Human bone bank allografts stimulate bone resorption and inhibit proliferation in cultures of human osteoblast-like cells

Abstract

Incorporation of a frozen human bone allograft requires osteoclast activity and ingrowth of recipient osteoblast precursors. We examined the effects of allografts on human osteoblasts. Allografts stimulated a release of factors from normal human osteoblast-like cells, capable of inducing osteoclastic bone resorption in vivo. Further allografts inhibited osteoblast proliferation in cultures. The response was detectable within 4 days of culture and was still present after 3 weeks. Devitalized bone autografts had a similar effect. This suggests that bone bank grafts may induce a resorptive reaction at the recipient site by stimulating release of factors from osteoblasts capable of inducing osteoclastic resorption. The storage temperature was crucial for preservation of the response, since the activity was lower in allografts stored for 6 months at -20°C than in those stored at -80°C.