Effects of cyclosporin A on rat osteoblasts (ROS 17/2.8 cells) in vitro

The effects of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA) were evaluated on ROS 17/2.8 cells in vitro . ROS cells were treated with CsA (0, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 μg/ml) for 3 days with and without bovine parathyroid hormone (bPTH) (1–34) 10 nM. CsA at 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 μg/ml without PTH and at 5.0 μg/ml in the presence of PTH significantly inhibited proliferation, as determined by a tetrazolium colorimetric assay. In addition, ROS cell number was significantly reduced at 3 and 4 days with CsA (5.0 μg/ml) without affecting cell viability. Incorporation of [ 3 H]-thymidine into DNA was significantly reduced by 3.0 and 5.0 μg/ml CsA after 12 and 24 hours exposure. Basal and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 -stimulated alkaline phosphatase levels in confluent ROS cells were reduced ( P <0.05) with CsA (1.0 and 3.0 μg/ml). Pretreatment of ROS 17/2.8 cells with CsA did not alter PTH-stimulated cAMP levels or [ 125 I]-PTHrP binding to ROS cells. CsA treatment of ROS 17/2.8 cells induced a spindle-shaped appearance with loss of attachment in confluent cultures. When ROS cells were cultured in CsA-containing media, cellular attachment at 6 and 12 hours was reduced ( P