Background: The glutamate system is a fairly complex bioregulation pathway, consisting of several ionotropic Glu receptors (iGlu.Rs), the metabotropic Glu receptors (mGlu.Rs), Glu transporters (EAATs) and glutamine synthetase (GS), which metabolizes glutamate to glutamine.
Materials and methods: We characterized the MG-63 human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells with regards to mRNA expression of the (a) NMDA.R group of iGlu.Rs, (b) mGlu.Rs, (c) EAAT1 transporter, and (d) GS, using specific primers for their detection by RT-PCR.
Results: Our data confirm the mRNA expression of the NR1, NR2A, NR2B and NR2D subunits of NMDA.R and of GS mRNA in MG-63 cells. In addition, we documented, for the first time, the mRNA expression of the NR3A, EAAT1, mGlu.R1, mGlu.R2, mGlu.R3, mGluR.4, mGlu.R5 and mGlu.R8 mRNA. However, we did not detect the mRNA expression of NR2C, NR3B, mGlu.R6 and mGlu.R7 mRNA.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that MG-63 cells can be used as a model for studying the possible role of Glu beyond CNS.