Electrical stimulation induces the level of TGF-beta1 mRNA in osteoblastic cells by a mechanism involving calcium/calmodulin pathway.
It is well-known that electrical stimulation can prompt healing of bone fractures. However, the mechanism involved is less clear. In this study, we found that capacitively coupled electric field-induced proliferation of osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1) accompanied increased levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA determined by quantitative reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction. Previous reports have shown that verapamil and W-7, both of which block voltage gated calcium channels and inhibit the activation of cytosolic calmodulin, respectively, blocked capacitively coupled electric field-induced proliferation of the osteoblast cells. Interestingly, we found that verapamil and W-7 can also block capacitively coupled electric field-induced elevation of TGF-beta1 mRNA. This result suggested that electrical stimulation induces the level of TGF-beta1 mRNA in osteoblastic cells by a mechanism involving calcium/calmodulin pathway. The potential roles of TGF-beta in the electrical signal-induced osteogenesis was discussed.
Zhuang
H
H
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 424 Edward J. Stemmler Hall, 36th and Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-6081, USA.
Wang
W
W
Seldes
R M
RM
Tahernia
A D
AD
Fan
H
H
Brighton
C T
CT
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*
D002147:Calmodulin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D002118:Calcium