Recombinant murine interferon-gamma inhibits the fusion of mouse alveolar macrophages in vitro but stimulates the formation of osteoclastlike cells on implanted syngeneic bone particles in mice in vivo

J Bone Miner Res. 1990 Jun;5(6):637-44. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.5650050613.

Abstract

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that originate from the fusion of mononuclear precursors and are responsible for bone resorption. Indirect evidence from in vitro studies suggests that IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha inhibit and stimulate bone resorption, respectively, but contradictory results have emerged from the literature regarding the effects of IFN-gamma on macrophage multinucleation. Using highly sensitive model systems, the present work demonstrates that, in mice, rMuIFN-gamma inhibits the fusion of alveolar macrophages in vitro but augments the number of osteoclastlike cells on implanted syngeneic bone particles in vivo. Although rMuTNF-alpha fails to stimulate macrophage multinucleation in either system, treatment of implanted animals with rMuIFN-gamma appears to limit the inflammatory reaction and favor tissue repair.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Physiological Phenomena
  • Bone Transplantation / pathology*
  • Cell Fusion / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology*
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Osteoclasts / drug effects*
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / cytology
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / drug effects
  • Recombinant Proteins

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Interferon-gamma