PORCINE OSTEOBLASTS REVEAL A COMPARABLE CYTOKINE EXPRESSION PROFILE TO HUMAN AND MOUSE OSTEOBLASTS AS DETERMINED BY FLOW CYTOMETRIC INTRACELLULAR CYTOKINE DETECTION

摘要

Large animal models increasingly come in focus of clinical research for anatomical and physiological reasons. Therefore we aim at establishing the porcine species as a model in osteoimmunological research. Some similarities between the cytokine profdes of porcine and rodent/human bone marrow-derived stromal cells and osteoclasts have already been shown (1). Briefly, both produce IL-1, IL-6, TNF-a, and receptor activator of nuclear factor-KB ligand (RANKL), which is regarded as master regulator of osteoclastogenesis (2). Under influence of VitD3, RANKL expression is significantly increased in the porcine system. Homology between porcine RANKL and the corresponding human sequence was found to be 79 % (1). Beside osteoclasts, osteoblasts have attractedmuch attention in osteological research as interference in osteoblastogenesis may reveal novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of bone and joint diseases (3). This investigation deals with the cytokine pattern of porcine osteoblasts.