K. Yonemura et al., MITOGENIC SIGNALING MECHANISMS OF HUMAN CEMENTUM-DERIVED GROWTH-FACTOR, The Journal of biological chemistry, 268(35), 1993, pp. 26120-26126
Cementum-derived growth factor (CGF) is a M(r) 23,000 protein, which i
s sequestered in the mineralized matrix of tooth cementum. We have inv
estigated the mitogenic signaling reactions induced by CGF using quies
cent human gingival fibroblasts as target cells. Cells activated with
CGF were compared with those treated with CGF plus epidermal growth fa
ctor (EGF) and other growth factors. CGF caused a transient increase i
n cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, and this was accompanied by enhancem
ent 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 wi
th CGF contained several protein bands, which cross-reacted with antip
hosphotyrosine 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, PDG
F, 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 fibrob
lasts, TGF-beta was not. Kinetics of DNA stimulation and experiments w
ith anti-PDGF antibodies indicated that PDGF-A expression does not con
tribute significantly to CGF-induced DNA synthesis. When the stimulati
on of various signaling pathways induced by CGF and other growth facto
rs was compared, the pattern of stimulation by CGF was different from
other growth factors. The characteristic signaling reactions of CGF ar
e likely to be important components of the mechanisms that regulate th
e formation and regeneration of cementum and adjacent connective tissu
es.