The role of transforming growth factor-beta on retarded osteoblastic differentiation in vitro.

Various matrix growth factors play important roles in the development and growth of cartilage and bone. Among them transforming growth factor-beta superfamily and especially bone morphogenetic proteins are known to be important factors, since they induce bone and cartilage formation in ectopic sites in vivo. We have previously shown that the human osteosarcoma cell line Saos-2 expresses molecules that in vivo induce new bone formation with asymmetric bone maturation.