight of the organ cultures, nor the DNA or protein content of the cell cultures. These data show that mechanical perturbation of bone cells, particularly OPR cells, enhances the activation of released TGF-beta. We conclude that modulation of TGF-beta metabolism may be part of the response of bone tissue to mechanical stress.