Multiple Extracellular Signals Promote Osteoblast Survival and Apoptosis

Programed cell death (PCD) or apoptosis is a naturally occurring cell suicide pathway induced in a variety of cell types. In many cases, PCD apparently arises as a result of competition for limiting amounts of survival signals. In this study, we have investigated the potential role of growth factors (GF), cytokines, and osteotropic hormones on osteoblast survival in vitro. Our results indicate that in the absence of any of these factors, osteoblasts rapidly undergo PCD, as determined by cell morphology, mitochondrial function, and nuclei fragmentation. Osteoblast survival was promoted by insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF-II, insulin, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Platelet-derived growth factor had no effect on osteoblast survival, but this GF potentiated the survival-promoting effects of IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin. A similar effect occurred when bFGF was added in combination with either of the IGFs or insulin. The effects of the IGFs were blocked by αIR-3, an antibody to the type I IG...