Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in normal, osteoarthritic and osteoporotic osteoblasts

To evaluate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression and protein synthesis in primary human osteoblast cultures from healthy, osteoporotic and osteoarthritic subjects. Normal primary human osteoblast cultures were obtained from healthy subjects undergoing surgery for the reduction in traumatic fractures. Pathological osteoblasts were obtained from patients undergoing to total hip replacement for osteoporotic hip fracture or advanced osteoarthritis. VEGF mRNA expression and protein synthesis were evaluated in cultured cells, by semiquantitative real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively, both under basal conditions than after vitamin D₃ stimulation. Osteoarthritic osteoblasts showed a significantly higher VEGF expression compared to the normal and OP osteoblasts, both under basal conditions than in the presence of vitamin D₃, whereas no difference was found between osteoporotic and normal osteoblast. Vitamin D₃ significantly enhanced VEGF expression in normal and pathological osteoblasts. This preliminary study supports the hypothesis that VEGF is involved in the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the bone alterations typical of osteoarthritis and confirms the crucial role of vitamin D₃ supplementation in metabolic bone diseases.