Background : Heat and inorganic phosphate (Pi), a major component of bone matrix, are released during implant, where osteoblast survival plays a critical role for successful osseointegration of implant. Because Pi as well as heat stress are known to i...
Background : Heat and inorganic phosphate (Pi), a major component of bone matrix, are released during implant, where osteoblast survival plays a critical role for successful osseointegration of implant. Because Pi as well as heat stress are known to induce death of osteoblasts, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of combined treatment of Pi with heat stress on osteoblast viability.
Methods : Confluent MC3T3 osteoblasts were exposed to various temperature and time points. They were also incubated with Pi at 37℃ and 48℃. Cell viability was assayed by a MTT method and apoptotic cell death was observed through a TUNEL assay.
Results : Heat stress reduced osteoblast survival in a temperature- and time-dependent manner. Increasing Pi concentration did not change cell viability at 37℃, but when osteoblasts were treated at 48℃ in combination with Pi, Pi caused a 4-fold reduction in viability than that by heat stress alone. TUNEL staining showed that some cells were found to die through apoptosis. Addition of phosphonoformic acid, a inhibitor of Pi transporter, completely reversed the Pi-induced cell death without affecting cell death caused by heat stress.
Conclusion : Pi potentiates heat stress-induced osteoblastic death, which may reduce the stability and osseointegration of implant.