J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 268, Issue 35, 26120-26126, Dec, 1993
Mitogenic signaling mechanisms of human cementum-derived growth factors
K Yonemura, EW Raines, NG Ahn and AS Narayanan
Department of Pathology, SM-30 University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Cementum-derived growth factor (CGF) is a M(r) 23,000 protein, which is
sequestered in the mineralized matrix of tooth cementum. We have
investigated the mitogenic signaling reactions induced by CGF using
quiescent human gingival fibroblasts as target cells. Cells activated with
CGF were compared with those treated with CGF plus epidermal growth factor
(EGF) and other growth factors. CGF caused a transient increase in
cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, and this was accompanied by enhancement of
membrane protein kinase C activity, myelin basic protein and S6 kinase
activities, inositol phosphate levels, and activation of c-fos and jun-B
gene expression. Membranes obtained from cells activated with CGF contained
several protein bands, which cross-reacted with antiphosphotyrosine
antibody; however, proteins corresponding to a putative phosphorylated CGF
receptor were not detected. DNA synthesis induced by CGF was inhibited by
65% in cells treated with pertussis toxin but only 25-29% in cultures
exposed to H7 or 12-O- tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate; these values were
different from those obtained when EGF, PDGF, or fetal bovine serum were
used as mitogens. CGF and TGF-beta, but not EGF, caused an increase of
PDGF-A chain mRNA expression 4 h after mitogen addition. However, while CGF
was mitogenic for gingival fibroblasts, TGF-beta was not. Kinetics of DNA
stimulation and experiments with anti-PDGF antibodies indicated that PDGF-A
expression does not contribute significantly to CGF-induced DNA synthesis.
When the stimulation of various signaling pathways induced by CGF and other
growth factors was compared, the pattern of stimulation by CGF was
different from other growth factors. The characteristic signaling reactions
of CGF are likely to be important components of the mechanisms that
regulate the formation and regeneration of cementum and adjacent connective
tissues.