Expression of selected osteogenic markers in the fibroblast-like cells of rat marrow stroma

The fibroblast-like cells in the marrow stromal system were separated from endothelial cells and macrophages by negative selection of magnetic beads. Immunocytochemistry confirmed that these fibroblast-like cells expressed fibronectin and collagen Type III, but not Factor VIII and epithelial membrane antigen (endothelial cell markers) or Mac I (macrophage marker). The fibroblast-like stromal cells (FSC) synthesized the insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-I and-II in amounts equivalent to that produced by unfractionated marrow stromal cells (UMSC); in both, the concentration of IGF-II was 10 times higher than that of IGF-I. Northern analysis revealed that FSC and UMSC expressed identical patterns of mRNAs for IGF-I and transforming growth factor (TGF) -β₂, for osteopontin, and for procollagen Types I and III (Type I>Type III). Type II procollagen mRNA was not expressed in both cell populations. The (TGF)-β₂ gene mRNA was expressed at a lower level by the FSC than UMSC. The pattern of gene expression in these cells is consistent with an osteoprogenitor phenotype. Both FSCs and UMSCs express parathyroid hormone (PTH) and estrogen receptor genes (rtPCR technique). The study provides additional evidence that firoblast-like marrow stromal cells have an osteoblas signature, and that they are largely responsible for the osteogenic performance of cells in unfractionated marrow.