Immunosuppressant FK506 promotes osteoblastic differentiation of marrow stromal cells

摘要

Immunosuppressants are known to suppress immunologic rejections resulting in success of allogenic transplantation, however, the effect of immunosuppressants on bone metabolism has not well been characterized. In vitro cultured marrow stromal cells can differentiate into osteoblast when the culture medium contains dexamethasone (Dex). Here we report that FK506 (Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan), a widely used immunosuppressant, enhanced the Dex induced in vitro osteogenic differentiation evidenced by high levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin and calcium contents of the marrow culture. Based on our previous finding of in vivo bone forming capability of the in vitro cultured marrow cells in porous hydroxyapatite ceramics, present data suggest the usefulness ofFK506 for marrow/ceramic composite transplantation in bone reconstruction surgery.