Treatment with recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor resorbs blood clot and restores osteoclastogenesis in heterotopic bone induced by partially purified native bone morphogenetic protein in osteopetrotic (op/op) mice.

Abstract

Native bone morphogenetic protein and associated noncollagenous proteins induced the formation of heterotopic bone in the hindquarter muscles of osteopetrotic (op/op) mice and those of their phenotypically normal littermates (+/?). In op/op mice, the heterotopic bone consisted of a disorganized, densely packed mixture of irregular calcified cartilage, osteoid, chondro-osteoid, and fibrous tissue. Injections of recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor initiated bone resorption that began in the peripheral vascularized regions of the metaphyses and continued in central areas of uncalficified avascular chondro-osteoid. On vascularized surfaces, osteoclasts were stained with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. In op/op mice treated with macrophage colony-stimulating factor, the osteoclasts were small, with only two or three nuclei, and they did not exhibit tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. In untreated op/op mice, surgical blood clots persisted in the heterotopic sites as late as 3 weeks after the operation, whereas in treated op/op mice, the blood clots were absorbed almost as rapidly as in normal mice. Histologically, recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor restored normal macrophage functions: absorption and organization of blood clot, osteoclastogenesis, synthesis of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, bone remodeling, islands of myelopoiesis, and construction of an ossicle complete with a cortex and a medulla filled with functioning hematopoietic bone marrow.