Basic calcium phosphate crystals stimulate cell proliferation and collagenase message accumulation in cultured adult articular chondrocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate BCP (basic calcium phosphate) crystal-stimulated mitogenesis and collagenase gene transcription in primary cultures of porcine chondrocytes.


METHODS
The role of protein kinases in BCP crystal-stimulated DNA synthesis was investigated using thymidine incorporation, kinase inhibitors, and protein kinase C (PKC) assays. Northern blot analysis was used to determine the levels of collagenase c-fos and c-jun message.


RESULTS
BCP crystals stimulated chondrocyte proliferation in a PKC-dependent manner. Increased levels of collagenase message were preceded by an increased accumulation of c-fos, but not c-jun.


CONCLUSIONS
BCP crystals could contribute to the abnormal chondrocyte proliferation and collagenase secretion observed in some rheumatic diseases.
Mitchell
P G
PG
Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
Struve
J A
JA
McCarthy
G M
GM
Cheung
H S
HS
D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003460:Crystallization; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003012:Microbial Collagenase / Q000235:genetics*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000494:pharmacology; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D003012:Microbial Collagenase