Growth factors and cytokines modulate gene expression of cell-surface proteoglycans in human periodontal ligament cells

Cell-surface proteoglycans have been known to be involved in many functions including interactions with components of the extracellular microenvironme nt, and act as co-receptors which bind and modify the action of various gro wth factors and cytokines. The purpose of this study was to determine the r egulation by growth factors and cytokines on cell-surface proteoglycan gene expression in cultured human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. Subconfluen t, quiescent PDL cells were treated with various concentrations of serum, b FGF, PDGF-BB, TGF-beta1, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma. RT-PCR technique was use d, complemented with Northern blot for syndecan-1, to examine the effects o f these agents on the mRNA expression of five cell-surface proteoglycans (s yndecan-1, syndecan-2, syndecan-4, glypican and betaglycan). Syndecan-1 mRN A levels increased in response to serum, bFGF and PDGF-BB, but decreased in response to TGF-beta1, IL-1 beta and IFN-gamma. In contrast, syndecan-2 mR NA levels were upregulated by TCF-beta1 and IL-1 beta stimulation, but rema ined unchanged with the other agents. Betaglycan gene expression decreased in response to serum, but was upregulated by TCF-beta1 and unchanged by the other stimulants. Additionally, syndecan-4 and glypican were not significa ntly altered in response to the regulator molecules studied, with the excep tion that glypican is decreased in response to IFN-gamma. These data demons trate that the gene expression of the five cell-surface proteoglycans studi ed is differentially regulated in PDL cells lending support to the nation o f distinct functions for these cell-surface proteoglycans. (C) 2001 Wiley-L iss, inc.