Biomaterial Database

Osteosarcoma cells in tissue culture: II. Characterization and localization of alkaline phosphatase activity. 1980

A M Levine, and T Triche, and S A Rosenberg

Although elevated alkaline phosphatase levels in osteosarcoma have been shown to be related to prognosis, the functional significance is unclear. Human osteosarcoma cells in tissue culture retain detectable amounts of alkaline phosphatase activity. In this study the specific activity of that enzyme was compared in 13 osteosarcoma tissue culture lines and 13 normal skin fibroblast lines derived from the same patients. Osteosarcoma cells had significantly higher baseline alkaline phosphatase levels and could be stimulated with hydrocortisone to produce more enzymatic activity than the fibroblast lines. Activity was localized ultracytochemically to the cell membrane and to many small intracellular vesicles in stimulated osteosarcoma cells. These observations aid in the differentiation of osteosarcoma and fibroblast lines in tissue culture and suggest an association between elevated alkaline phosphatase levels and metabolic abnormalities in patients with osteosarcoma.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D001859	Bone Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer located in bone tissue or specific BONES.	Bone Cancer,Cancer of Bone,Cancer of the Bone,Neoplasms, Bone,Bone Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Bone
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D005347	Fibroblasts	Connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules.	Fibroblast
D006651	Histocytochemistry	Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods.	Cytochemistry
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000135	Acid Phosphatase	An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of an orthophosphoric monoester and water to an alcohol and orthophosphate. EC 3.1.3.2.	Acid beta-Glycerophosphatase,Acid beta Glycerophosphatase
D000469	Alkaline Phosphatase	An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of an orthophosphoric monoester and water to an alcohol and orthophosphate. EC 3.1.3.1.
D012516	Osteosarcoma	A sarcoma originating in bone-forming cells, affecting the ends of long bones. It is the most common and most malignant of sarcomas of the bones, and occurs chiefly among 10- to 25-year-old youths. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Sarcoma, Osteogenic,Osteogenic Sarcoma,Osteosarcoma Tumor,Osteogenic Sarcomas,Osteosarcoma Tumors,Osteosarcomas,Sarcomas, Osteogenic,Tumor, Osteosarcoma,Tumors, Osteosarcoma
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.