Production and release of matrix vesicles in the cell processes of TPA-treated human osteoblast-like cells.

At the onset of the mineralization of bone, small membranous matrix vesicles are often observed. The information available on the production and release of these vesicles is limited. When treated with 10-20 nM of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), the human osteosarcoma cell line U-2 OS developed long cytoplasmic processes connecting adjacent cells. SEM and TEM show that TPA triggers a production and release of matrix vesicle-like membrane vesicles, mainly from the cellular processes. Tetracycline HCl was used to label intracellular bound calcium. The tetracycline HCl label was primarily localized to the end-feet of the cytoplasmic processes, indicating that these contain high concentrations of Ca2+, and to endoplasmic reticulum-like structures in the cell bodies. Together with our previous demonstration of the release of alkaline phosphatase-containing vesicles into the culture medium (Ringbom-Anderson T, Akerman KEO 1992 Calcif Tissue Int 50:533-540), the results presented here indicate that TPA induces a rapid induction of the primary steps of mineralization in U-2 OS osteosarcoma.