We present a protocol to compare the state of minerals in vesicles released by two human bone cell lines: hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2. Their mineralization profiles were analyzed by Alizarin Red-S (AR-S) staining, ultraviolet (UV) light visualization, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX).
This video presents the use of transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (TEM-EDX) to compare the state of minerals in vesicles released by two human bone cell lines: hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2. These cell lines, after treatment with ascorbic acid (AA) and β-glycerophosphate (β-GP), undergo complete osteogenic transdifferentiation from proliferation to mineralization and produce matrix vesicles (MVs) that trigger apatite nucleation in the extracellular matrix (ECM).
Based on Alizarin Red-S (AR-S) staining and analysis of the composition of minerals in cell lysates using ultraviolet (UV) light or in vesicles using TEM imaging followed by EDX quantitation and ion mapping, we can infer that osteosarcoma Saos-2 and osteoblastic hFOB 1.19 cells reveal distinct mineralization profiles. Saos-2 cells mineralize more efficiently than hFOB 1.19 cells and produce larger mineral deposits that are not visible under UV light but are similar to hydroxyapatite (HA) in that they have more Ca and F substitutions.
The results obtained using these techniques allow us to conclude that the process of mineralization differs depending on the cell type. We propose that, at the cellular level, the origin and properties of vesicles predetermine the type of minerals.
Bone is a type of connective tissue composed of two parts: organic (cells and collagen fibers) and mineral (calcium and phosphate compounds). The main mineral components in bones are apatites1. Different types of mineralization-competent cells in bone (osteoblasts), in teeth (odontoblasts) and in cartilage (chondrocytes) regulate the initial steps of mineralization by producing proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and releasing matrix vesicles (MVs) (Figure 1). MVs are 100-300 nm diameter vesicles that accumulate calcium and phosphate facilitating apatite nucleation and subsequently bind to collagen2,3. Then, MVs disintegrate to release apatites to the extracellular medium. The apatites continue to grow in contact with collagen fibers and form the bone matrix. The mineralization is sustained by the constant supply of Pi and Ca2+ in the extracellular medium. Some recently published data support our model4,5. Soft tissues do not mineralize under physiological conditions. However, ectopic calcification may occur under pathological conditions such as vascular calcification3. Vascular cells that acquire the osteoblast phenotype can produce MVs that induce nucleation of apatites and initiate mineralization in the medial and intimal layers of the wall of blood vessels. Since ectopic calcification resemble normal endochondral mineralization3, understanding the molecular mechanisms of mineralization of osseous cells and chondrocytes should provide some clues on ectopic calcification of soft tissues that are formed.
The development of skeletal tissues is regulated by various enzymes, growth factors, and promoters or inhibitors of mineralization. The antagonistic action of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) (Figure 1) and ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase I (NPP1), together with ankyrin (ANK), controls inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) concentration6. PPi, a potent inhibitor of HA formation, is hydrolyzed by TNAP; NPP1 hydrolyzes nucleotide triphosphates to form PPi while ANK exports PPi from the cell to the ECM. The Pi/PPi ratio may regulate apatite formation7,8 with possible pathological consequences9.
The MV membrane is enriched in ion transport proteins that facilitate the initial precipitation of calcium and phosphate inside the MVs during the nucleation process (Figure 1). The phosphate transporter 1 (PiT) helps to incorporate Pi generated in the perivesicular space into the MVs10,11. Annexins may be involved in the binding and transport of Ca2+ and in the biophysical process that initiates mineralization in the MV lumen12,13. We favor the hypothesis, suggested earlier, for mineralization within intracytoplasmic vesicles of internal nucleation of apatite inside the MV before its propagation in the ECM14,15. In vitro modeling confirmed the induction of Ca2+/Pi complexes formation in proteoliposomes made from PS and AnxA516. This may indicate that accumulation of Ca2+, Pi, AnxA5 and PS complexes in lipid rafts of microvilli-like membranesrepresent the nucleation core (NC) of apatite within MVs. Annexins and TNAP also possess collagen-binding capacities that may be helpful in placing MVs along collagen fibers and, in stimulating the propagation of mineralization in the ECM. Fetuin A and osteopontin (OPN)17, are known as inhibitors of apatite formation that may slow down the propagation of mineralization on the collagenous scaffold. Nucleation and propagation are distinct events, the former preceding the latter, and both may be relevant for the process of pathological mineralization.
To discover how the chemistry of calcium phosphate complexes may change physiological mineralization and ectopic calcification, it is necessary to identify the minerals produced by cells. Apatites are a group of calcium and phosphate containing minerals with the general crystal unit cell formula Ca10(PO4)6X2, where X = Cl, F, OH. They are classified as follows18: fluorapatite (FA) Ca10(PO4)6F2, chlorapatite (CA) Ca10(PO4)6Cl2 and hydroxyapatite (HA) Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2.
The choice of osteoblast cell lines to induce mineral formation is crucial, since each cell line exhibits a distinct profile of mineralization. In this report, we compared the nucleation of minerals by two selected human cell models of mineralization: osteoblastic hFOB 1.19 cells and osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells. Osteosarcoma-derived cells are commonly used as osteoblastic models and Saos-2 cells have preserved the most mature osteoblastic character19 while undifferentiated human fetal hFOB cells are widely used as a model for normal osteoblastic differentiation20. Their mineralization profiles were analyzed by different methods: Alizarin Red-S (AR-S) staining, ultraviolet (UV) light visualization, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) quantitation, and ion mapping. The advantage of TEM-EDX over alternative techniques used in previous studies is that it gives quantitative and qualitative results of ion replacement in apatite crystals4,5,21. The overall goal of using TEM-EDX was to find a simple method for imaging and quantification of the distribution of Ca, F and Cl ions in various minerals from different types of cells during distinct stages of the mineralization process. This method has been successfully used, for example, for monitoring the interaction of zinc nanoparticles with coexisting chemicals and their combined effects on aquatic organisms22. In another study, a copper photocatalyst on titanium materials in aqueous solution was extensively characterized by means of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), N2 physisorption (BET), XRD, UV-vis DRS, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, TEM-EDX, and photoelectrochemical measurements23. Our aim was to compare the origin and properties of vesicles and minerals in two cell lines to understand the mechanism that controls mineralization during osseous differentiation.
Figure 1. Scheme of the initial steps of mineralization in osseous cells involving the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and release of matrix vesicles (MVs) from the membrane. MVs accumulate calcium through the action of calcium binding proteins, annexins and phosphate, through the action of an inorganic phosphate transporter (PiT) followed by the activity of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), which dephosphorylates PPi to Pi, thereby facilitating apatite nucleation. Then, MVs disintegrate and release apatites to the extracellular medium. The mineralization is sustained by the constant supply of Pi and Ca2+ in the extracellular medium4,5. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
1. Cell Culture and Treatment
2. Detection of Calcium Minerals
3. Visualization of Probes under UV Light
4. Preparation of Probes for TEM-EDX
5. TEM-EDX Analysis
TEM-EDX allows for the in vitro imaging of matrix vesicles (MVs) released by mineralizing cells and of minerals produced by MVs. The results obtained using this technique demonstrate that the process of mineralization may proceed differently in various types of cells. The two cell lines received the same osteoblastic transdifferentiation treatment, yet stimulated Saos-2 cells mineralized more efficiently than hFOB 1.19 osteoblasts, as evidenced by AR-S staining (Figure 2). This might be due to the more mature osteoblast phenotype of Saos-2 cells19 in comparison to hFOB 1.19 cells20. The visualization of samples using a UV transilluminator made it clear that only fluorapatites can be observed under UV light (Figure 3). TEM images indicated that stimulated Saos-2 cells produce more vesicles containing minerals compared to stimulated hFOB cells or with resting Saos-2 cells (Figure 4, left and middle panels). Synthetic apatites have different forms of minerals (Figure 4, right panel). TEM images showed the presence of vesicles in hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 cells under resting and stimulated conditions (Figure 5, left panel). On EDX ion maps, red points indicate calcium, green points show phosphorus and blue points point to the fluorine distributions (Figure 5, middle panel). Under stimulated conditions, there is a strong overlap between calcium and phosphorus distributions in vesicles produced by Saos-2 cells and between fluorine and phosphorus in vesicles produced by hFOB 1.19 cells (Figure 5, right panel).
Figure 2. AR-S staining of minerals (red) produced by hFOB 1.19 (upper panel) and Saos-2 (bottom panel) cells either resting (R) or after 7 days of stimulation with AA and β-GP (S). Bar: 25 µm. A typical result with n = 3 is presented. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3. Visible (upper panel) and UV (middle panel) light visualization of synthetic HA, CA and FA minerals and of minerals produced by hFOB 1.19 (bottom left panel) and Saos-2 (bottom right panel) cells either resting (R) or after 7 days of stimulation with AA and β-GP (S). Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 4. TEM images of vesicles and minerals produced by hFOB 1.19 (left panel) and Saos-2 (middle panel) cells either resting (R) or after 7 days of stimulation with AA and β-GP (S). Synthetic HA, CA and FA minerals are shown as controls (right panel). Bar: white 500 nm, black 250 nm. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 5. TEM images (left panel) of hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 cells either resting (R) or after 7 days of stimulation with AA and β-GP (S). Ion maps for Ca (red), Cl (yellow), F (blue) and P (green) from EDX (middle panel). Co-localization of elements (right panel): calcium to phosphorus (Ca), fluorine to phosphorus (F), or chlorine to phosphorus (Cl) was quantified based on the EDX maps. Bar: 500 nm. Three independent experiments for both cell lines were performed. Ten pictures from each variant (resting and stimulated) were taken, then from 2 to 6 of them were selected for further calculation of element co-localization. One typical result is presented. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
In the current paper, we described the protocols for AR-S staining, UV light identification of fluorapatite and TEM-EDX in vitro imaging of MVs released by mineralizing cells and of minerals produced by MVs. It is possible to address all methods mentioned above by following some common troubleshooting steps. In order to obtain optimal results, several critical steps should be performed carefully. First, it is better to add AA (which is acidic) followed by β-GP (which is alkaline) to preserve the pH 7.4 of the culture medium. Second, after AR-S staining, the stained calcium deposits are very fragile and the cells should be washed with great care to prevent destruction of the crystals upon adding PBS. Third, always keep the uranyl acetate in a lead container and do not pick up the sediment because only the diluted fraction should be used for fixation. Fourth, remember that AA and uranyl acetate are light sensitive and should be handled in the dark room. Fifth, the mixture of LR White with absolute ethanol should be mixed well before being added to the samples. Sixth, the samples in gelatin capsules ought to be labeled using a small sheet of paper and a pencil so that the resin does not destroy the labels. Seventh, the blade of the diamond knife should be carefully cleaned from any air bubbles. Eighth, samples should be placed cautiously on the shiny side of the grid where the Formvar/Carbon film is situated. Ninth, position correctly the point at which X-ray microanalysis and ion mapping is performed at the TEM image to limit possible problems with apatite recognition.
Although the presented protocol proved to be most favorable in our experimental design, it is possible to modify it to fit different goals. As with any other technique, this one also has its limitations. Additional techniques, such as FTIR, should be applied to confirm or verify the existence of the obtained ratio of the examined elements8,12,26. The TEM-EDX method presented here is a significant improvement with respect to the existing method, which is a combination of micro-Raman-based mapping and chemometric methods and is similar to imaging of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) distribution to various surfaces of mineral and the mechanism of their molecular interactions21. Raman-based imaging has been tested on two mineral models (macro- and micro-sized). Raman maps made of n = 600-900 spectra for each sample/control were analyzed by Vespucci software and the results were confirmed via other methods such as ICP-OES, AFM, and SEM-EDX. Our TEM-EDX maps comprising n = 30 frames and n = 6 spectra for each sample/control were also analyzed by the Microanalysis Suite software, and the results were confirmed via other methods such as FTIR, FM, TEM, SPM and 3D topographic AFM4,5. The proposed TEM-EDX microanalysis, like Raman-based imaging, requires only minimum sample preparation, is super-sensitive, non-invasive, and cost-effective, and may be extended to other systems relevant to the human environment.
The presented technique might be used in a wide field of research in the future. It may be modified for the investigation of different natural and synthetic apatites. It may also be adjusted to fit the protocols of experiments with biological and chemical probes. Furthermore, all elements from the Periodic Table can be analyzed in order to visualize not only the morphology of minerals but also changes in their ion composition and substitutions. Ion exchange in apatites is a known procedure for biomedical application27. One possible physiological factor that controls the Ca, F and Cl ions or Sr, Mg, Mn and Zn metal ion replacement in the HA during mineral formation, which is a turning point between physiological and pathological mineralization, may be the Pi/PPi ratio7. If applied properly, this technique allows for performing the mapping of multiple elements of the same cellular, vesicular or mineral region several times in a row.
In recent years, much progress was made concerning the mechanisms of bone mineralization28,29,30,31,32,33. We realized that different cell lines may have distinct profiles of vesicles and mineral formation. In this regard, we selected two human cell lines: osteoblastic hFOB 1.19 and osteosarcoma Saos-2, which undergo complete osteogenic transdifferentiation from proliferation to mineralization and produce MVs that trigger apatite nucleation in ECM 34,35.
AR-S staining of calcium deposits revealed that stimulated Saos-2 cells mineralized differently than hFOB 1.19 osteoblasts. This was correlated with the production of minerals by Saos-2 cells that were undetectable under UV light in contrast to those produced by hFOB 1.19 cells. Our TEM-EDX data revealed that the minerals produced in vesicles of Saos-2 cells were similar to synthetic HA due to the overlap in calcium and phosphorus distributions. In contrast, the overlap in fluorine and phosphorus distributions in vesicles from hFOB 1.19 cells indicated the formation of other types of minerals in addition to apatites.
In conclusion, our findings indicate that the vesicles are key determinants of mineral nucleation, especially at the cellular level5,25. Moreover our data are in agreement with an earlier theory that MVs can be regarded as a specialized form of microvesicles that are able to start mineralization inside as well as outside the cell4. The comparison of vesicles released from Saos-2 cells, which mineralize more efficiently, and vesicles released from hFOB 1.19 cells using the TEM-EDX microanalytical method supports the hypothesis that MVs are mineral-filled vesicles. This leaves open the question whether the presence of MVs is required to induce apatite nucleation, and how this may alter physiological to pathological mineralization.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
MK and ASK performed manual operations and LB prepared drawings and made the movie. ASK wrote the manuscript, LB wrote the script and MK prepared the table. SM, RB and SP critically read the table, the script and the manuscript. The authors would like to thank Hanna Chomontowska for her excellent assistance with ultramicrotomy as well as Szymon Suski and Henryk Bilski for their excellent assistance with TEM-EDX analysis. The authors would like to thank dr Patrick Groves for professional English language correction and Barbara Sobiak for recording the instructions.
This work was supported by grant N N401 140639 from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education to ASK, by grants from the National Science Centre, Poland 2016/23/N/NZ4/03313 to LB and 2016/23/N/NZ1/02449 to MK, EU FP7 Project BIOIMAGINE: BIO-IMAGing in research INnovation and Education, GA No. 264173, and by the statutory funds of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences.
Reagent | |||
Ham’s DMEM/F12 media mixture | PAA | E15-813 | 1:1, for human fetus hFOB 1.19 SV40 large T antigen transfected osteoblasts (ATCC CRL-11372) |
McCoy’s 5A medium | PAA | E82312-0025 | for human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells (ATCC HTB-85) |
Antibiotics mixture (penicillin/streptomycin) | Sigma | P0781-100ML | 100 U/mL each |
G-418 | Sigma | 68168 | 0.3 mg/mL |
FBS | Gibco | 10270 | 10% for hFOB 1.19 and 15% for Saos-2 |
AA | Sigma | A-5960 | 50 µg/mL |
ß-GP | Sigma | G9422-100G | 7.5 mM |
Bio-Gel HTP Gel | Bio-Rad | 130-0420 | for HA |
FA | synthesized by us | ||
CA | synthesized by us | ||
Sodium phosphate buffer Na2HPO4/NaH2PO4 mixture | Sigma | S7907/S8282 | 0.1 M, pH 7.2 |
PBS | pH 7.0, prepared by us | ||
AR-S in PBS | Sigma | A5533-25G | 0.5 g/100 mL, pH 5.0 |
Collagenase type IA | Sigma | C2674 | 500 U/mL |
SCL buffer | prepared by us | ||
Deionized wather | produced by us | ||
Ethanol | POCh | BA6480111 | absolut 99.8% and solutions 25, 50, 75, 90% |
Uranyl acetate in 50% ethanol | Polysciences Inc. | 21447-25 | 0.25 g/10 mL |
PD medium | pH 7.4, prepared by us | ||
Fixation mixture (paraformaldehyde/glutaraldehyde) | Sigma | 158127/G-6257 | 3%:1% |
Post-fixation OsO4 | Sigma | 75633 | 1% |
LR White resin in ethanol | Polysciences Inc. | 17411-MUNC 500g | 1:2, 1:1, 100% |
Acetone | CHEMPUR | 111024800 | pure |
Tool | |||
Cryogenic vials | Corning Inc. | 430487 | 1.2 mL |
Plastic Petri culture dishes | Falcon | 353003 | 100 mm |
Plastic tubes | Falcon | 352096 and 352070 | 15 and 50 mL |
Serological pipettes | Falcon and VWR | 357521 and 612-3700 | 1 and 10 mL |
Plastic microcentrifuge tubes | Sigma | Z688312 and Z628034 | 1.5 mL black and 2 mL transparent |
Plastic tips | VWR | 613-0364, 613-0239 and 613-1050 | 0.1-10 µL natural, 1-200 µL yellow and 200-1000 µL blue |
Plastic racks | Light Labs | A-7055-Z, A-7053-C | green for tubes, orange for micro tubes and blue for TEM probes |
Laminar Hera Save | Thermo Scientific Co. | KS12 | HEPA filter (H14 according to DIN EN 1822) |
Incubators Hera Cell | Thermo Scientific Co. | 150 | 34°C for hFOB 1.19 and 37°C for Saos-2 |
Fume hood | POLON | WCS-2 | for TEM stainings |
Glass bottles | SIMAX | 1632414501050 and 1632414501100 | 50 and 100 mL |
Quartz glass tubes | SIMAX | 638422010100 | Ø 10 mm, L 100 mm |
Pump | IBS Integra Biosciences | VACUSAFE comfort | for vacuum |
Oven | Memmert | UNE 400 | 56°C |
Porcelain multi-well plate | Rosenthal technik | 229/12 | 12 wells |
Glass beakers | SIMAX | 632417010025 | 25 mL |
Glass bottles | Pocord | DIN22 | 10 mL |
Plastic box | Agar Scientific Ltd. | for darkness | |
Snap Fit Gelatin Capsules | Agar Scientific Ltd. | G3741 | size 1 |
Formvar/Carbon 300 Mesh Ni grids in box | Agar Scientific Ltd. | S162N3 | film on the shiny side |
Silicon cell scraper | Sigma | SIAL0010-100EA | size 1.8/25 cm |
Syringe with needle | BogMark | 007 | syringe 1 mL 40 U, needle 0.5 x 16 |
Syringe | Chirana | CH005L | 5 mL |
Centrifuge | MPW Medical Instruments | MPW-350R | 130 x g and 500 x g |
UV transluminator | UVP | M-20 | for visible and UV light |
Ultramicrotome | LKB | NOVA | 700Å sections |
Block holder | LKB | E6711 | round shape |
Diamond knife | DiATOME | Ultra 45° | size 3 |
Eyelash holder | bovine, prepared by us | ||
Forceps | ROTH | 2855.1 | antistatic for grids |
Spatulas set | ROTH | E286.1 | antistatic for powders |
Imaging | |||
Inverted Light Microscope | Zeiss with Canon | AxioObserver Z1 equipped with PowerShot G9 | Phase contrast, Transmitted light, 20 x objective, RGB filters |
Transmission Electron Microscope | TEM Jeol Co. with Oxford Instruments and SiS-Olympus | JEM-1400 TEM equipped with full range INCA Energy Dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) System and 11 Megapixel MORADA G2 camera | magnification 50,000X for TEM and 15,000X for STEM and EDX |
Camera body and lenses | Nikon | Nikon D7100 Nikkor AF Micro 105 mm f/2.8D Nikkor AF-S 50 mm f/1.8G Nikkor AF 28 mm f/2.8D |
for movie recordings |
Microphone | MXL Mics | Tempo | for voice recordings |